Ace of Spades

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I told the password to the statue before Dumbledore's office and the staircase rose up, letting me enter the office of the Headmaster. He smiled as he saw me, a crinkle in the corner of his eye that told me this wasn't a pleasant reason.

"I see you're dressed for Imbolc, Miss Potter," he said to me, sitting in his high back chair. "Take a seat and we may begin. Has Professor Snape told you the reason for this meeting?"

I smoothed down my white linen shirt, my House robes over it for some warmth. He wasn't wrong when he said I was dressed for Imbolc. I wouldn't have had the time to get changed after this meeting so I did it before. Everyone partaking would need to wear white and light fabrics.

I took a seat, sinking into the plush upholstery of the chair. I nodded at his question.

"At least the basics are sorted then," he stated. "What do you know, Miss Potter?"

"I'm to be a double spy," I said carefully, raising a foot onto the cushion and draping my arms around my raised leg. "Infiltrate the ranks of the Death Eaters, in any way I can."

"And have you thought of a way?" he said. "There are several routes you can take."

"I'm going to befriend my fellow Slytherins. There's nothing like loyalty in Slytherin, as you know, sir," I stared at him for his reaction but he gave none. "Rumours spread like wildfires in schools, sir. If I became friends with the children of Death Eaters, those who would one day become Death Eaters themselves through family lineage and duty, I can get a rumour of my dissatisfaction with my brother and everything the Order stands for."

He nodded slowly. "It seems you have thought ahead. That plan is one of the most convenient but time-consuming parts of your role now, Miss Potter. You cannot lack in any manner before them. If they sense a crack in your persona, your whole image can come down."

"You want me to be a spy," I didn't bother adding sir. "You need to trust me enough to work."

"You're a child, Viktoria. I can't expect the burden to be placed solely on you," he said to me as if I was incapable of understanding. "There are many precautions that need to be placed on you."

"And what are these precautions?"

He stared at me through his crescent glasses, old eyes staring into mine.

"Do you know what an Unbreakable Vow is, Viktoria?"

That struck me as odd. Why would he ask me what that was if he wasn't thinking of making me do one? It was the only obvious explanation. He didn't want me to betray him or the Order or my brother.

"Just as its name states, a vow that is unbreakable, punishable by death on the betrayer's side," I said. "Before that, sir, I have conditions of my own."

"Oh?" his grey eyebrows rose. "And what are your conditions?"

"Apparition. I know I'm too young for a licence, but the ability would be useful," I put force into my voice. "If I'm in a bad situation, I need to be able to leave."

"Alongside that, my dear, you should be an Animagus. Unregistered, of course," Silver said to my left. I paid him no attention but listened. "Be able to blend in, hide and attack. Every girl should have a weapon, or be one."

"And that I need to become an unregistered Animagus."

"And the reasoning for being an Animagus, Viktoria?"

I looked at my hand, seeing the long nails I always wore. I imagined them as claws, animalistic as I slashed through any who meant me harm.

"Personal protection, sir," I said, swinging my free leg a little. "If I ever lost my wand, I would lose my ability to do spells. Professor Snape is going to teach me Wordless and Wandless Magic, since he saw I had the aptitude for it, alongside Occlumency and Legilimency."