Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 22

Why in Merlin's name did Dumbledore want to see me? Silently, I hoped that he had not seen Avenger sneak into the private study and find the trilogy I longed to have. The walk through the crowded halls gave me time to think. This was my chance. My chance to get into the headmaster's tower and get what I needed. With a chipper attitude, I marched to the hidden staircase behind a giant gargoyle and arrived in Dumbledore's office. Animated portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses hung on the wall and a whirring of little magical machines filled the thoughtful air. Quickly, my blue eyes scanned the twisting bookshelves for the trilogy.

The voice of the old wizard reached my ears as soon as I spotted a locked glass case with the three books of soul magic; just as Avenger relayed to me. A genuine smile lit my face and I turned to Dumbledore, "Sir."

"Ah hello, Miss Zeria," Dumbledore said, and I waited to hear the worst, "I called you hither because Professor Slughorn told me that you have an exceptional way with tutoring the students."

Relief washed over me as I heard the least of my worries, but a question remained in Dumbledore's eyes and I wondered whether Lucius notified him about Laughalot's attempted attack on me. "Thank you sir," I said and fought back any sign of nervousness.

"Yes, well, I will let you arrange your own schedule, but whenever you are ready, I will gladly announce that you will be providing tutoring sessions." He nodded and turned his back on me. "I hope you do not mind this being added onto your other duties."

Within that instant, I flicked my wand to move the glass box towards me. "Of course not, I'd be delighted to help the students." I chattered and concentrated on my mission. The glass container inched forward and I realized the paintings of people were watching me. I needed a distraction.

Just in that moment, Avenger crashed through a window near the bookshelf and shattered the case of books I needed. Dumbledore fell and struck his head against the corner of a desk from the impact. In the pandemonium and screeches of the eagle owl, the paintings of headmasters and headmistresses scrambled about in their frames. Now was my only moment to do what must be done. I threw my journal at the three books spewed on the floor among shards of glass. Avenger beat his wings distractingly and feathers scattered in the wind like leaves catching in the autumn breeze. 

Then, I touched the obsidian stone on my silver necklace with my wand and spoke, "Parchment of old, with wisdom untold; gather for me, the image you see; hold it with care, upon this journal bare. Let not the eyes of my enemies see what is done."

A dark force wrenched at my body and a deep haunting voice croaked around me. "An insatiable soul for knowledge is a burden indeed. Pray that yours may last."

Suffocating emptiness grappled at my throat and I fell against the shards of glass on the floor. The candlelight of the office extinguished with the wind that flew from the pages of my journal. I watched as a dark purple light was sucked from the three books by the rifling pages of the leather bound journal suspended in midair. All sounds had been muffled from my ears while sharp glass pressed deeper into my body. Within a minute, a deathly calm stole the energy from the chamber, causing my eyes to close.

The screeches of my owl awoke me minutes later and a throbbing pain pounded in my temples. Avenger ruffled his feathers and stared at me with his dead eyes. Rubbing my head, I stood and saw my journal lying on the floor. The leather bound book had purple stain marks of words that were slowly disappearing and I knew my spell had worked. Quickly, I gave my journal to Avenger and loudly told him, "Away you blind fool!"

Carefully, I walked across the disheveled room to the headmaster, who was still passed out on the ground. "Headmaster Dumbledore, sir?" my voice feigned fright as I awoke the old wizard. A deep cut on his forehead was bleeding and I suggested we go to the Hospital Wing. "I'm so sorry sir, my owl, the crazy old thing, just came crashing through the window. Please forgive the mess it made. I feel completely responsible."

Dumbledore held my arm for balance and I quickly used my wand to tidy the room. Thanks to my magic, pieces of glass that glinted on the floor returned to their former state, a large stained window. Avenger's scattered feathers popped into nothingness and the glass case of the three forbidden books repaired and locked itself back into the book shelf where it continued to hide its treasure of dangerous magic, or so I let Dumbledore believe.