𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 [Harry James Potter]

Chapter 15: The Moon

The Moon

Trigger warning: Susbstance abuse, Violence

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"I am sure if you were not the Slytherin heiress, you would have been sorted into Ravenclaw." Dumbledore spoke in his usual cryptic manner, sitting opposite Vera in his office. "What I am unsure of, is your consistent use of dark magic even when you know of the risks it brings."

She had been brought to Dumbledore's office after she had used dark magic on Cormac.

"Perhaps, it's my Ravenclaw traits that give me the curiosity to tempt fate." She mused.

"There is one distinct problem right there, that I know all too well." Dumbledore waved his blackened hand.

"And what would that be?" She played his little game.

"Everyone in your family, you included, use intelligence to justify sickness." He clearly meant her father. "You seem to alternate between viewing your own mind as an unstoppable force and an inescapable curse, and I think it's because the only truly unapproachable concept for you is that it's your mind, within your control."

"Maybe you should write the things you wished you had said to my father down, instead of telling it to me." She scoffed, he often talked to her as if she were his old student. "But since we're pointing out each others faults... Just like Slughorn, you collect people..."

Dumbledore leaned back into his chair, interested to see where she was taking this.

"Instead of focusing on those with influence, you look at the outcasts." She continued, "The expelled half-giant, the young werewolf, the repentant Death Eater. You protect them and all you ask for in return, is their loyalty. And if on occasion you request that they undergo a certain task, invoking their debt of gratitude- well, that is more than you are owed..."

"I fail to see my faults in any of these." He stroked his beard.

"Of course you don't." She plastered on a fake smile. "You once thought to add a certain disowned Black to your collection, but soon realized your mistake. See, Sirius was never an outcast, but a rebel. He knowingly chose his path. And he chose what price he was willing to pay for it. He was never going to be used by you or anyone else. Once you realize this, you abandoned him to rot In Azkaban. You knew once Sirius got out of Azkaban that his loyalty lay with me and Harry and not you, and you have no use for a follower that would not follow you blindly. In the same way, you had no use for my mother once she decided to abandon her mission. Which is why I wouldn't be too surprised to find that you would have turned a blind eye at Voldemort's attempts to kill her."

"My my my... you have certainly let your doubt fester into something certainly hateful." Dumbledore looked impressed for someone who had just been outed. "But then again I can't help but point out the irony in you, blaming me, for your mothers death because if anyone in this room is to be blamed for her death it is you."