(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of J.K. Rowling's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Marie.)
Wishes
Chapter 5
Marie was sitting on her bed reading through her family Grimoire. The semester had flown by for her and was jamb packed with classes both for school as well as the private tutors that her Guardians provided. After her first night in the Tower, Professor McGonagall had warmed up to her a bit and had really been a great support for her. The Headmaster had been avoiding her since their confrontation in the Great Hall just two months ago, which suited Marie just fine.
With a sigh she stretched and closed the book. She sealed it and secured it in her trunk. There was so much information to get through, and so much more that she needed to start adding to both of the Grimoires. Straightening her clothes she looked around the dorm to make sure that she had everything with her. After a heated discussion with her Guardians two weeks ago it had been decided that she would be spending the holiday with the Potters, but during summer break she would be staying with the Zabinis. The political clime in Britain was coming to a head and all parties were now looking to Marie to turn the tide in their favor.
Marie took one last look around the room and realized that all of her things had been cleared out and packed. With a shrug, she grabbed her black cloak. Standing in the mirror she observed her appearance. Her friends were right. She looked every bit the Pureblood princess would. Her red and black plaid dress had three quarter sleeves and a thick black belt cinched at her waist. Sparkling hair combs glinted in the candle light, pinning back her hair away from her face. Drawing a breath she donned her cloak and idly played with the medallion necklace that was a permanent presence on her.
With a flick of her wrist her trunk floated behind her as she made her way out of the dormitory. The others had already left earlier that day. Marie had taken her time packing because there was still time to catch a carriage to get to the Express for the ride home. At the bottom of the stairs she found that the boys had waited for her. She smiled softly at them and fought down the ache and pain bubbling up within. Even though months had gone by, she still felt the stark loss of her family. The Holidays were one of the first reminders that they weren't there anymore.
Gideon stepped to her side in concern. Fabian was looking at her as well. The Marauders caught on that something wasn't quite right and looked towards Marie. She shook her head and fought back the tears that threatened to fall.
"I'm fine," she said shakily. "We can go now."
"Marie," Gideon said taking her hand, "something is clearly bothering you."
She shrugged, "I miss my family. This is the first Christmas without them."
He pulled her into a hug and ran a hand soothingly over her back. "It'll be alright. I know that it hurts and it won't be fixed right now, but that's why you're here. To make it right, remember?"
Marie choked back a sob and stepped away facing the fire place. She wrapped her arms across her chest, holding her elbows. "It won't ever be right," she whispered weakly. "Even if I can somehow change to outcome for so many others, my family is already dead. When I came here help arrived, but it was too late. No one can bring back the dead."
She dissolved into tears and fell to her knees weeping as her grief overwhelmed her. Gideon and Fabian crouched at her side, trying to comfort and sooth the distraught young woman. The Marauders swallowed the lumps in their own throats. The Prewetts held her as she cried it out. They were all realizing that she had held it together for months, bottling it all up. None of them could imagine the pain. Even Sirius who was estranged from his own parents couldn't imagine going through what she had, especially not since he and his younger brother had reconciled.
Professor McGonagall entered the room to make the last call for the carriages and found Marie sobbing into the chests of the Prewetts. Her lip trembled a bit as she went to the young girl's side, knowing that she was having a difficult time with the Holidays. Mentally she cursed Dumbledore for making the girl feel so threatened that she wouldn't stay at the school. Going home with her friends for the winter break would certainly not be easy on the girl.
"Come now Lass, going home with James won't be so bad," Minerva said in a teasing voice. "He gets into a bit of mischief, but I have it on good authority that he can behave from time to time."
"Oi!" James exclaimed in mock hurt.
Marie snorted in a very unladylike manner and dried her tears. She hugged the Prewetts and thanked them before pulling back. They stood and offered their hands to help her up.
"There you go," McGonagall said, while straightening the young woman's cloak. "You'll be fine, but if you feel the need to leave or come back, just write to me or floo and I'll come to collect you."
Marie nodded in thanks. Drawing a deep cleansing breath, she allowed her boys to escort her out of the Common Room down to the waiting carriages. Though she shouldn't have been completely shocked, she was a bit startled to see that her growing group of Slytherin friends had waited for her at the Entrance Hall as well. She smiled at them and waved as the group walked out as one.
Narcissus Black fell into step beside Marie. Lucius had introduced his betrothed to Marie back in early November. She had sworn Oaths of secrecy and promised to keep anything said about Marie secret. Marie welcomed the additional female to their group. The two had become fast friends, shocking many of their Housemates.
Their friendship was one of many crossing the staunch House lines. Other Houses were branching out and getting to know one another as well. Where once before there were assumptions and colors defining people, now existed actual communication and knowledge of whom people really were.
Bellatrix was cordial and polite, however their interaction ended there. She and Rodolphus tolerated Marie and generally left her alone. Her growing group of allies crossed all House lines and lineages. As Slytherins they recognized her subtle networking. They both respected and fear the power behind it and were stunned that she had not been Sorted in their House.
Marie spoke quietly with Narcissus as they were led to one of the carriages. Lucius helped Narcissus up and loaded her trunk, while the Prewetts helped Marie and then turned to take care of her trunk only to find that it was already on the carriage. Lucius and Antonio sat with Narcissus while Marie sat with the Prewetts. The Marauders took the next carriage with Regulus and Rabastan.
Marie looked out the window, lost in her own thoughts as she absently spun the rings on her fingers. Narcissus observed her friend and took her hands. Her brow was furrowed as she couldn't see anything there. Marie smirked and dropped the disillusion spells on the House rings and the Slytherins' eye bulged when they saw that she had not one, but two Head of House rings.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Antonio asked in shock.
"No one is supposed to know about them. That was the Family business that I was taking care of the day that I was Sorted." Marie told them. "I'm the Heiress of two ancient and dormant lines. I'm technically not a Muggleborn, but in fact from a long line of squibs that held strong, powerful, and ancient magics."
"But that would mean," Lucius said and then paused in shock at the realization of what she was hinting at.
Marie nodded, "That would mean that Muggleborns may in fact be members of lost, forgotten, or dormant families."
Antonio stared at her hands. "Does this mean that you're emancipated as well?"
"Yes, I was emancipated in September. I also claimed my two seats in the Wizengamot, though proxies have been appointed," she said with a laugh. "I still have my Guardians. We're playing it off as I'm the naive, poor, unfortunate orphan."
"But you're not," Narcissus mused. "You're none of those things are you?"
Marie snorted, "No I'm not."
"Come now, two ancient families. You have to give more information than that," Narcissus teased.
Marie stared at her with an eyebrow raised. "Are you referring to my inheritance, powers, or wealth?"
Narcissus regarded her, "All of the above."
"Narcissus!" Lucius exclaimed. "You can't ask about that, it's not polite."
Marie shifted uncomfortably and stared at her friends. Puffing out her cheeks, she let out a ragged breath. "Well, I'm Heiress to the Artan family on my father's side. They were a long line of Scottish Druids. On my mother's side I'm Heiress to the Mac an t-Sealgair family. Her side has a long history of Elemental abilities."
"That's where you get some of your powers from," Gideon stated.
Marie shrugged, "That's where I get all of my powers from. Imagine centuries of dormant powers and abilities that suddenly awaken in one person. Plus there is the shared knowledge from the ritual and Hogwarts herself that I now have."
"Well when you put it like that," Fabian said weakly.
"You're scary powerful," Gideon finished.
"The tests run the beginning of the year said that I'm already at the Sorceress level and that was before my core stabilized. I'd imagine I still have a ways to go as I'm just fifteen," Marie said quietly. "As for the monetary end of things, I won't spend it in my lifetime, nor will the next six or seven generations."
"What?" Antonio asked quietly. "Wait, we missed your birthday!"
"Please tell me that you didn't forget to tell us Marie," Narcissus said clearly upset at the news.
Marie shrugged, "It's been a busy semester. My birthday was on the fifth of this month. Don't worry about it."
"Of course we're upset Marie!" Gideon exclaimed while the others nodded in agreement.
"Listen, it's really not a big deal. Whoopee, I'm fifteen now." Marie said tiredly.
"But it is a big deal to us love," Fabian said quietly. "As long as you're not hurt or upset by it. It something you clearly don't want to talk about, but know that we will be getting together for a belated birthday gathering."
" Aye, we will," Gideon and the others agreed.
"We can get back on track, you were explaining to us about your inheritance," Lucius drawled.
"That's fine by me," Marie said with a slight smile. "What the ancient vaults make in interest each month is more than I will ever spend at once. I'm not giving you definitive number, it's rude and crass. But let's just say that I can buy estates, cars, business, Quidditch teams, and a whole slew of other things and still not even touch the bulk of what I inherited. Is that informative enough?" Marie said quietly, with a sad look on her face.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Narcissus said.
"It's fine, I just don't like talking about it. I'd trade it all for my family," Marie said, turning to look back out the window.
The rest of the ride went by quickly. Marie drowned out the conversations, twirling the rings on her hands. When the carriage stopped she non-verbally disillusioned the rings once more. The young men stepped out and helped the girls from the carriage. Marie gave a casual flick of her wrist and the trunks levitated down from the carriage. With another flick they followed behind toward the waiting train. Her friends shook their head at the petite girl.
Gideon looked down at the shorter figure at his side. She was nearly a foot shorter than he and most of the Sixth and Seventh year males. She was petite, but curvy. Her light green eyes showed so much of her emotions. The long black wavy hair she had was often left curling down her back or braided. He liked it best when left down because it seemed to dance and crackle with her magic, especially when they riled her up, which was something they wouldn't admit to, but did on purpose very often.
He shared a grin with his brother before lifting her up onto the platform of the train. The group separated, though Marie told her Slytherin friends she'd stop by their compartment with their Christmas gifts. The Prewetts led Marie to a compartment in the middle of the train. Dorcas and her roommates were already there and waiting. The boys hefted her trunk in the storage bin overhead and took their leave to the compartment across the hall. The Marauders could be heard raucously laughing a few compartments away.
Halfway through the journey the food trolley stopped by. The girls pooled their money and bought an assortment of snacks to tide them over. Marie gave a casual wave of her hand and the gifts floated out of her trunk and down into her hand. With another wave the trunk shut and locked and she left the compartment. Three compartments towards the front, she found her Slytherin friends. She was ushered into the compartment and smiled shyly at the others that she was not as close with.
She gratefully took the seat that one of the upperclassmen vacated for her. Smiling politely she thanked him, causing a dull flush to creep up his neck and some teasing from his friends. She grinned and began doling out her gifts and cards that she brought them. Much to the surprise of everyone in the compartment, she had something for each of them. Despite the fact that she didn't know some of them well, they were always gracious and polite to her. They received cards with gift certificates for Honeydukes or vouchers for Flourish and Botts, depending on what she perceived about their personalities. They were small tokens really, she hadn't spent a great deal, but she didn't feel right leaving anyone out. She had even bough Severus a gift voucher for the bookstore.
Narcissus winked at her and nodded to some of the upper years regarding her subtly. Marie flushed and Narcissus giggled, drawing attention to the girls. Marie elbowed her friend, and Narcissus poked her in retaliation.
"Well if you won't behave, I'll head back to my compartment," Marie squeaked out as she saw the males grinning at the girls.
"Oh hush, I was just teasing," Narcissus cajoled.
"Teasing or not it's never going to happen. It can never happen Narcissus, you know that." Marie whispered to her friend somewhat sadly.
"I didn't mean to upset you Marie," Narcissus said, taking her friend's hand.
"I know, but you and I both know that I cannot begin any sort of relationship any time soon, if ever." She said quietly, but not quietly enough as the rest of the compartment was now silent.
Marie closed her eyes. "I can't do this," she said while standing.
"Marie wait!" Antonio said in concern, "You don't have to leave. If you could explain perhaps we can help."
Sighing, she sat back down. "There's nothing to help Antonio. At some point I have to go back. I can't start something here when I know that I'll be leaving. Not to mention it would be extremely awkward later."
"If you say you cannot start something, then you cannot. As your friends we understand, respect, and support that piccola," he told her quietly.
"I am just fifteen, so I'm a bit young to be talking about serious relationship. However, I don't see the point in any other kind of relationship. With that said, my Family obligations and duties will not allow for any sort of relationship," she said quietly. "It's not that I'm not flattered or interested, it just can't be."
"Will your family and Guardians not allow it?" the dark haired young man asked quietly, his body somewhat tense.
"Knott! That's enough!" Lucius scolded.
"Forgive me, I was out of line," the boy she now knew was Theodore Knott.
"Theo," she said thickly, "please believe me when I say that had the circumstances been different who knows what would have happened. The same could be said for any number of people, but I cannot. There's too much at stake right now and I have obligations that I must fulfill."
"Is there another?" he asked shortly.
"Knott! You're crossing a line now!" Antonio said standing to face his fellow Slytherin.
Holding his hands out in placation, "I apologize again. I find it difficult to deal with rejection."
"Men and their egos," Marie muttered as she stood up. "Do you really think that you're the only one that I've turned down and turned away? At least you're polite about it, I'll give you that."
"Polite?" Narcissus bit out, "He was being rude!"
"Believe me, there's being rude and then there's me having to physically fend off someone who doesn't understand the word 'no"," Marie said hotly.
"Who?" the males as a collective group demanded.
"It's been dealt with," Marie replied primly, but her eyes had gone cold.
"Oh dear," Narcissus said. "That's what happened to McLaggen?"
Marie's eyes went to slits and she clenched her jaw. At her sharp nod, there were curses and mutterings from the males. Narcissus looked like she was ready to murder.
"When," the blonde which asked quietly.
"I'd rather not talk about it. It's done and over with. Gideon and Fabian took care of it," Marie said calmly.
"Marie, why didn't you tell us?" Antonio asked.
"Because it was taken care of Toni! My Guardians knew, for whatever reason he was kept from having charges pressed against him, but he's to stay away from me." she told him tiredly.
"Charges? You said it," Narcissus began weakly.
"It obviously didn't that far. However, my Guardians threatened to have line-theft charges brought against him and his family. Dumbles decided we needed to all play nice and smoothed the whole thing over, the bastard." Marie said quietly.
"Line-theft?" Knott asked in shock.
"Oh bloody Hell!" Marie swore and sealed the door with a wave of her hand.
The Slytherins swore oaths to Marie, most of them added their protections and her medallion warmed with the newest family additions. For the next couple of hours she explained everything to them. Her family history, all of it. The stunned silence that met the end of her monologue was a bit eerie.
"Wait, so how does that even work?" Severus asked. "You said you came back twenty years as a fourteen, well now fifteen year old. When were you born?"
Marie flushed and bit her lower lip. "Well, you see when I left I was twenty-one and it was nineteen ninety-six. When I came here it was nineteen seventy-four and I was fourteen. I was actually born December fifth, nineteen seventy-six."
"Oh God! You'd be young enough to be my daughter!" Theo exclaimed looking a bit green at the thought.
Marie laughed at his and the other's facial expressions at that realization. "Now you see why I cannot start anything here and now? Do you know how awkward that would be when I go back?"
Their nods and silence were answer enough. Severus regarded her quietly and nodded to her. She had always been kind to him, even when some of her friends and protectors were not. The fact that she and Lily were friends also added to her credit as far as he was concerned. He knew that he was in a precarious position within his House. He didn't want to be on the side of those that would harm either of the girls, but he didn't see any way around it.
As if sensing his quandary, Marie looked at him. "You will all be asked to join. It won't be much of a choice as far as I can see. Rejecting that offer is a death sentence. While you may not want to join, it may be the only way for you to survive. From the inside at least you can pass along information to help."
"What you're talking of is suicide," Theo whispered hoarsely.
"No, what I'm talking about is doing what's right even when you're forced to endure more than any should expect of you." Marie stood and faced the window. "It won't be easy, from the intel that I've already gathered, I can already tell you that it will be nearly unbearable. I'm working on meeting locations and business fronts as well as safe houses. You will all need to learn Occlumency, Legilimency, and if possible to become Animagi."
"This is madness!" Severus exclaimed.
"I'm quite sane thank you very much. If you don't want my help that's fine. You'll find out soon enough just how bad it is on his side. I'm offering you a chance to do what is right," Marie said quietly. "If I can save one family from the same fate as mine, then it is worth it to me."
"At what cost, Marie?" another Slytherin named Kevin Broadmoor.
"I won't ask any of you to put your lives on the line. I need you all well, safe and alive. I, however, will be front and center in all of this," she said causing the compartment to erupt in protests. "I already am front and center!" she raised her voice over their protests.
"Marie! Surely you don't expect us to let you do that? Do you have a death wish?" Antonio asked her harshly.
She shrugged, "Joining my family may be a blessing. I'm not looking for trouble right now and have no immediate plans to fight him right now. But I won't back down from a fight if one comes. I'll meet the sick bastard head on, come what may." Marie told them coldly.
"You're serious," Lucius whispered hoarsely. "You're really going to fight against him and expect us not to try to stop you, even if we decide that we can't help. How can you expect us to face off against you on a battlefield?" he thundered.
"I expect you to do whatever you must to keep you and your families alive and safe, even if it means us crossing wands in a fight," she told him.
"Our Oaths and Family magic won't allow it Marie!" he exclaimed.
"If it is a problem, I will release you from your Oaths and hold them fulfilled so that you can stay safe," she offered.
"Bloody Hell! I could throttle you!" Antonio said. "You can't do that. The Oaths keep you safe piccola. You'll do no such thing!"
"I will do whatever I feel is necessary to keep as many people safe as possible, even if it costs my own life. I'm not afraid to die Toni," she told him quietly. "There are worse things in life than death."
He sat down in defeat at her words. The others in the compartment weren't much better. They watched as she stood and headed towards the door. With a casual wave of her hand, they felt the wards and seal drop. She gave them a weak smile and wished them a safe and happy holiday as she left. The girl had given them much to think about and mull over during their winter break. Could they do what she was asking? Would they be able to keep up the facade and play both sides? They certainly couldn't leave her to fight alone. There was much to think about. They resealed the compartment and began planning and talking. They couldn't and wouldn't abandon her. They swore to protect her and so they would. They were hers to the bitter end, come what may.
Marie went back to her compartment and found that her roommates had dispersed to seek out their other friends. She went across the hall to the compartment where Gideon and Fabian were and knocked on the door. They let her in and she sat on the bench between them, leaning against Fabian and fell asleep, much to the amusement of the occupants of the compartment. They had a soft spot where she was concerned. Often they would find her in their dorm hanging out with and talking with the twins. They had all gotten to know her in her short time at Hogwarts and viewed her as a kid sister, much like the twins did.
Gideon poked her in the side as they entered the station at King's Cross. She squeaked and shot up, nearly elbowing Fabian in a delicate place. The compartment erupted in laughter at her reaction. They had discovered that she was ticklish completely by accident one day and now used that to torment her whenever they couldn't.
"Evil," Marie said flatly, while glaring at him.
She stood and smoothed out her clothes and hair. "Thanks for being my pillow," she said with a grin at Fabian.
"Any time love," he replied with a playful wink.
Marie left to her own compartment and tried to reach her trunk overhead. She heard a snort at the door and turned to see her roommates laughing at her. With a glare, she waved her hand and the trunk floated down. Her roommates grabbed their things and headed out while Marie was putting on her cloak.
A throat cleared behind her and she turned to find her Slytherin friends standing there. They handed her their own gifts which she accepted with a smile and hugged them, causing some of the newer males to the group to blush a bit. Lucius caught her eye and nodded before they headed out as a group, leaving her to be escorted by her Gryffindor friends.
Gideon and Fabian raised their eyebrows to her when they watched the large group of Slytherins leave. She shrugged with a grin, "What can I say? I'm friends with everyone." Marie told them with a laugh.
With their trunks floating behind them, the exited the train. The twins hopped down and turned to help Marie down. She smiled and inclined her head, sliding back into the role of the proper lady. Looping and arm through each of theirs she let them escort her towards where the Potters were waiting with the Marauders.
They stopped at the Potters and bowed respectfully to the Lord and Lady. Turning to Marie they each bowed over her hand and she inclined her head. With a laugh and a grin she hugged each of them and wished them a safe and happy holiday. There as a gasp and a sniff of disdain nearby. Marie and the group turned to see a red haired woman with two small children and she was clearly pregnant with a third. She was glaring at Marie and the twins.
"So this is the little harlot you've taken up with?" she asked.
"Molly Weasley! That is quite enough out of you!" Dowager Lady Prewett barked out. "Lord and Lady Potter, Lady Marie, I apologize for my granddaughter's outburst. She was raised better than that," the older woman scolded.
The pregnant woman flushed in embarrassment and indignation. "You don't need to apologize for me grandmother. I've done nothing wrong. Headmaster Dumbledore has told me all about your goings on young lady!"
Marie snorted, "So the old coot has taken to gossiping like twittering maiden now? I surely hope that he hasn't forgotten his Vow and Oath, lest he find himself a squib as a result."
"You see! You've Confounded the lot of them. Blackmailed them into Vows and Oaths!" Molly went on in a tirade.
Marie squared off against the other woman and let her magic swirl out around her. Her hair seemed to crackle with her anger and emotions. The people on the platform stopped and stared open mouthed at the force of the magic they could feel and see the display of.
"You know nothing about me so don't presume you do," Marie stated coldly. "Your assumptions are untrue and unfounded. The Headmaster's manipulations are clearly at play yet again. No I don't want to hear you defend the old fool. He's a man, who makes mistakes like the rest of us. He's not infallible, he's not perfect and he's not God. The sooner the rest of the world learns and understands that the better off we'll all be."
"You ungracious little upstart!" Molly raged.
"That's enough Molly!" Arthur tried to intervene.
Gideon and Fabian glared at their sister coldly. She took a step back seeing their anger and ire directed at her in such a way. Molly looked around not understanding why others weren't agreeing with her. Why were they defending Dumbledore?
"Believe it or not Mrs. Weasley I'm not a harlot or hussy. Do I have a group of young men that I often spend time with yes, but they've been perfect gentlemen the entire time. All of us have behaved as we should, like proper young men and women. Not only do you seek to disgrace my reputation, but now you call into question theirs." Marie stated calmly, her green eyes sparking with anger. "I have not now, nor have I ever been in that sort of relationship with anyone. I've only just turned fifteen for goodness sake!"
"But Dumbledore said," Molly said weakly.
"Oh I'm sure he did!" Marie bit out. "And I'm sure if Dumbledore said to jump off a damn cliff you'd follow his word no questions asked. Good Lord woman use your own brain and think for yourself!"
The platform listened to the argument in various states of shock and anger. Many of the Pureblood families had heard of Marie from their children and found the girl to be charming and friendly. They couldn't fault her behavior and were a bit livid to hear Dumbledore had yet again sought to make a move against the child.
"Lady Prewett," Marie began, "I do not fault or hold your whole House responsible for the actions of a single person. My grievance is with that solitary person."
Lady Prewett nodded in acknowledgement. Gideon and Fabians parents stepped forward, livid and embarrassed by their outspoken daughter. They apologized profusely and welcomed her to their family. Laughing, they explained loudly and clearly that the twins saw her as a younger sister. As such she would be welcome to their home always. She was under their family protection, they stared at Molly when they said this.
Molly gaped and stared at her family. She was now beginning to realize her mistake and faux-pas. Turning to Arthur, she saw her normally calm and genial husband glaring at her angrily. She had brought shame to both of her families, quite publicly. They would have to do damage control.
Arthur stepped towards Marie and bowed respectfully. "I offer my deepest apologies on behalf of House Weasley. As Acting Head of House, I will deal with his matter accordingly. You can rest assured that we will be distancing ourselves from the Headmaster after this."
Molly gasped when she heard this! The Headmaster was a great man, surely Arthur would reconsider. This wouldn't do at all. Dumbledore would be livid when he heard that he had effectively lost House Weasley and Prewett that day. However, it was much more far reaching than that. Many of the people present on the platform vowed they would not fall prey to the man's manipulations if he could so heartlessly set to ruin the reputation of a mere child. As for those that had aligned themselves with the supposed Leader of the Light, many were rethinking their decision in allies.
Marie nodded to him and gave a shaky smile. "Worry not Mr. Weasley, I trust that you will handle the situation as you see fit."
Marie bid her friends goodbye and followed the Potters to the public floo. Dorea shrunk her trunk and held it for her. Lady Potter was shaking with anger at the uncouth young mother. How dare she? The nerve of that woman! Similar thoughts were going through the minds of many people that day. Molly Weasley and Dumbledore were beginning to become personas non grata.
Marie followed Dorea through the floo and stepped out of the fireplace a little wobbly. James caught her and steadied her with a grin. Dorea led her upstairs and showed her the room that they had prepared for her. It was in the softest shades of purple and cream. Large airy windows lined the far wall and floor to ceiling bookcases lined the one nearest the door. On the wall to the left of the door was a small sitting area near fieldstone fireplace. The wall on the right had a king-sized sleigh bed with a matching cherry wood wardrobe.
She hugged Dorea with a bright smile and thanked her. Once her trunk was resized, Marie started unpacking and the others left her to her task. She focused on her task, trying to will the hurt and anger away. With a sigh she stood and went to her trunk to dig out an outfit. She shut and locked her door and found a pair of jeans and a sweater. Changing quickly, she grabbed a pair of thick socks and pulled on her boots. She found a scarf and gloves in her trunk and then started pulling her hair into two braids, like she had done when she was younger.
Once she unlocked and unwarded her room, she realized that James was banging on her door, calling her. She heard Dorea and Charlus coming down the hall to see what was happening. Marie quickly opened the door to find James standing there with Sirius. They blinked at her appearance, having never seen her in jeans before. James smacked Sirius in the back of the head.
"Sorry about that, as a habit I lock and seal the doors when I'm changing," she explained ruefully. "I decided that I need a bit of fresh air and to blow off some steam before I can't get a handle on things."
Dorea stepped forward in concern, "You know what she said isn't true right. No one thinks that way about you."
Marie shrugged, "Not much that I can do to prove otherwise now is there." she said quietly.
Dorea muttered a spell and around Marie flashed white before dissipating. "Of course there is child," she said with a slight laugh when she observed the flushes that her boys were developing.
"Why do I get the feeling that whatever it is you just did essentially announced I'm a virgin?" Marie asked in horror.
"Because that's exactly what it just did," Dorea said between laughs.
"Never again," Marie said flatly. "I don't care what rumors go around, never again. It's no one else's business."
"I'm sorry dear," Dorea said. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. You know that there is nothing wrong with that right?"
"Of course I know that, but like I said, it's really no one else's business what I may or may not do with my body. My body, my choice." Marie stated quietly.
"Marie has anyone explained to you about these things?" Dorea asked much to the mortification of everyone present.
"If you're referring to the sex talk, the whole 'when a man loves a woman', then yes. If you're referring to the magic and rituals possible with one's virginity, I know about that as well. Can we please change the subject?" Marie said, turning bright red. "I may be stuck as a fifteen year old, but I was twenty-one."
James and Sirius squeaked in mortification. Charlus looked quite uncomfortable himself. Dorea, while uncomfortable, remained serious and stoic throughout the conversation. She took her role and responsibility as mother and Guardian very seriously. The needs of her children came before her own.
Marie smile and smoothed down the sweater. She felt more like herself in the very Muggle attire. The snug flared jeans rode lower on her hips than the Wizarding trousers and pants that she had. The sweater was soft and clung to her young curves without being distasteful. Sirius in particular looked a bit gob smacked in reaction, while James looked as disturbed as her own brother had when he realized that she was in fact growing up. Both of their reactions amused her to no end.
Once they got passed the awkwardness, they went their own ways. Marie went outside on the grounds of the Manor and finally began to unleash the fury that she felt at the words of Molly Weasley. Her feet crunched in the snow as she drew on her Elemental powers and had the wind whipping around her. She was well within the reinforced, protective wards of the Potters, so she shouldn't be detected.
On that train of thought, she began pouring her power into the wards, causing Charlus and Dorea to come running outside to see what was happening. Marie wove layer after protective layer over and within the existing wards. She lost one family, she wouldn't lose another. As her hand motions slowed and ceased, she fell to her knees trembling from the exertion of her power. Blue-white sparks of magic danced along her skin. The residual magic in the air crackled and arched over the property in a hailstorm of magic.
Dorea and Charlus reached her side and held the young girl as she started to fall asleep. Charlus hefted the girl up easily and took long strides toward the Manor and called out for his house elf to bring Pepper Up potion to the main parlor. Dorea followed behind her husband, choking on her emotions. James and Sirius followed the elder Potters quickly, not sure of what had happened or what was going on. James left the room when they explained it to him and made a few floo calls. Within the hour Marie's friends, across the House lines were popping in to see how she was doing.
Dorea contacted one of the Elemental mentors that they had hired for the young Sorceress. The elderly woman stepped through the floo and made her way to the room where the young woman was sleeping deeply. They could all feel the residual magic around them and watched the young woman in concern. The amount of power that she unleashed startled them. For one so young, she seemed to have pushed her young body to the limit.
Antonio and his brothers sat nearby. He had contacted the other Slytherins with the news as soon as James had floo'd him. They couldn't get away from their families for obvious reasons, but he promised to keep them abreast of the situation. He and his family had immediately set out for Potter Manor to check on Marie. His Nona was particularly upset that "the girl of the family" was unwell.
They called Madam Pomfrey to come check on her and found that she was now just sleeping off the magical exhaustion. The whole group could still now feel the magic swirling around them hours later. Antonio's father and uncles watched the sleeping girl curiously. She was extremely young to be able to wield such power.
Marie stirred in her sleep, slowly coming back to consciousness. She stretched, reaching out far above her head causing her midriff to be exposed. The Purebloods in the room goggled a bit at the girl's attire. The teenage boys blushed and quickly averted their eyes. Dorea watched in amusement as did the other ladies present.
Marie blinked and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Her whole body seemed to tingle with power. She could feel it swirling in the air around them. With a content sigh she sat up shakily, but nearly fell off of the couch in the process. Her limbs felt like jelly.
"Marie," Dorea said, drawing her attention. "Are you alright child?"
"Yes Dorea, just feeling a bit wobbly at the moment." Marie admitted. "I'm guessing that since I'm not outside keeled over in the snow that I may have passed out. Perhaps I went a bit overboard reinforcing the wards?"
"A bit?" Charlus said dryly, causing Alphard to choke on his drink.
"Well I had to expel the energy and magic before I had no control over it," Marie explained. "I didn't want to hurt anyone, so I figured I do something constructive with it. Nothing and no one will be able to get to your family here."
"I understand that Marie, but why?" Charlus asked.
Marie looked down and bit her lip. "Well, I lost one family. I won't lose another one if I can help it. I'll need a day or so to recover and then I'll be going to as many of my friends and allies' houses as I can."
The elderly woman in a plain linen dress shuffled forward. "You need to rest child, you've done well here but you cannot over exert yourself. There is still time. Perhaps three or four houses over this break, but no more."
"As you say Madam Raglan," Marie nodded her head respectively to her mentor.
Marie sat up and pushed herself up off the couch. She straightened her clothes and smoothed down her hair. Looking up she was a bit startled to see that the occupants of the room were staring at her. That's when she noticed that Antonio and his family were there. The twins and theirs were present as well, but the Weasleys were absent for obvious reason. Remus and Peter were sitting by James and Sirius.
Waving slightly embarrassed Marie greeted the group. James snorted at her, while Sirius and the other teens were trying not to stare at her in her outfit. Antonio's father nodded to her in greeting, flashing her a grin. He pushed away from the wall and beckoned the two men beside him to move forward with him.
"Marie, I'd like to introduce you to my brothers," Franco Zabini said. "This is Alphonse and Bernardo."
Marie smiled at them and greeted them. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to spending time in Italy this summer. I've always wanted to go, but never had the opportunity."
"So this is little Marie," Bernardo said while trying to keep a straight face.
She squared her shoulders and put her hands on her hips, "What is it with the short jokes?" Marie asked, turning to glare at Antonio.
"Sorry piccola," Antonio said while laughing, "My family asked about you."
"She is like an angry pixie, no?" Alphonse joked, there were many snorts and people trying to stifle their laughter.
"Pixie?!" she all but shrieked. Resisting the urge to stomp her feet she glared at them.
Nona Zabini stepped forward and took one of her hands. "Stop teasing her so boys!" she admonished.
The replies of "Yes mama" and "Yes Nona" were highly amusing to Marie. It was abundantly clear who was the Head of the Zabini family. The Matriarch wasn't much taller than Marie, with white hair swept up in an elegant chignon. She had laugh lines on her face and a kind smile for the younger girl.
"Come child, what do you know about wine?" she asked.
Marie blushed deeply and fidgeted. "Well, my experience with wine is limited. One bender in college left me feeling like I'd been run over by a car. Alcohol and I, as a rule, do not get along very well. I do very stupid things when I drink."
Nona and Dorea laughed deeply at her admission as had the others in the room. "I agree Dorea, I do like her. You'll do Marie, you'll do just fine."
"What sort of stupid things?" Gideon asked mischievously.
Marie blushed even deeper and mumbled something. When asked she wouldn't meet anyone's eyes as she drew a breath. "I said, stupid like getting drunk and getting matching tattoos with your roommates."
"You've got tattoos?" Gideon goggled.
"Wicked!" Fabian said with a wink.
"Where and what?" Sirius asked with a glint in his eye.
Marie smirked. "Are we playing show and tell now Siri?" she asked saucily.
There were varying reactions around the room. Some bolstered and stuttered in response. There were those that laughed outright. The teens looked at her like she was a completely different person, while poor Sirius looked like he has swallowed his tongue.
"Keep on dreaming boyo," Marie said with a wink.
Drawing a breath, she lifted her shirt on her right side. On her rib cage was a Celtic tattoo in black and white. It was a Tree of Life tattoo that spanned from her bra line down to her hip. She grinned at them and gave a sassy wink before fixing her shirt.
"Anymore?" Sirius whispered.
Marie laughed, "None that I can be showing anyone."
"And what, my dear, is that supposed to mean," Alphard asked quietly. The muscle in his jaw was ticking.
Marie smiled at him. "Well I'm certainly not going to strip down and prance around in my underwear."
"Marie!" Charlus said, completely scandalized.
Dorea was fighting back her amusement. "Dear, you mustn't taunt them so."
"Dorea, for her to have a tattoo in said places, she had to have shown the tattoo artist!" Charlus said.
Marie laughed, "Oh dear. You do realize that before I came here I was a twenty-one year old college student correct? That I lived away from home like I do now, but in Boston instead of the quaint countryside of Scotland?"
"Be that as it may Marie, you're now a fifteen year old young lady. You've been taken in by some of the more prominent families. You simply cannot say such things," Charlus said in exasperation.
"And what am I supposed to do about swimming?" Marie asked with a mischievous look. "Dorea already helped me select and pick out my bathing suit. Shall I try it on and see if it meets approval? Though I should point out that Dorea helped and approved already."
"Oh dear," Dorea whispered faintly.
Marie giggled. "Posey! Could you please bring my bathing suits here for me?"
Crack! A house elf appeared with a small armload of fabric. Dorea tried to signal for the girl to hold off, but Marie just raised an eyebrow. Seeing the small pile of clothing and the strings Charlus and Alphard were beginning to turn interesting shades of red and purple.
"Abso-bloody-lutely not!" Charlus hollered.
Marie set the bathing suits up along the couch. she touched the fringe on the brown and turquoise suit with a grin. The other three suits were blue, purple, and black with silver. They were all simple two piece bathing suits and fairly conservative in comparison to some of the others in the catalogs. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the looks on her friends' faces and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
Turning to Antonio with her green eye sparkling, "So do you think I'm ready for the beaches in Italy?"
Silvano looked at the tiny little bits of cloth and then back to the "little girl of the family." "Not bloody likely! You can't wear that!"
Marie grinned at the challenge, "Oh goody, then I shan't wear anything at all. Wonderful no tan lines!"
Dorea and Nona both fought their amusement and shock at the young woman's behavior. Up until this point she had behaved every inch the conservative little lady. Neither of them could imagine waking up back in their teenage bodies and could see where it would begin grating on the nerves a bit.
"Marie!" James squeaked. "You can't say that! You can't do that!"
"Well normally no, I wouldn't. Skinny dipping is usually done while completely intoxicated, at night, with my girlfriends," Marie answered with wide eyes in feigned innocence.
"Oh I do like you child," Nona Zabini laughed. Antonio's mother Elena grinned and nodded. She had been fairly silent the whole evening.
"It'll be nice having another girl in the family, no?" she asked Nona who laughter heartily.
"Oh you'll do just fine piccola," Nona said affectionately. "We'll have to find you a nice Italian boy to marry."
Marie went rigid and sheet white. "Who said anything about getting married?" she squeaked out.
"Well Nona wants bambinos piccola," the older woman said merrily.
Marie drew herself up and snorted disdainfully, looking every inch the Pureblood princess. "I'll repeat again, who said anything about getting married? I have my own family names and legacies to carry on. Perhaps I shan't marry at all."
Alphard goggled at the girl and chocked on his bourbon once more. He set the glass down, gasping as the liquor burned on the way down. The other males in the room were not in a much better state then the elder Black.
"Young lady, things are simply not done that way," he gasped out.
"Maybe they should be. Perhaps I'll start a Matriarchal line and carry my own family names," she taunted with a playful grin.
"Barmy, completely barmy," James muttered. "Please tell me you're having on us?"
Marie laughed merrily. "For the most part yes I'm joking. Though I was completely honest about the tattoos and skinny dipping. Oh and the alcohol. Come on, I was twenty-one. Lighten up a bit."
"What about my bambinos?" Nona teased.
"Nona, I love you dearly, but there will be no bambinos from me for at least another two decades," Marie said somewhat sadly. "I need to get things figured out before I go back home. Only after the issue with the psychopath Lord Moldy and his minions are taken care of will I even consider babies. Though I'm not completely sold on marriage. I rather like my independence," she teased.
"You expect to go back?" Dorea asked.
"I know that I will. This has to come full circle. I will most likely end up back at or around the time that I came here. There might be a lag of a few weeks, depending on the bend in time. I discussed this with Madam Raglan and the others last week," Marie explained. "We haven't figured out if I'll be going back on my actual birth date or if I'll be going back when I reach twenty-one here."
"So soon?" Dorea whispered.
Marie nodded sadly. "It could happen at any time really. This is why I need to have my network set up and that agreement with the Ministry figured out and ironclad as soon as possible. They want a mercenary and weapon, fine. If it's a tradeoff between me fighting in order to protect mine, so be it."
"I'm guessing that's why you asked me to search for Muggle specialists to train you?" Alphard asked calmly, not liking the idea of the petite girl being front and center of the war that was beginning to break out.
"Exactly! I want and need to be able to fight. Sure I can throw a punch if need be, but I need to be better," she told him earnestly. "If I follow through with what the Minister is asking for, then I'm going to have to fight. If it gets a blanket protection for the others on the inside, then I'll do it. We need to have that box set up for them to drop the information."
"Wait! What are you talking about?" James asked.
"No!' Sirius whispered. "You can't be serious Marie! If they're found out it'll be the death of them all!"
"What other choice do they really have Sirius?" Marie argued. "You're still following that naive belief that they can politely decline and walk away alive. That isn't the case, there is no choice for them. I'm giving them an option and a way to try to counteract what he would destroy."
"But-" he began.
"But nothing Sirius. There is no going back now. I won't halt the plan or turn my back on them. There's too much at stake now," she told him tiredly.
Alphard regarded her carefully and nodded. "I'll bring in two Muggleborn and two squibs who meet the criteria that you requested. They'll be brought here after they've taken the Vow in two days," he said while standing and heading towards the fireplace. He paused and looked at her. "I hope you know what you're doing. There will be a lot of lives on the line after we go through with this. As you said, there will be no going back."
Marie looked at him with determination in her eyes. "Come what may, to the bitter end."
Antonio shared a look with the Prewetts and they nodded. Come what may, to the bitter end indeed. The Marauders caught the look, and even though they were frightened, they too nodded. Marie smiled sadly at them.
"Well it's been a very tiring day," Dorea said. "Dinner will be ready in an hour or so, you're all welcome to join us."
Marie had Posey take her bathing suits and put them away. The twins leered at her playfully. She elbowed them in the gut as the led her from the room back outside. Marie set off at a run, leaving the boys to give chase. James and the Marauders brought their brooms. The twins and Zabinis turned back to quickly floo home to get their own.
Marie looked at them apprehensively, but allowed James to coax her on his broom. He had her sit behind him and hold onto his waist as he launched in the air. She buried her face in his shoulder and trembled a bit at first, but eventually relaxed enough to look around.
"I've got my old broom in the house if you want to try on your own?" James offered. "You'll be fine, we'll get you through the basics and comfortable."
She nodded and he set down on the ground and called for Posey to bring his old broom. Marie looked at the broom and saw that it had the telltale signs of use. James and the others offered her pointers and started with the basics of calling "up" to get the broom to respond to you. The way that they were describing flying and being in the air had her excited. She wasn't afraid of heights, but the idea of falling wasn't appealing. Though even that didn't scare her so much now that she knew how much magic could do.
Marie stood as the showed her and held her hand out over the broom. Steeling herself to give it a go, she hadn't even spoke the words when the broom launched into her hand. She had said "up" mentally, before she could say it out loud. She grinned and swung her leg over the hovering broom.
Once the boys had gotten over their shock they walked her through the basics. Having her fly around close to the ground so that she could get used to the movements and commands of the broom. In a relatively short amount of time they had her up flying with them around the yard laughing as they did laps. Their intended game however, did not happen as it was now getting too dark to play.
"You do realize that now you're going to have to play?" James asked.
"What do you mean?" Marie asked in confusion.
"Bloody Hell Marie! Are you serious?" James asked.
She snorted, "No, but he is!"
"Ha-ha," James said dryly. "You fly better than some of the blokes on the team! You could easily play for the House team!"
"I don't know about that," she said mildly. "Just because I can fly does not mean that I can actually play Quidditch."
"We'll teach you!" he exclaimed.
She rolled her eyes with a grin and carried the borrowed broom over her shoulder like the boys. When she entered the Manor Dorea winked at her and smiled when she saw the broom and her windswept appearance.
"Dad! You should see her!" James exclaimed. "She can fly almost better than I can!"
"Really now?" Charlus asked with a grin.
Alphard had return sometime during their fun outside. He regarded Marie with a glint in his eye and a calculating look. "I think we just found your cover for expanding and branching out internationally Marie," he said with a grin.
"Because I can fly?" Marie asked doubtfully. "It doesn't mean I can actually play though. Let's be serious about this. Do you think that I can really handle a professional game? You all joke about my small size, but honestly? I've seen the brutes that play professionally in James's magazines. I don't think you're all being rational about this!"
James looked green at the thought of her going up against some of the professional beaters. "Perhaps we didn't think this through," he said weakly. "I'm not sure that I would handle it if she played, never mind if she could handle it."
Gideon looked at her five foot frame and nodded, "Aye, she's a wee mite of a thing."
"They'd single her out for sure," Fabian added. "I'm not sure I like the idea anymore."
Dorea watched the interaction and knew the boys were winding Marie up. She shared a look with the other women and hid their amusement. They decided to sit back and watch this play out.
Sirius caught on to what they were doing and hid his grin, "Oh definitely. She'd be too small for any team to pick her up."
Remus's eyes glinted for a moment before he looked at her. He fought back Moony, who was feeling particularly protective of his pack mate. "She is a great flyer, but like she said perhaps she can't play. I mean she's small and fast enough to be a fantastic Seeker, but who's to say."
Antonio and his brothers grinned at each other. They watched the flash of emotions cross Marie's face as the others egged her on. They'd get her to play, and try out for at least one team before she graduated for sure. Antonio glanced at Alphard who winked conspiratorially. Oh this would be good.
Marie glared at them, knowing full well what they were getting at and trying to do. On the one hand, she knew that Alphard was right. It would be the perfect opportunity and cover to network and branch out internationally beyond the families of her Guardians. On the other hand, she had seen Quidditch in school and flipped through James's magazine. It looked dangerous and painful to play. Would it be worth it though?
"While I'll concede that you do have a point Alphard, how will this affect my investments?" she asked with a smirk.
"Well obviously you can't play for a team that you hold stock or partial ownership in," he said calmly. He knew that she had caught them.
"What?!" "Which teams?" were the exclaimed questions asked at the same time.
Marie grinned and said, "I have an eighth share in the Falmouth Falcons, I hold stock in the Holyhead Harpies, as well as the Montrose Magpies."
Alphard looked put out that she had changed the subject. Though she looked at him and nodded, he had to rely on his years of etiquette to keep from letting out a whoop! He'd have to begin networking and pulling strings to get her a tryout as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts the following year if not sooner. At least then she would be over sixteen, though even that was still young.
"Can you get tickets?" James asked getting excited as only a teenage sports fan could. "Can we go to a game?"
Marie looked to Alphard in question. He nodded before answering, "As a partial owner of the Falcons, you have access to part of the owners' box."
Marie laughed at the shouts of excitement. "Well I guess we should look into the schedule and see what works. I will be fairly busy with training, and school and networking," she trailed off.
"But?" James asked in shock.
Marie laughed at his expression. "James while I'm just as excited as you are, there's a lot that I need to get done. Sure it's great that I have some access to the Quidditch world now, but I need to stay focused."
"She's got you there mate," Sirius said quietly. He knew that Marie was treading a dangerous path and hoped that she knew what she was doing.
Marie turned to Alphard with a glint in her eyes and a wide grin. "Does this mean that you're going to be making sure that my pubs and clubs are opened in time with things as well?"
"What?" Silvano asked with a slight laugh as the group entered the dining room.
"I need to be able to move freely among the different social circles. Quidditch, night clubs, and Pureblood gatherings are my main focus right now. I've been networking and quietly gathering allies since I got here," she told him with a smile.
"And how is it that you're not in Slytherin?" Franco Zabini asked sincerely.
Marie laughed, "I told the Hat not to put me in Slytherin. I can move more easily among my peers without the negative connotations of the green and silver ties."
"Wait," Peter interrupted. "The Hat was going to put you in Slytherin?"
She stared at the watery eyed teen and regarded him carefully. "The Hat said that I would have fit well in any of the Houses. It wanted to put me in Slytherin, but I needed to be in one of the other Houses to do what I need to."
"So you're really a Slytherin?" Peter asked in confusion.
Marie smirked coldly at him, "No I wear an effing red and gold tie and sleep in the damn Ivory Tower where we can do no wrong."
"Marie!" Charlus gasped.
"Sir," she began somewhat apologetically. "I know that I've shocked you all a bit today and I promise to slide back into the perfect little princess role in public, but can I please relax and be myself at home?" she asked tiredly. "It's not easy to act all prim and proper all of the time. Even with my own family we were allowed to relax in private with our family and friends."
He nodded, smiling sympathetically at the young woman. Dorea squeezed his hand in agreement and nodded. "Alright my dear. I see what you're saying and get your point."
Dinner was served and the group spent the rest of the evening talking and enjoying each other's company. They made plans to meet up over the rest of break and the teens made arrangements to train Marie in Quidditch and to train with her in combat and defensive tactics. The impromptu dinner party left with well wishes and stronger alliances formed between the families.
Marie spent the rest of her winter break as one big walking bruise. Between training for Quidditch, which she was indeed a brilliant Seeker, and training with the military personnel, her whole body hurt. The boys that joined her, felt similar, especially in regards to the defense and tactical training. They all had purchase tactical pants and combat boots and wore non-descript black t-shirts for their exercises.
The two Muggleborns and two squibs that Alphard had found turned out to be well trained, battle honed fighting machines. They had recently be honorably discharged from Her Majesty's Service and would now be part of a defensive group that would work with Marie. The four men had begun compiling a list of Muggleborns and squibs that they knew of who would be willing to join and help fight. Marie promised them fair wages and acceptance.
It was all part of her plan to come to some sort of an agreement with the Minister. The force that she would be assembling would consist of Muggleborns and squibs that would act as a tactical force that did both recon and special operations against the Dark Lord. The second group from her forces would be working behind the scenes, passing along information for them inside, behind enemy lines. The last group would be her peers that were already clearly fighting for the light. It was a complicated, vast network of allies that she was carefully building.
When she was packing to leave back to school the day before they needed to catch the train, Charlus and Dorea called her down to the main Parlor. She walked down the stairs silently, trying to think of anything that she had forgotten to pack. Smiling, she thought of all the gifts that she had received from her friends. Various pictures and photo albums, perfumes, clothes, books, and so much more. The Potters had gotten her, her very own broom for Christmas! It had been a wonderful Christmas, she thought to herself as she entered the parlor.
Antonio was standing near the fireplace with his Nona. Marie's Guardians had come to agreements about her well-being and decided to meet this evening as a group to discuss her future. Alphard was sitting talking with Charlus and Nikolai Krum. Lady Longbottom was sitting with Dowager Lady Prewett and Dorea. Marie mused that they were all present a bit apprehensively.
"You called Charlus?" Marie said respectfully.
"We wanted to update you on a few things before you leave tomorrow," Charlus told her. "We've got the agreement all finished with the lawyers, it's completely ironclad and there's no way for them to back out of it. It's a legally, magically binding contract that will be signed when each Minister takes office. If they choose not to sign it, it means that the office is breaking the contract and faces the consequences of it. We've also had the Goblins look it over. They're in agreement."
"I suppose that all it requires now is my signature and those of the people that will be affected by it?" Marie asked. "How are we going to make sure that those who are forced to join him are able to sign without suspicion? Do we keep the original at Gringott's and have a self-updating copy at the Ministry?"
"We hadn't thought of that, but that is a very good idea," Alphard said, making not of it.
"Marie, we're here to talk about your future and making sure that you're provided for," Charlus said.
"Wait," Marie interrupted. "I've already got the means to look after myself. You've already done so much for me I cannot ask for you to do any more."
"Be that as it may, you're our ward," Dorea said with a smile. "Should something happen to us while you're here we want to make sure that you have someplace safe and the means to get there."
Charlus stood and drew here to the couch near Dorea. "I know that you have properties of your own, but we have no idea of what state they're in after centuries of disuse. We've pooled together and selected four properties for you."
"But-" her protest was cut off.
"You'll have a townhouse in London down the street from a Potter property, a small villa in Italy near the Zabini estates, a townhouse in Paris adjoining one of the Black properties, and finally a small country home in Montana, Bulgaria near the Krum holdings." Charlus told the stunned young woman.
"Oh my," she said shakily. "Thank you. You really didn't have to, but thank you," she told them gratefully.
The group sat talking for a while, going over the provisions that had been made and the plans that had been established. Marie read over the contract with her Guardians and asked questions about certain clauses and areas that she was unsure of. She promised to sign it at Gringott's the next time that they could all arrange to be there. Portfolios of her new properties were left with her as her growing family bid her good luck and good night. She hugged each of them as they prepared to leave. Antonio grinned at her as he left and told her that he would see her in the morning on the train.
Marie went back to her room and stored her folders in her trunk. She had all of her things packed in her trunk and changed for bed. Climbing under the covers, she allowed her mind to drift and relax. The first week back she would fly with James and show the Gryffindors her growing skills in the sky. She and the others would be joined by their military trainers on the ground to continue their routines on Saturday and Sunday mornings. During the week they would have to train in their own time.
Sighing, she let herself relax. Everything was finally coming together. Drawing a deep calming and soothing breath, she realized that this could really happen, that they could really succeed. With those encouraging and positive thoughts, she let herself drift off to sleep.