Lol, wow, here is ANOTHER story. Where do I get them from? REALLY? Well, this one has been on my mind for a while and I've already written about four chapters on it so…I thought I'd begin posting it.

It's quite a bit different to my other ones and I really like my character Amanda. Please review! I'll take anything! Praise, criticism…anything (except death threats, I really don't like them)! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I most definitely do NOT!

Do you ever wonder how you got to a certain point in your life?

Do you ever wonder that if you hadn't done something or had done something then you would be somewhere else, doing something else that would be completely different from what you are really doing?

I'm thinking that now, as I look around the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I'm wondering how I, Amanda Bane from Slytherin, future Deatheater and murderer, ended up in a Hospital Wing right next to the person who I should be killing.

Harry Potter is unconscious and it would really be too easy for me to grab my wand from the small table next to my bed and perform the Avada Kedavra curse on him. But I don't want to.

Nor do I want to kill any of his Mudblood and Muggleloving friends.

I'm at a certain point in my life that's made me come to these decisions, you see.

It's why I don't want to kill anyone. It's why I'm hesitating to open my 'Get Well' card from George Weasley, it's why I'm going to owl home to my mother that I'm not going to become a Deatheater and it's why I'm actually willing to die for a cause.

Confused?

I probably should start from the beginning. Which would be when Dumbledore called me into his office with a mission…

No, it probably goes back a bit further than that. Back to when my father was alive.

Benjamin Bane was my father's name. He was Benjamin to his family and 'Bloodthirsty Bane' to his friends.

I'd rather call him Bloodthirsty. It suits him, because it's exactly what he was. I'd never met him and I couldn't remember a single thing about him, but my mother has told me, most proudly, many stories about him.

"Did you know Amanda," She had said with a gleam in her eye, "That your father once murdered three entire families of Muggleborns? Did you know he once passed a law that allowed Muggles to be legally hunted for a short while? Did you know that he killed nearly two Mudbloods every day?"

You can see that my father wasn't a kind man. It's a relief to me that he died when I was a few months old. He was killed by a group of Aurors that had been hunting him down for nearly a year. He was probably one of the worst Deatheaters to ever have followed in Voldemort's wake. So when he died, he left behind very high expectations of me and a very hard path to follow.

My mother made it her personal goal in life to raise me evil, and therefore it was a personal insult to her when I didn't turn out evil.

For one, I'm not very good with blood. A single drop of it can bring tears to my eyes. Secondly, I always seem to forget my place because I talk to the servants and help without malice. And thirdly, I smile.

More often then not my mother's shrill voice would be echoing around our mansion, " Shame! Shame! You've brought nothing to the family name but shame!"

It's been lucky for me that I've been able to avoid becoming a Deatheater at my age. My mother has always dropped hints about my 'destiny' and she has even outright spoken about it. I've always managed to avoid an answer, which only frustrated her.

Again her voice would be heard echoing around the mansion, "Oh, how you insult the Dark Lord! How you insult the family name! How you deny your duty to this family!"

I didn't see the glory in the dark forces my mother did, nor did I want too. I was a Pureblood and I knew I was better than Muggleborns and Muggles but that didn't mean I would be able to kill them! My father was capable of that, not me. And where had it gotten him? Killed! It seemed a shame my mother wanted me to succumb to the same fate.

So that's where it all started. My murderous father dead, leaving me to follow in his footsteps. My mother trying so forcefully to get me to live up to the 'Bloodthirsty Bane' name and me wanting desperately to escape it all somehow.

That's why I accepted Dumbledore's offer, which is what I've come to now.

I'd only been back at Hogwarts for a few days when Dumbledore had summoned me into his office to talk. I didn't know why and it was a surprise to see my Head of House, Professor Snape, waiting for me at the entrance of the office, next to the Gargoyle statue.

"Professor Snape?" I raised an eyebrow; "Do you know what this is about?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Miss Bane," Snape replied, turning to the statue he said, "Canary Cream."

The statue slid aside and he turned back to me.

"I'm not in trouble. I haven't done anything." I said to his inquiring gaze.

"Yes, well, we shall see about that. Follow me."

I obeyed, walking a few steps behind him up the spiral staircase. When we reached the top we found Dumbledore sitting behind his desk with a large smile on his face.

"Ah Miss Bane, Severus, please do sit down!" He held out his wand, "Tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate?"

"No thank you, Headmaster." Said Snape.

"Oh! Hot chocolate please," I said happily, "With…do you have marshmallows?"

Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, yes. It can be arranged."

He waved his wand and a large frothy hot chocolate appeared before me. With another flick, several marshmallows appeared as well and I immediately took a sip.

Snape eyed me with disdain before he turned towards Dumbledore, "Headmaster, may I inquire as to why you have asked one of my most accomplished students to your office?"

"She is not in trouble." Dumbledore said firmly.

"Then why have you called her here?" Snape demanded politely.

"For a favour. A great favour. So great in fact, that if she complies, I will no doubt be in her debt for a long time." The Headmaster replied gravely.

I put down my hot chocolate and observed Dumbledore curiously, "I don't think there is anything I could do for you, sir."

"On the contrary my dear, there is."

I looked over at Snape who was watching Dumbledore very intensely.

"I don't know what, sir." I said.

"I need you to look after a student for me," Dumbledore said, "I need you to protect them with all of your ability and ensure that they remain safe throughout the school year."

"Headmaster! No-" Snape began but Dumbledore held up his hand, silencing him, and nodded at me to speak.

"I…er, well I guess I could. But are you sure you want me? There are much better Wizards and Witches who could-"

"Are you not greatly skilled at both Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms?" Dumbledore interrupted me.

"Well yes, but I-"

"And are you not also greatly skilled at Duelling and Shadowing?" He continued.

I pulled a face. I didn't see the point of my being able fight and track other living magical creatures.

"My mother had me start lessons for both when I was four, but I still think there are-"

"No, my dear," He interrupted again, "There is no suitor better than you. So, will you do it?"

"No," Snape said harshly, "She won't because she's too young! She's a child!"

"I am not! I'm seventeen and I turn eighteen in a few months!" I said angrily, adding quickly at the look on Snape's face, "Professor Snape, sir."

"There must be some other…" Snape paused thoughtfully, "Is there not a teacher that would jump at the chance to stand guard over famous-"

"Severus please, this is really not the time to get personal. I have asked Miss Bane here because I will consider her and her alone. She is a well trained witch that would be able to carry out the mission without arousing suspicion…unless of course, you would like to volunteer yourself?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Snape looked highly affronted.

"I think I'd be able to handle it." I said determinedly.

"So you will do it?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes! It'd be fun."

"I'm afraid it is not for fun," Dumbledore said sombrely, "It is a task which you should take very seriously."

"Okay I will," I paused, "So who will I be looking after?"

"A sixth year Gryffindor by the name of Harry Potter."

My jaw dropped. Harry Potter? There was no way in the world I would look after that brat! I hated him, like all Slytherin's did. Not to mention my mother would go entirely insane if I agreed. Killing Harry Potter was a dream goal of all Deatheater's.

"Actually, Headmaster, I'm afraid I can't look after him." I said quickly

Dumbledore surveyed me closely over his glasses, "I expected you to say as much once I mentioned the students name. But I honestly feel that you are best suited to the job. So therefore, I offer you protection in exchange for this favour."

I frowned, "Protection from what?"

"The future that awaits you," He looked at me even more closely, "I can ensure you will not have to meet the fate of your father."

"My father…"

Dumbledore nodded, Snape looked furious and I was torn between my answer. I wanted more than anything to not be forced to become a Deatheater. I'd more than willingly looked after stupid Harry Potter if it meant I didn't have too. But there was one, very big, very obvious problem.

"I'm afraid I can't. My mother would-"

"Not have to find out," Dumbledore said, interrupting me again, "Nor would anyone else. I will make it so that this exchange stays entirely between you, myself and Professor Snape."

"But won't Harry Potter know?"

"Not at all," Dumbledore smiled, "I believe that you are so advanced at Shadowing that you can follow him with much stealth and not be seen."

"And you swear that I won't have to become…my father?" I asked carefully.

"I swear on my Aunt Marian's grave." He said seriously.

"Huh?"

"She was my most favourite aunt when I was younger. Always gave me sweets and took me places. I miss her to this day." He explained.

"Oh, well," I nodded, "Anyway. I'll do it."

"Excellent! Harry Potter is in good hands! Thank you so much, my dear. I am very, very grateful." Dumbledore praised.

"Oh, that's all right." I said, feeling my face flush a little.

"But first, to guarantee that this secret remains a secret," Dumbledore held up some parchment, "Please sign this."

I picked up a nearby quill and dipped it in ink before I signed my name at the bottom. Dumbledore followed, smiling happily and Snape paused before he too wrote his, somewhat grudgingly.

"I would also like to say," Dumbledore said pleasantly, "That you are allowed to use any sort of spell or form of magic you wish to keep Harry Potter safe, Miss Bane. Except of course, any of the Forbidden Curses."

"All right, thank you Headmaster."

"No, my dear, thank you. Severus, please escort Miss Bane to Charms. I believe she is verging on being ten minutes late now." Said Dumbledore.

Snape nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder, guiding me back down the spiral staircase in which I had walked up merely fifteen minutes before.

"You do not know what you've getting yourself into." Snape told me as the Gargoyle statue closed after us.

"I do, sir."

"No you don't! You're too young, I'm going to get you out of it," His eyes glittered darkly, "Harry Potter doesn't need another protector. He gets enough leeway as it is without putting my students in danger!"

"Professor Snape-" I went to argue my case but he overrode me.

"It's going to be dangerous! You would not be able to handle it!" He snapped.

"Begging your pardon, sir, but I wouldn't mind in the least if it's more than dangerous," I looked up at him intently, "I would do anything to avoid becoming what my mother wants me to be."

I knew Snape was a Deatheater too, so it was dangerous for me to express my dislike of his sort in front of him. But there was more to Snape than met the eye. As much as I knew I was doing the right thing by swearing I would protect Harry Potter, I knew I was able to speak freely in front of Snape.

He blinked and pushed me ahead of him, "Go on to Charms, you're very late."

"Yes sir!" I smiled and quickly headed off down the hallway.

That was beginning of the turning point in my life. It was where it all started to form. All because I had agreed to be stupid, spoilt, famous, annoying Harry Potter's bodyguard.

A/N: So…bites bottom lip nervously what do you readers think? It different to what I normally do…

And I can admit it's not very interesting at the moment, but I really do think the next few chapters are much better!