Chapter Five

Marie woke up in a foul mood, her head hurt and her eyes were all puffy and sore from the tears she had cried during the night. She’d been woken by what she assumed to be a house elf and told that Dumbledore wished to see her at her earliest convenience which she translated to mean asap, but she knew she had a few things to get straight with Jason first.

She took a last look at her herself in the full length bathroom mirror, wishing she could wipe away the redness around her eyes and left her rooms.

Jason was already in the communal sitting room and looked up at her as she walked in. Taking a deep breath she walked over to where he sat.

“We need to talk about last night.” she began.

“Marie, I’ve already said it was a mistake, can’t we just let it drop?” he interrupted.

“No we can’t. If we’re going to get out of here then I need to know I can trust you and right now? I want nothing to do with you, so we’ve got a problem, wouldn’t you say?, “ she spun away from him, “god Jason what did you think was going to happen? We had sex Jason, wonderful, glorious mind boggling sex but that’s all it was.” she continued, hoping to which ever god was listening that he wouldn’t see through her lie.

“Are you sure that’s all it was?” he queried, getting up from the sofa and walking over to her.

She swallowed heavily as he neared her, staring intently at her with his intense electric blue gaze.

She squared her shoulders and faced him.

“Yes, that’s all it was. I was distraught and needed comfort so you offered the basest form of comfort there is. Sex. I mean, God, what did you think Jason? Did you think I was going to declare my undying love for you from the rafters and expect you to marry me?,” She backed away from him and walked towards the door. She hesitated before opening it and turned back to him.

“You’re not the first man to fuck and run and I dare say you won’t be the last. I’m off to see Dumbledore, you can wait here seeing as you’re not even meant to be here.” she said dismissively before opening the heavy oak door and walking out into the corridor beyond. It was only when she was sure the door was shut behind her that she let the façade fall from her face.

Marie walked through the old stone corridors, not having a clue where she was going and not caring. She didn’t seem to notice all the people in the portraits that lined the walls staring and pointing at her. Her eyes were covered with a film of unshed tears, blurring her vision as she went over in her head all that had happened to her in the previous two days. With no warning she went smack into an immovable object and found herself pushed back, falling flat on her backside. She looked around, momentarily stunned, before her eyes settled on a pair of very shiny black boots directly in front of her. She pushed her mop of crazy curly hair out of her eyes.

“What the f…” she began then stopped as she looked up at a tall , scowling man with black hair, black eyes and dressed from head to toe entirely in black, his aras crossed defensively across his chest, and gulped. If the descriptions in the books were indeed correct then she had just walked, literally, into Professor Snape, who was now looking at her as if she were an insect under a microscope.

She struggled to her feet when it became evident that he was not going to help her.

“Why don’t you look where you are going.” he began before taking a good look at her, “You’re not a student and I don’t recall seeing you around here before. Who are you?” he asked, pulling his wand out so fast she had to jump back to avoid being smacked in the face by the tip.

“My name is Marie Morgan, and I’m looking for Professor Dumbledore’s office.” she said, her voice a little shaky. She began to fiddle with her hair. It was a nervous habit she had.

“Ah, Dumbledore’s…guest.” he sneered before lowering his wand but not putting it away

“Well, Miss Malfoy, “ he said, “ for that is your true name is it not? I would suggest you do not walk around these corridors alone. The name of Malfoy is not really welcome anymore and there are those who might…take action against you simply for having the name.”

Marie felt a wave of anger rush up and overtake her at the sight of the bullying man in front of her.

“Well if you would just tell me where I can find Professor Dumbledore’s office instead of threatening me, however thinly veiled your words might be I recognise a threat when I hear one.”

Professor Snape moved in closer to her so that she could feel his breath on her cheek.

“I am not threatening you, you silly child, I am attempting to warn you. However, it is entirely up to you whether you chose to listen to me.” he pulled back and stared into her grey eyes with his black ones.

She looked at him, puzzled when she felt a tickle; a whisper across her mind. She mentally retreated and slammed a metaphorical door causing him to chuckle.

“Albus was right, you are a strong one, still it remains to see if you will be strong enough.” He turned to leave, “Dumbledore’s office is around that corner.” He pointed to her left, leaving her in absolute bewilderment as to his words.

Marie walked around the corner and found herself in front of the huge gargoyle type things that protected Dumbledore’s office.

“Acid Pops.”

The huge wings sprang apart and she stepped onto the moving staircase.

She walked up to the door of Dumbledore’s office and walked in without knocking. She walked straight over to his desk and coughed loudly for he was sat with his back to her.

“Good morning Miss Malfoy.” he began

“Morgan. My name is Marie Morgan not Mariana Malfoy.” she stated, getting angry. What was it with the man in this world? Even Jason had… she stopped that thought and concentrated on the man in front of her.

“I do apologise but you will need to get used to being called Miss Malfoy and the sooner you start the better.” Albus looked at the woman in front of him, noting the red eyes, pinched looks and hair that was so out of control it brought to mind a previous student. He smiled carefully, so as to not push her into anger.

“Listen Professor, you haven’t shown me a single piece of evidence that Malfoy is my real name so until you do I think I’ll stick with Morgan. As it is just call me Marie. Dammit.” her words came out in a rush. Marie felt woozy for a few moments and wobbled on her feet.

“Are you ok…Marie?” Albus asked, concerned.

“No I‘m not alright. In the last 48 hours I’ve been transported to a place I thought was a fairytale, been told that everything I ever thought about my family and my life is a big fat lie, had a run in with that obnoxious Professor Snape and to top it all off I’ve lost my best friend.”

She looked up into the concerned face of the elderly wizard and sighed.

“I am so sorry Marie, I had hoped to bring you here under more controlled circumstances but, alas, it was not meant to be,” Dumbledore paused for a moment. ”What do you mean you’ve lost your best friend?” he asked, puzzled.

“Well…last night…Jason and I, well I was distraught and he, we…”

“Forgive my intrusion but I meant to say, what makes you think you’ve lost him? What happened afterwards?”

“Oh,” Marie blushed as Dumbledore’s words sank in. He had already known. How the hell did he do that?

“Well, ‘afterwards’,” she carefully enunciate. “He told me it had been a mistake, and then this morning words were said, I said some nasty things and I left him in our rooms. He’s been my best friend for six years now and I can’t think of life without him.”

“Good friends will always stand by each other and look out for each others best interests in hard times. But if one friend is looking out for their own interests then you have trouble. Now, Marie, I suggest you go back to your rooms and have a long talk with Jason. Nothing will get done whilst you are in this distracted state. I will have my personal house elf escort you back and prepare some food for you.”