The Contract

Chapter 54

The Dark Lord Voldemort, becoming increasingly better known as Headmaster Aurelius Adamos-Slytherin to all but those in his service. A year, he had been well known as the Headmaster, and that school year had come to an end. Tomorrow morning the students would have their breakfast and depart on the train for the summer holidays. On one hand he couldn't believe a year had gone by so swiftly. On the other, he was grateful, he certainly needed the rest.

If anyone assumed the Headmastership was something easy, he would most certainly prove otherwise. It wasn't about sitting in the office just waiting for someone to be sent to the Headmaster's office. He had paperwork constantly coming out of the woodwork, owls to answer and pays to ensure got to his employees on time. Although, once Hogwarts did start back up it did get easier without timetables to assess and arrange to fit the schedules. With more professors it had taken a lot of fiddling with - which should have been the opposite - but he'd gotten it done.

"Headmaster? How can I help?" Marcus Dolohov asked with deference when he entered the Headmaster's office. He had received a note to come to his office after dinner, and that's exactly what he was doing. He knew better than to call him 'My Lord' or any other variation of it.

"Ah, yes, Mr. Dolohov, how have you enjoyed your apprenticeship here at Hogwarts?" Tom asked, turning away from the window, observing the young man. You could tell he was related to the Dolohov's without knowing his name. He was strikingly like his father, Antonin.

"Yes, Sir, it's been amazing," Dolohov declared, sitting when the Dark Lord gestured for him to do so. Wandless magic class was difficult to teach, especially the second years and upwards, who weren't used to it, much easier to teach the first years who had no expectations.

"I'm pleased to hear that," Tom nodded, "A new contract will be issued if you wish to continue on as a trainee professor here. The contract is in this file, sign it and get it back to me before the beginning of the new term." Handing over the file, with a letter with a note scribbled at the front. Giving him a stern look.

"Yes, Sir," Dolohov replied, giving a nod, he was going to have a very demanding summer. The news that everyone in Azkaban - who hadn't received a single trial in front of a jury of their peers - being given a trial meant there was hope for his father after all. He knew there was plans in the making, and he couldn't wait to see his father again. His mother had never taken him, his father had demanded that she not. His father didn't want to see him in such conditions. He refused all visitors and thus, he hadn't seen him in twelve years. "Was there anything else?"

"No, you may go," Tom declared, having already put his instructions in the file, trusting the wizard to see it through.

"Yes, Sir," Dolohov said, standing up, giving him a nod before he exited the Headmaster's office. Excitement thrumming through him, he was continuing on at Hogwarts. It would take three to four years before he'd be qualified to be a teacher and teach on his own. It would be worth it; he'd never thought for a moment he'd get to teach at his alma mater.

Marcus made his way back to his personal quarters; in an area of Hogwarts he'd never known existed actually when he first got employed. Then again, with the mass of classes they now had, a lot more of the school was indeed being used.

The moment he was in his rooms, with the door closed he opened the file to find out what was inside. A letter, already sealed, and of course, his contract. He made no attempt to sign it, the little note in front of the file told him not to use magic and to use a non-descript owl to deliver the letter to the Ministry of magic - anonymously - and he did not question the Dark Lord's demands.

Placing the contract and file on the table, he ventured over to the fireplace and dropped the note into the flames. Letting it burn until it was naught but ashes, then he stood a few more minutes warming himself. On the mantel was a picture of his family, his mum, dad and himself as a child. His mum gave it to him because his father was actually smiling down at him, pride clearly written across his face. He recalled his father, and he loved what he remembered...after over a decade in Azkaban...he feared what he'd find but longed to have his father back in his life again.