Crack.
I fall to my knees, gasping for air in the middle of a lane that is at first unfamiliar to me. Catching my breath, it takes me a few moments to realise that I have overshot my target by a few miles. No matter, in my current shaken state it is probably best that I take a few hours to rearrange my thoughts.
Running a hand through my long tangles of mahogany hair, my face looking more haggard than my years should allow, I begin to contemplate how I came to be in my present situation. After all, I was… no, I am a good Death Eater, always doing what my Lord asks of me.
Precisely.
As I walk brusquely through the doors, the dark silhouette of my master, my Lord, turns to acknowledge my entry. His striking frame is outlined by an eerie glow cast by the fire behind him, making him appear more imposing than ever. I bow before him, throwing myself to one knee.
“Travers, so good of you to come so quickly,” the Dark Lord greets me icily. “I have a small task for you … small, but still rather important, mind you. I am in need of a spy, you see. Someone who can provide me with inside information on an organisation that has become quite bothersome for me.” He pauses just then, scrutinising my dark eyes as though in the deepest of concentration. “Yes, you will do just fine for this task. You are very eager to please, are you not?” he asks in an appraising way, as if reading my thoughts. I merely incline my head in response.
“I need you to follow someone for me, a girl that I need to come into our fold. It won’t be easy getting her to switch sides. Do what you must,” he sneers. “Seduce her. Charm her. When she is sufficiently spellbound by your entrapments, we can convert her.”
The Dark Lord’s pale lips attempt to form a smile, yet it comes off looking more like a sneer as I reply, “yes, my Lord.”
I remember now. It is because I am a good Death Eater that I find myself in this current predicament, though not by fault of my Lord. No, never that. It is her fault I am here. Her fault entirely. My charge was never one to follow the rules. If she had been I would never have been sent to entice her.
Pulling myself off of the hardened ground, I set out for my destination. The bright moon above can not penetrate the shrouded darkness of the forest that surrounds me. From the corner of my eye, I think I see movement and abruptly stop.
A gust of wind has blown some leaves out onto the lane. They dance and intertwine upon themselves. Their movement reminds me of another with a more substantial lithe frame, though on a much brighter day.
I’ve been following her for over a month now and her beauty still amazes me. The fact that she’s a pureblood as well makes her even more appealing. Too bad she runs with a lot of blood traitors and Mudbloods; she would have been a good candidate for a wife. Maybe she still could be if I could change her way of thinking.
I am jarred from my thoughts as my quarry passes by me. She turns around gracefully and winks at me with her piercingly deep golden eyes, only to exit Flourish and Blotts a second later with a swish of dark blonde hair. No, I mustn’t lose sight of her now! She’s noticed me. I know I should feel perturbed at this revelation, but somehow, all I feel is euphoria. How many times have I wished that she would notice me? There are too many to count.
Exiting the store, chasing after her, I look right and then back left, finally spotting her not fifty yards from where I stand. Will she be able to hear me if I call to her?
“Madam, madam,” I call after her, praying that my voice does not betray my anxiety.
As she whirls around, her dress robes caress each curve, perfectly showing off her exquisite frame. She tries to hide a smile as she intercepts me; her beautiful eyes catch the sunlight, glowing with amusement. I would give anything to know what she is thinking at this moment.
“Yes, may I help you?” Her voice is soft and it tinkles in my ears.
“Ah… miss, did you not just wink at me back there?” I inquire, giving a small laugh.
“Why, yes. I believe I did. Did you follow me all the way out here just to ask me one little question?” she teases. She appears to be having a good time toying with me, so why not give her a dose of her own medicine?
“Well, umm… no! I would like to know your name as well. A beautiful bird like you has to have an equally exquisite name.” What a stupid line! I should just shut up now and walk away.
Fortunately her eyes light up and she gives a small smile - maybe she does not find me as corny as I find myself. “Marlene, Marlene McKinnon. Since you now have my name, I think it only fair I know yours.”
“Travers, at least that’s what my friends call me. Would you like to join me for a drink in The Leaky Cauldron?” What in the world am I thinking! I can barely string a few sentences together and I’ve invited her for drinks – she’ll say no. She’ll definitely say no.
“Yeah, sounds like fun,” Marlene exclaims.
We continue to talk and flirt all the way to the entrance of the pub, pausing here and there to glance in shop windows. Marlene seems to be enjoying herself in my company. What a surprise, I can carry on a conversation with a girl. Maybe this won’t be so hard after all.
Yes, it’s all her fault. The assignment had been for me to seduce her, but I had fallen under her entrapments of beauty much too soon. I should have known better. However, my Lord had entrusted me with this duty, and it was not an option to turn him down.
As I draw closer to my journey’s end, two deer prance out into the moonlight from the dark forest. A buck and a doe, the latter recalling yet another memory from these last several months.
As I take another bite of raspberry tart, I risk a furtive glance at her once again. We have been on several outings since she first winked at me in Flourish and Blotts, and with each one my heart grows fonder of her company.
I have made quite a bit of progress since that first chat in Diagon Alley. I no longer feel as though my heart is trying to escape through my chest when she comes near. Quite possibly, my initial reaction was from the shock of talking to her after longing to do so for what seemed an eternity.
Marlene shakes me from my reverie as she touches my arm. “Abracan, look,” she murmurs as she points toward the tree line where a doe stands with her young.
We can not be more than twenty yards from where they stand. In an attempt to recall the last time an animal, any animal, has come this close to me, the only thing I can think of is the Dark Lord’s snake and it sends a shiver down my spine, reminding me of my present orders.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”
“Oh, umm… no, I’m fine. Just a twitch. They’re not very timid, are they?” I ask, trying to veer the conversation back into a calmer direction.
“No, they’re not, but they are beautiful,” she exclaims in a whisper so as not to scare off our visitors.
“You know, they’re not the only un-timid, beautiful creatures I see in this clearing.” I flash a rogue smile in her direction.
“I swear your lines grow cornier every time we talk!”
“That’s because I no longer have to try so hard… you’re already taken with me as it is.”
Marlene moves toward me, her right hand outstretched as if to playfully shove my shoulder. With her cheeks flushed from laughter and her golden eyes alight, she looks more beautiful than I have ever seen her. I cannot help myself.
I counteract her move, leaning in gently. I place my left arm behind her neck and bring her face close to mine. With my free hand, I brush a strand of hair out of her shocked face, tucking it behind her right ear and tracing her jaw line to the point of her chin. Her breathing has become ragged and her eyes question my intentions.
“You can still stop me if you want to,” I whisper into her ear. Slowly my lips follow the same path that my fingers occupied mere moments ago and I lightly kiss her where they left off. “Do you want me to stop?”
A small smile pulls at the corners of her delicate mouth as she shakes her head ‘no’ in a fluid motion. With that I kiss her, our first kiss, gently on her lips.
I had finally managed to do something right and she fell willingly into the seduction. However, I had not had plans of following her as I had. The months that had followed that kiss were blissful. I was doing my assignment, or so I thought.
I began to find ways of hiding my forearms from her when we were together. I even went as far as casting Effingo Translatum, a duplication illusionment charm, on my right forearm and transferring it to my left to hide my Mark when I knew it would be in view.
I should have known better. My forearm wasn’t the only thing that had some illusions. I continue along my set path.
She murmurs lightly as I watch her sleep. Her head lies daintily on my chest, her arm draped across my waist as though she is afraid I’m going to escape. I kiss her forehead lightly and look at the difference between the creamy skin on her shoulder next to my tanned forearm. Lifting my left arm, I look at the spot where my Dark Mark should be visible. The Duplication Illusionment charm seems to be holding well; I can’t see a trace of the secret that is hidden beneath it.
I know the time is coming for me to reveal myself to her for what I truly am and request her allegiance to the Dark Lord. Will she join me on this side? If not, will she hate me? Will she turn from me in disgust? Would I be able to accept her decision if she did? These thoughts and more run through my mind as we lie in what would have been better served as a marriage bed.
“I love you,” she whispers in her sleep.
Illusions. It was more than that, though, I was completely delusional when it came to the relationship. Even now I have some misconception. I am still not sure why I let myself fall so deeply into the façade. Was it her beauty or her seemingly unwavering love?
Her unwavering love. That thought brings a morbid chuckle from within me and the echo that returns from the empty forest sounds like that of a maniac.
A small drop of water lands on my cheek. Wiping it away with the back of my hand, I look toward the heavens. The bright moonlight has been replaced by a patch of roughly outlined storm clouds that begin to lightly release their burden onto the land before me. Lightning crashes along the sky, and the falling droplets are illuminated, shimmering like that of another form of wetness from earlier this morning.
She looks at me through tearful pleading eyes. “How could you even ask such a thing, Abracan? Don’t you know me at all?”
Her last question cuts me to the quick. If only she knew. I feel I know her better than I have ever known myself. She has been the only one to show me warmth, love that I never knew existed. But what am I to do now? She has refused to join in my side of this war that we are both involved in.
“I’m sorry. I should not have come here to ask you this. I should have never entered your life to begin with.” The emotion in my voice betrays the calm façade I have portrayed thus far. I turn to leave.
“Abracan, no, don’t go. There’s still hope for you, hope for us, if you want it. I’ve known of your allegiance long before now, since the day we first met. You’ve asked me to join your side, and that’s not something I can do. But, darling, have you thought of joining my side?” she inquires in a whisper, positioning herself closer to me from across the room all the while.
I consider her offer for a split second; a split second that I know will cost me later. What kind of world does she think this is? One without consequence? I learned long ago that betrayal begets betrayal, and to do so to the Dark Lord would mean certain death. How could she ask that of me? Does she want me to die?
My voice takes on a slightly vicious edge. “I don’t serve beside Mudbloods and blood traitors,” I snarl.
“Well, then, I guess we know on which side we stand.” Her face has hardened. Her eyes narrowed and her back straight, she turns away from me as I storm out of the house.
It shouldn’t be long now. I can see my destination off in the distance.
At that time I hadn’t been sure what type of reception to expect upon returning to my Lord. However, now I did. I know now that failing is not an acceptable result of my new mission.
My new mission… my new mission. My thoughts are still somewhat confused where that is concerned, yet somehow I know without a doubt that I am traveling on the proper course, the course my Lord has set for me.
I find myself in the presence of the Dark Lord once again, though this time is slightly less enjoyable compared to the last.
I have failed him and he is not pleased.
His visage is framed just as before by the eerie fire light, he turns and raises his wand upon my entrance.
Pain.
Pain like I have never known shoots through my body and I find myself writhing in agony on the cold stone floor.
After several minutes I realise that the pain has stopped after… I do not know how long, and my Lord speaks to me, his tone not favorable. “So, you left her alive. Alive? After she has already told you what she knows,” he hisses. “You must fix your mistake and be thankful that Lord Voldemort is such a forgiving master.” My eyes widen with clarity. The Dark Lord wants me to…
I stand before her door, the very door I walked out of earlier that morning. I have not fully recovered from my punishment, but my wand hand is steady enough. Should I enter quietly with a rap on the door, letting her think she has won me over to her side, that I couldn’t live without her? No, even I am not that unmerciful.
With heavy thoughts weighing my mind, I think Confringo and blast my way through the door.
She is waiting for me, but she is not posed to duel; she is merely sitting at the kitchen table, wand held loosely in hand, staring at me through red rimmed eyes. “So this is it, then. I imagine Voldemort has sent you to kill me,” she states, scoffing at her own words. She had seen this coming. I never gave her enough credit.
“Don’t use his name. Never use his name.” I can’t even look her in the eyes.
“Look at me, damn you! If you can come to my home to murder me, you can at least look me in the eyes!”
I look up; her golden eyes are on my dark ones in an instant. They are no longer pleading but alight with fury. I see her wand moving towards me in a swift fluid motion as I feel my wand slip to the tips of my fingers. I counter it with Protego, thinking it within the confines of my mind.
Our duel continues through silent frustration as we weave in and out of the path of different spells, until finally, Marlene decides to send a chair in my direction. I dodge it as it crashes into the wall. She is merely trying to incapacitate me. I would have thought she would be trying to kill me as I am her.
Then it seems everything happens within a split second.
“Bloody hell, woman!”
She is surprised by my outburst.
“Can’t you have enough rage to want to kill me?”
She reaches her hand out towards me as though to comfort me.
“Avada Kedavra,” I scream, the first verbal spell of the duel, before I realise the meaning of her motion.
“Oh,” she manages to gasp in surprise before the jet of green light hits her squarely in the chest and she crumples to the floor, her hand forever reaching towards mine.
“M-marlene?” I rush to her side. Her golden eyes still hold a look of shock, but they are no longer alight with the life they once held. Tears flood my own eyes; tears that I did not know existed.
My heart is breaking. No… it is dead. It died along with her.
Her life for mine. Her vibrant life for my pitiful excuse for one. I had never lived before her, before my Marlene. I merely went through the motions.
“Dear Slytherin, what have I done?” I cry, crouching down and gathering her lifeless shell into my arms.
~fin~
