The Dark Witch

P.O.V - Albus Dumbledore

Well, I thought to myself, as I too, was sucked into the apparition that had taken Sirius Black, this memory was certainly proving…interesting. And while I managed to snatch the smallest of possibilities of what would occur next from the air, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit muddled. Oh Sirius, the secrets you kept from the world.

After a few moments, the world around me slowly began to materialize. Gone was the grime and filth of the Hog’s Head. Though the many hooded figures seemed to have remained. Instead, I seemed to have found myself in chamber of sorts. Indeed, I would consider it a throne room in its elegancy.

The design of the chamber, however, no matter how majestic it appeared, was very black. With walls made of black marble that still managed to glisten from the sunlight shining down upon it. Sunlight thats origin was a large skylight in the ceiling. The floor appeared to made of similar material as walls, though a few meticulously placed Slytherin green rugs covered over this fact. The chamber also contained a several ionic styled black columns laced with silver. That lined a path to a small staircase in the center of the chamber and at the top, was a large ornate throne. Which happened to be currently occupied by one of the most dangerous wizards in the history of the wizarding world.

So this had been your little hideaway, Tom. I thought calmly. Tom Riddle’s place of operations had never been discovered during, or even after, the first war. It was a well known fact that he had one of course, but none of my own operatives in the Order had been able to achieve an in. Now, it seems, I know better and if Sirius were still alive, I would consider bringing up the fact.

At the sound of a scuffle, I turned my gaze to my left, where it seemed a drunken Sirius was trying to, unsuccessfully; shove away his four surrounding Death Eaters. Who were being supervised by a cold Maria, as all prior emotion had been stricken from her face.

“Well, I see now, daughter, that your plan, however unorthodox, has borne fruit.” Said Voldemort silkily from his throne, “And this, must be the young deviant, Sirius Black. Avery, Rosier, Mulciber, Lucius, you may let the boy go now.” The death eaters silently adhered to his request, while Maria moved away, up the steps, taking her place at her father’s side, “I have heard many things about you, Sirius. Your deviance against your family, your love of mudbloods, your being sorted into Gryffindor, despite your family’s long and proud tradition of being Slytherins, your exceptionally talented magical abilities, and your steadfast loyalty to those you choose to call “friends”. The latter two, I have learned from my daughter, naturally.” Voldemort made a slight gesture with his hand, beckoning Maria closer to his side, “As you are well aware your family maintains no particular fondness of you. “ He paused, giving room for Sirius to speak, though he said nothing. The young man’s eyes too transfixed upon Maria, “I trust you have found my daughter pleasing?” Remarked Voldemort, “I must say, she is a credit to her heritage myself, though she at times forgets it. Turn around Maria.” He ordered, and the young woman quickly complied, “Now lower your cloak.” She did so, revealing her Hogwarts uniform , “Very good.” Said Voldemort calmly, “Now lift up the back of your shirt, daughter.”

Maria froze, her hands limp on her sides, “Maria…”Began Voldemort sternly, as she jumped to comply, lifting her shirt up from the sides, exposing her back to the hordes of death eaters, Sirius, and myself. Voldemort smiled, and then raised his wand, tracing the length of his daughter’s pale back, causing a sizzling sound. A moment passed, after he lowered his wand, before a long green snake began to form. Its head beginning just below her shoulders and the rest of its length disappearing under her skirt, “My daughter,” Began Voldemort softly, his gaze appraising the snake tattoo, “A descendant of Salazar Slytherin and…” He paused, tracing an intertwining pattern with the snake down Maria’s back. It was another moment before a bright red salamander formed there, “and the daughter of Hestia Fina the former queen of the fire elementals.” Said Voldemort, a certain amount of reference in his voice.

Hestia. I thought to myself, my mind racing with this newfound information. I had had dealings with the temperamental queen in the past. Many years past, in fact, I had not seen the queen in over fifty years. It was said her race had died out in an epidemic, around the time Tom had graduated from Hogwarts…interesting. Now, over the years, I have refused to believe in Hestia’s death. The woman was far too stubborn and resourceful to ever allow herself to succumb to disease. Now it seemed she had not only survived, but had formed a relationship with Tom and borne him a child.

One question answered and so many raised. Had there ever been an epidemic? Or had Hestia merely formed an alliance of some kind with Tom that forced her into hiding? No, that seemed unlikely. Had Tom himself, caused the disease, forcing Hestia to turn to him for survival? That seemed the most plausible. But how on earth could Tom have done it?

Fire elementals had once, prior to the epidemic that had targeted their race, been known to be sturdy creatures. Content in their surroundings, with bountiful health, and infinitely long lives. The wizarding world had been stunned to discover, one day, hundreds of thousands of their bodies lying peaceful in their cities. Everyone, including myself, had expected them to suddenly reanimate and go about their merry way, as their kind often did after “death”. But not one of them had ever risen. Leaving the Ministry of Magic with nothing to do, but bury bodies for several years. Until one day, a few years after all their bodies had finally been buried, an official had discovered, that not one, but all of their graves had been robbed. Their bodies stolen. Later they had been believed to have been Voldemort’s main inferi during the first war, but perhaps…

“Now you understand, Sirius, why my daughter is no common witch, but rather, one of fine choice breeding.” Voldemort paused, gesturing for Maria to adjust her clothes, “I took great care in the selection of the mother of my child. Imagine my disappointment when Hestia failed to deliver me a son.” He added coldly, causing Maria to turn her head away from him, shamefaced as she pulled on her robe, “However, a daughter still as its uses. Particular towards males of the world, and she was successful in guiding you to me.” Voldemort added, a bored tone to his voice, as he rose, and made his way down the steps towards Sirius, Maria in toe, “You have been so quite, Sirius. With your reputation I had expected a much more forceful young man. Even your friend, James Potter, put up more of a resistance than you.”

“James?” Asked Sirius hoarsely, his brow furrowing, his eyes for the first time turning away from Maria and towards Voldemort.

“Yes, prior to collecting you, Maria was able to supply me with the rest of your little clan. Minus the rat, of course, and with the addition of the talented little mudblood.” Said Voldemort nonchalantly, now standing only a few feet away from Sirius, whose face had become paler and more strained, Maria in his shadow.

“Where are they?” Asked Sirius, his voice low and menacing, as he overlooked the powerful wizard before him, towards Maria. She showed no emotional response in return.

Voldemort moved to step in front of her, “You seem to be of the opinion that I have harmed them in some way. Quite the contrary, I have seen to their every whim. Given them their every desire…” He stated silkily, tilting his head slightly, “And then I asked them in each in turn, the question I am about to pose to you, Sirius.” Voldemort took a step forward, his wand twitching a little in his hand, “Will you join me? Will you join me and receive everything you ever wanted? Love,” Voldemort stepped aside, allowing Maria back into Sirius’ view, “Family,” He waved his arms around towards his many death eaters, “Loyalty,” He beckoned a death eater forward and motioned for him to reveal the dark mark on his wrist, “You can find it all with me, Sirius.” Voldemort paused, circling the young man, “As did your friends. They’re mine to now, you see.”

The air was heavy for a moment, all eyes rested upon Sirius. Voldemort poised at his side, Maria in his sights. All was quiet. Then, Sirius laughed. His famous bark like laugh.

“That, that is the best you can do?” Sirius began, turning to face Voldemort head on, “Tell me that only you can provide me my ‘heart’s desires’ and then, when you don’t get me hook line and sinker, tell me you’ve already won over my friends?” The chamber was silent, “Well, let me.” Laughter vanished from Sirius’ face as his eyes became dark and stormy, “My friends would never become death eaters. They, like me, despise you. All of us would sooner die than serve you and as for all the rest. I already have it. Love, family, loyalty, from them, and they from me.” Sirius’ gaze briefly turned to Maria, “I don’t need anything you have to offer me.”

Voldemort frowned, taking a step back as his circle of death eaters advanced forward, surrounding Sirius and forcing Maria from his sight. I could see now that a group of death eaters in the back had been concealing James, Remus, and Lily. As they too were brought forward by the death eaters and placed in the center of the room near Sirius.

“Good job, mate.” Whispered James to Sirius. While Lily gave him a warm smile. Remus merely stared at one of his former captors, a mixture of rage and astonishment on his face.

“Very well.” Said Voldemort, “Since the four of you have refused my offer of friendship, you have left me with no other choice. It is such a pity really.” He added as an afterthought. The death eaters raised their wands.

“Wait.” Said Maria, making her way between a hoard of death eaters, the four, and gesturing aside a few more death eaters, to face her father, “May I have a word in private, Dark Lord?” She asked calmly.

Voldemort frowned, but nodded, beckoning her to follow him into an adjacent room.

Well, I thought to myself, I had always known that Voldemort had posed an offer to the Marauders and Lily, but I had never known, or inquired upon the circumstances. I had always assumed that if they had wanted me to be aware, they would have told me. Perhaps I should learn to be more scrutinizing. As my ever inquiring mind might end up more satisfied that way.

Voldemort emerged from the room, a look of deep thought on his snake like face and dare I say, a hint of glee was there as well? Maria followed soon after, her face more solemn than I had ever seen it, “Let them go.” Said Voldemort, turning back to face his daughter, “Drop them back at Hogsmeade. They are of no importance to me and I have other things to attend too.”

“But my lord…” Began the voice of Lucius Malfoy.

“They are to go to Hogsmeade, Lucius.” Said Voldemort firmly, stepping closer to Maria, using his wand tip to brush her face, “Now go.”

The disgruntled death eaters nodded compliantly before grabbing Sirius, James, Remus, and Lily, in turn, and vanishing with varying popping noises.