The Return of the Dark Witch

P.O.V – Maria Le Fay

I don't know what to do anymore, or where to turn. I'm helpless, at the complete mercy of Voldemort, whose seemly stolen everything from me. My powers, my free will, Sirius…I have no idea how to save him now. None at all. I feel as though my very being has been stripped away from me.

I bit my lip hard, enough to draw blood, as I clung onto Draco. My endless tears wetting his clothes, but he didn’t seem to mind terribly. Merely rubbing my arms and placing a light kiss on the top of my head in response.

I know I frightened him before. He thinks I’m insane, who wouldn’t? I don’t know how to make him understand and I’m not even sure if I should. I don't even know why I tried in the first place.

I took in a deep breath, breathing Draco in as I closed my eyes, feeling his grip around me tighten. My tears slowly beginning to subside. The only thing I understand at this point, is that Draco’s presence is the only thing keeping me sane. He's the life preserver to my drowning in the immense ocean that is my father. I swallowed hard, taking another shuddering breath. He wasn’t who I needed exactly. Who I needed was the ship in the night, Sirius, but Draco was enough. Enough to keep me afloat.

I felt one of his hands run gently through my hair, and I sighed contently in response. Imagining myself away for a moment, that I was safe and happy in the arms of another. The one who I needed.

Sirius always knew what to do in situations like this. He knew just how to tell me everything would be alright and then he would spend the next thirty or so minutes coming up with different ways to fix whatever was the problem. Just like he had in trying to free me from my father many years ago. Sirius never gave up on anything, he just knew how to keep fighting, how to keep moving on. He sacrificed himself because he loved me. That’s why he suffers now. Why he can’t be at peace. All because he loved me and here I am. Crying and wanting to give up.

I frowned at myself, stiffening in Draco’s arms, causing him to tense.

I can’t let Sirius suffer. I won’t. There has to be a way, a loophole. Something…I can’t let him spend the rest of eternity being tortured all because he loved me. Not while I still breathe.

“Becky?” Questioned Draco softly, as I sat up in his arms.

I turned to meet his quizzically expression. I could tell he was wondering if I had returned back to a more normal state of mind. I had, but according to his judgment, I was still going to be worthy of a return trip to the asylum.

“I already told you, Draco,” I began, hardening my expression as I stood up, taking a step back from him, “it’s Maria, Maria Le Fay.” I watched as he continued to look at me like I was insane, unmoving from his position on the floor, “Oh come on,” I started, rolling my eyes and smiling playfully, “You had to have heard of me. Notorious murderer and all…” Okay, now he was beginning to look scared. I could see one of his hands itching for his wand. I pursed my lips, “The Dark Witch, Draco Malfoy. Surely you recognize that name.”

Abruptly, he jumped up, staring at me hard. The expression on his face a mixture of a frown, fear, and pure confusion, as he cocked his head, looking me over, “Really?” He half scoffed, “Shouldn’t you be in your forties or something by now?”

I took a deep breath, looking away from him. Sure Draco, hit upon the one thing I can’t even explain. I looked back at him, meeting his gaze, “Yeah,” I replied softly, honestly, “don’t quite know why I’m not…”

Draco took another step back from me. One that moved him closer to the door. Clearly thinking of running for it. I couldn’t have that. I need him. He’s the only person who can help me save Sirius, “Look, the Dark Witch was supposed to have bizarre powers, right?” I asked, watching him nod his head slowly in response. I tilted my head at him, smirking, “Okay then.” I raised my right hand into the air, concentrating on it, until a small ball of fire appeared. I turned back to look at his shocked expression, “Looky looky what I can do.” I said cheerily, laughing at him as I waved the fire ball in front of my face.

His expression slowly turning skeptical, “What does that prove exactly? That you can do magic?” He drawled, crossing his arms over his chest. At least he didn’t look ready to bolt anymore.

I frowned, closing my hand over the fire, extinguishing it and pursing my lips, “How did I know you were a Death Eater then, Draco? If my father didn’t tell me?” I watched as he paled considerably, looking horrified for a moment, before a flash of anger crossed his face, and he lunged at me, furious.

“Don’t say that.” Draco hissed lowly, his face inches from my own, “If word gets out, my family is dead. You hear me? Dead and if that happens…”

I raised my hand, pushing him back from me, a hard look on my face, “Like I would tell, Draco.” I snapped, my voice soft, “I’m supposed to help you in whatever the hell you’re supposed to do. Not rat you out to the nearest person I can find.” I said coldly, as he continued to glare at me.

“Why?” Draco asked harshly, “Did Snape put you up to this?” He stepped close to me, once again our faces were inches apart, “I don’t need your help, Maria.” He raised his eyebrows, shaking his head slightly, “I don’t need anybodies. I can handle this all on my own…” Draco trailed off suddenly, his gaze beginning to wander from my eyes to my lips, his own eyes darkening.

I took a deep breath, shaking slightly, my lips parting as I forced myself to take a step back from him. Breaking the moment. Watching as he seemed to come back to himself, slowly, “Well, I can’t, Draco.” I said, my voice sounding raspy to my ears. I took another deep breath, his eyes slowly looking upwards to meet my own. His expression blank, as I looked at him, almost pleading, “I’m next to powerless.” I began, smiling slightly and shaking my head, in despair, “I only have borrowed magic, that I don’t know how to use, and I have to save the man I love…” Draco flinched, “from Voldemort.” I bit my lip, edging my way closer to him, as he fought to look away from me, “You have to help me, Draco. I need to re-learn my magic and you can teach me.” He didn’t reply, his eyes fixed upon a wall of to my left. I frowned, taking a step back, glaring at him, “Well then. I suppose I can just tell everyone exactly who,” I gestured to his left arm as he turned to look at me coldly, “you are this year.”

Draco clenched his teeth, his right hand forming a fist, “You wouldn’t.” He said flatly. I smirked,

“Don’t know me very well, do you Draco?”

I watched as his expression darkened within seconds, his hand reaching into his robes, withdrawing his wand. Pointing it directly at me, “And you don’t know me.” He sneered, taking a step forward, as I took a deep breath, eying his wand, “I wouldn’t even give you the chance to tell someone.” Draco tilted his head at me, “You really think I would risk my family?” He snapped lowly, his wand hand shaking, “I can make you forget. You won’t remember anything once I’m done with you.”

I looked away from his wand to meet his cold eyes, and laughed, “It’s already been done, Draco.” I stepped back from him, throwing my hands helplessly into the air, “Haven’t you been listening to me? I’ve already been made to forget everything.” I choked a little, blinking back a sudden bout of tears as I looked down, away from him, “I’m just now remembering things…” I added softly.

“Do you want to forget again?” I heard Draco ask gently, his voice close. I looked up to see that he was now standing less than a foot from me. All the anger in his face gone, his wand lowered, a concerned expression on his face as he searched my eyes, “I can make it go away.” He began softly, “All the memories, all the pain…” I looked away from him, but he raised his hand to my face, gently forcing me to meet his gaze, “I can heal you from whatever has been done to you.”

My breath caught, unshed tears in the back of my eyes. To forget…to not have to remember everything I did…to not have to live with the knowledge. One spell and Draco could free me. There would be no more pain…no more Sirius…

I shook my head slowly, smiling slightly, “No, I need to remember.” I replied softly, holding his gaze, until he blinked and looked away, withdrawing his hand, “Will you help me, Draco?” I asked, as he backed away from me, once again not meeting my eyes, and uncomfortable look on his face.

I frowned, stepping forward, my eyes watering, “Draco, if you don’t help me, he’s worse than dead. Please.” I begged, looking at him imploringly, as he slowly raised his head.

“Who is he?” He asked, a slight irritation to his voice as his brow furrowed, “This ‘love of your life’ you keep going on about?”

I didn’t hesitate before replying, “Sirius Black.” I said softly, watching a look of disbelief and shock appear on his face.

“That blood traitor?” Draco scoffed, as I glared at him, “Oh you can do so much better.” He met my gaze a strange look in his eyes, before he continued, “Besides, he’s dead. Died a few months back. Reckon it’s a little late to be saving him.” He drawled, an odd tone to his voice, as he began to turn away from me.

My eyes widened briefly, as I raced forward, placing my hand on Draco’s shoulder. Stopping him and turning him back to me, “That’s precisely why I have to save him.” I said quickly as Draco eyed me over, his gaze distant, “I’m half fire elemental, Draco, and I sold myself to Voldemort.” His eyes widened at that, his mouth agape, “I married Sirius shortly after that” Draco shrugged my hand away, stepped back from me. His eyes cold as he crossed his arms over his chest, “and when I did, it caused him to be bound to both me and Voldemort. So once he died…”

“The Dark Lord’s torturing his soul isn’t he?” Said Draco softly, his eyes locking with mine, a confused expression forming on my face,

“How do you know that?” I asked, frowning, tilting my head curiously, as Draco looked away from me. A pained expression on his face before he returned to my gaze,

“Let’s just say I was informed of all the punishments that could await my parents.” He replied flatly, I swore I could almost see tears in his eyes.

I took a deep breath, “So will you help me?” I asked softly, pleading with him yet again. If he didn’t help me, not only would I never see Sirius again, but I wouldn’t have someone to help me learn my magic. Not that I doubted the teachers of Hogwarts, but I needed all the help I could get.

I watched as he swallowed hard before nodding his head slowly, “Meet me in the common room tonight at seven.” Said Draco sharply, before slipping out of the classroom, “Don’t be late.”