Choices
A story of the Raven

by Lev Stone

He has an heir. Leona told me he has an heir. Marvolo Slytherin. Even the name reeks of his evil.

"He was born last month, Mother. Aunt Helga told me about his birth. She expects trouble," Leona said, "I'm afraid the Dark Wizards may try and take over Hogwarts. Medea's only beginning her third year. And you should beware too."

I never thought Leona was that na•ve. Dark Wizards would not dare to rise up against Hogwarts again. Helga is too strong now and she controls a veritable army of loyal wizards who would rise to her aid. Medea already knows enough of the ancient magic to join their ranks, Helga and I both saw to that. As for me, the Glen protects me. The Dark Wizards couldn't find me when I avenged Godric. Even if they know that I still live, they'll never find me.

I have to kill the heir. Marvolo Slytherin must not live past infancy. The Sight has shown me the future. Great evil will come from his line. If I don't kill him, then the blood of thousands will be on my hands.

I wonder how Helga feels about the birth. If I can foresee danger, then I have no doubt she can also. It's ironic. Throughout our lives I was the better skilled witch. But all that ability cannot save me from my approaching death; I know it's coming and I've accepted it. She, on the other hand, has only become more vibrant as the years passed. Leona thinks she'll live for at least another century. Probably much longer.

Ah Helga, I miss you so much. You were my sister, my confidante, my ally, and my best friend. The few letters that have passed between us since my exile have not allowed me to express the depth of my sorrow over our separation.

But I hate you too, and you know it. Why else would you never visit me here? I am alone in the Glen. The students who should be ours surround only you. The other three houses, I don't care about, but the Eagle House was mine. Now I fear even my memory is gone from that place, save for Medea.

How I miss Hogwarts Castle. There's no pleasure like that of molding the minds of young students and introducing them into the mysteries of magic. I miss sitting in my students' dormitory, now called the Ravenclaw wing. I demanded that we call it Ôthe Aerie,' but my students privately dubbed it Ôthe Bird's Nest.' Medea tells me they still call it that. I wonder if they still have philosophical conversations that last through the night. Do any professors join them like I did? How my heart yearns for a return. Now I have no one, not even my daughter or my granddaughter. I am alone.

Medea writes to me whenever she visits Godric's grave. It reminds her of my existence. Her mother did that too. Ah Godric, my love, my life, why was fate so cruel to take you from me? Your death shattered my soul. But Helga hurt me even more by refusing to let me take you to the Glen for burial, separating us forever.

"This is his castle, Rowena," she said to me, "And he's the founder of this school. He should be buried here. I won't let you take his body."

My fate is to be buried here in the Glen. There can be no other resting spot for me. But dearest Helga, I can never forgive you for this.

Would Godric have loved me if he were still alive? My hair, once as black as the night sky, is now completely gray. Powerful witch that I was, I could not stop time. But my Godric, he will always remain young. Godric, my darling, I pray we shall meet in the next life. I just have one task left. End the Slytherin line.

Slytherin. Because of Slytherin, I no longer have you by my side, beloved. The vile traitor. It's my fault that he was invited to found the school. I convinced you to let him join us when you were hesitant. You slew him to protect me. I killed your murderer to avenge you and was forced to hide. I used the Gift for evil, and I accept my punishment. But I won't allow Salazar's evil to return. Marvolo Slytherin will not live through the week.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rowena left the Glen and set out toward the marshes where Salazar Slytherin lived decades before. Despite the failing aid of the Sight, it was not difficult to locate her prey. Nor did she waver in her determination. Every step brought another vision of destruction - a wizard calling forth the dreaded basilisk. Rowena saw the same wizard kill a woman and a child whom she knew were of her blood. The bodies of the dead lay ghostly before her path and she shivered at the evil to come.

But as she drew closer to the baby, she saw different visions. The child would not just be the father of evil. Rowena saw wizards and witches honored by their towns for their work in alchemy, in transfigurations, in potions, in culture, and in a myriad of other areas. Marvolo Slytherin himself would be recognized as a paragon of virtue and honor among wizards of his generation.

Rowena cleared her mind to see only the shadow dead before her. She heard an unearthly sound, vaguely resembling a screaming child and crept toward the noise. Only she could hear it, that she knew. The screaming led her straight to the room where Marvolo Slytherin slept.

There was only one woman guarding him, but she dozed gently in a chair by Marvolo's crib. Perhaps she was his mother, or maybe just his nurse. Rowena quietly made her way into the room. She touched the woman lightly on her forehead.

"Sleep," she crooned. The woman drifted further into slumber. She would not wake up until long after it was too late to save the child.

Rowena peered into the crib. Marvolo was not sleeping. He looked up at her, smiled, and cooed happily. The smile broke her heart and filled her with rage at the same time. She lifted her arm to curse him, but stopped herself.

"If I'm to do this," she muttered to herself angrily, "it cannot be with magic. I'll not use it to kill again. My own hands are good enough."

She leaned over the crib and covered the baby's nose and mouth with her hand. The baby started to flair his arms and kick his legs out. Rowena bit her lip. Marvolo tried to cry, but could not. In his eyes there was a look of confusion and fear. Rowena felt her arm shake.

"No!" she screamed, quickly removing her hand from the baby's face. She curled into a ball at the side of the crib and started to sob hysterically, "What am I?"

The baby started to wail. Instinctively, Rowena rose to her feet to pick up little Marvolo and comfort him. For an hour she held him. She saw the woman in the room start to stir; the spell was ending. Rowena lay Marvolo back down into his crib and left the room as quietly as she entered.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I never left the Glen again. After my return, I was too weak to even think of leaving. It was difficult enough to summon Leona and ask her to take care of me. She's a good daughter and I'll miss her. Leona wrote to Hogwarts to tell Helga that I was dying. She won't come in time, the letter will not arrive until after I am dead. There is not enough time left for me.

I try to picture Helga's face and I cannot. I no longer see with my eyes anymore; I can only see through the Sight. That I have it though, and it's strong againÉ I weep with joy. I have redeemed myself.

After Godric was killed, I forgot who I am. I am a daughter of the Raven. Vengeance is not worthy of my heritage. Killing Marvolo, an innocent, would forever separate me from my Amazon ancestresses. But I saw what I became and begged for penitence. I sacrificed my health and my sight so that I may be redeemed. When I tattooed the woad raven upon my brow, the final act of contrition, I knew I was forgiven because despite my failing eyes, the Sight was never stronger.

If there's hope for me, then I have faith for the future. Maybe even Marvolo's descendents will forsake the path of evil.

My time on this earth is almost over. I can feel the life seeping out of me. Perhaps my soul is preparing for its next body, or maybe it will wait and rest a while. I have nothing to offer Marvolo, no way I can thank him for his aid. I can only offer one blessing, not magical, but a gift nonetheless.

For you, Marvolo Slytherin. For all your descendents. I bless you. I, Rowena of the Glen, called Ravenclaw by some, offer you this benediction:

May the all-Mother, the first of us and the greatest, grant you and your family peace and prosperity, that none of you should know suffering or pain. That you use your gifts and your talents wisely. And that at your darkest moments, you can still feel Her light.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Leona did not know what her mother's final thoughts were. But even though she wept when the life left Rowena's body, she felt that her mother had finally found peace.