Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 11

Warm sunlight complemented the September breeze as I walked the grounds the next day. The fresh smell of grass infiltrated my nose as I sucked in as much air that would fill my lungs. Slowly exhaling, I trained my gaze on the Black Lake. From the corner of my eye, a dog-like figure darted down from the courtyard to the lake. I sighed and followed whatever it was to the banks where the dark waters kissed the land. With the rustling of the wind in the tree's branches, sobbing and catches of breath entreated me to remain silent. Stiff as a tree and silent as the grave, I listened as a small boy's voice muttered, "Come on lad be responsible. Tell Dumbledore. At least he must know." A few sniffles and suppressed tears later, the boy continued to encourage himself. "After all, a Gryffindor has courage and bravery."

A ruffling of robes and pat of feet told me the child was returning to the school. So I snuck around the large tree that served as my cover and watched the child run back to the castle. I followed him into the castle. My brow crossed with annoyance after seeing the black robed boy disappear into a crowd of other students. "Miss Zeria?" A small voice piped up from behind me. When I turned, I saw a pale little Gryffindor girl with auburn hair and a shy smile.

"Hello," I hesitated trying to remember her name, "Miss Evans?"

"You can call me Lily." She nodded and smiled a bit more confidently.

"Something happened in the first floor Girl's Lavatory, I thought you should know."

"Such as?" I asked following her through the corridors to Myrtle's realm. "Oh," I feigned a sigh of shock, "my goodness. Myrtle, right?" The Ravenclaw ghost looked more pale than ever and she sat in the middle of the lavatory entrance, unmoving and unblinking. I glanced over at Lily who shrugged her shoulders with confusion. "Myrtle?" I repeated, which was responded to after a moment's pause.

"Oh, I'm afraid I've forgotten myself." Her whisper was chilling, but relief and happiness soothed me because my charm worked. "I think I'll just go back to my stall," muttered the ghost before floating back into the lavatory.

Lily watched with wondrous eyes as the ghost disappeared into the cold chamber. Smiling, I turned back to the child and reassured her everything was back to normal. Suddenly, a voice shouted from down the corridor, "Lily!"

"Hey, Sev!" Lily smiled back and I narrowed my eyes with interest. Before my eyes, there seemed to be a strong bond of friendship between the Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Curious," I muttered to myself before greeting Severus with a small smile. "You two carry on," I paused and leaned down to them, "don't get into too much trouble."

Then, I left the young forbidden friends together sensing that their happiness would not last. Just then a student bumped into me; it was a second year Ravenclaw and he had his light haired head stuck in a book. I snatched the book from his hands and whacked him on the side of his head with it. "Quirinus Quirrell, watch where you are walking!" I scolded with narrow eyes. He jumped a bit and stuttered an apology. The hefty book felt grainy in my hands and I looked at it closely. The spine had an iron clasp on it that had once been chained to a shelf in the Restricted Section. Slyly, my thin lips pursed at the anxious student, "Tell me little Ravenclaw, where did you get this book?" A sound of boney knees knocking together satisfied my aim at intimidating the wiry boy.

"I-I... it um, err..."

"Shut up, Mr. Quirrell," growling, I lodged the fat book under my arm, "five points from Ravenclaw. Don't ever let me catch you stealing from the Restricted Section again." Behind me, the student stood paralyzed with wide bright eyes as my black robes fluttered from the wind of my quick steps. Down to the atrium where many staircases stretched to open archways, I greeted several of the people in the moving paintings as the staircase I walked up began to move toward another archway. Another detour later, I found myself at the painting of the Fat Lady, the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

"Password," said she with a haughty air and I rolled my eyes.

"I just want to ask you something," I began, "do the house doors lock at night?" She eyed me curiously wondering what authority I had to ask such a question. "I am the new Disciplinarian."

"Oh," she sighed and put on a chubby smile, "no the doors do not lock up at night, but all the students know the rule to not wander the castle after 'lights out.'"

"Yes, they should know this," mumbling to myself I looked at the book Quirrell had pinched, "you would do well to remind the students and send out a warning if they do attempt to sneak around they will be gravely punished." I remarked, but before leaving I gave her one last order, "Send word to the Ravenclaw Eagle Knocker, Hufflepuff Barrels, and the Slytherin Stone Wall. All entrances to the dormitories must be alerted that students are indeed forbidden to roam Hogwarts castle at nightfall. If that presents itself too much trouble for you, I will notify Apollyon Pringle to gather some ghosts to patrol the halls."

"Who?" asked the oblivious woman before receiving my sassy response.

"The caretaker you nitwit!" I stalked off away from the drab painting and headed to the library to return the book still clutched in my hand.