Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 26

The two first-years set their jaws and I knew I was going to get nowhere with them, but I persisted. "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter." I cooed at the determined duo, "Why are you so interested with Mistress Melony's Magical Maps?"

"Why do you like the Slytherins so much?" Potter snapped, his hazel eyes glittering with anger.

"Oh, temper, temper, Potter," I smirked and laced my fingers as I leaned back onto my desk.

"You're just as slimy as them!" He continued and a flame lit in my own eyes.

"That's because I am one." I hissed and craned my neck down at the little boy.

With surprise the two boys eyes widened and they glanced at each other. "Fifty points from Gryffindor, each," I grinned and watched their eyes twitch in loathing. "For attempting breaking and entering a staff member's office. And," I paused, thinking what I should assign them for detention.

KNOCK, KNOCK! A rapping came at my door and I waved my wand-bearing hand to open it. It was Minerva, and Pettigrew was trembling behind her. "Professor McGonagall," I smiled and invited her in to my office. With a few glances around the room she took everything in and sighed.

"I'm sorry about this, but Headmaster Dumbledore would like to see these two lads." As she spoke, I saw her stern professional attitude waver with her friendliness only an hour before this incident.

"Of course," I forced a smile, and glanced at Potter and Black with narrow eyes. Flooding in relief the two boys rose and quickly ran from my office. In the corridor, I heard James and Sirius hastily chastising Peter, their tattling friend. "I found them breaking into my office." I said, hoping to strike McGonagall's rule-abiding professionalism.

Just as I anticipated, the green eyes behind square-rimmed glasses flashed in shock. "Indeed?"

I nodded.

"Well, yes, Dumbledore will definitely have a talking to them. I'm sorry for this trouble."

"Thank you, Minerva." I said, and returned to mark down the one hundred point deduction from Gryffindor House. "Oh, I do apologize for your hopes these next seven years." I said half in jest.

Minerva was caught off guard, "Excuse me?"

"With Black and Potter, you are going to have a hard time ever winning the House Cup." My honesty was a bit too brash for her and she cleared her throat. "Sorry, that was rude." I hastily covered my mistake. My quill moved quickly over a piece of parchment and I lifted my blue eyes up to her green ones.

A light smile found its way to the witch's face, "Never fear, I have hope for Gryffindor yet. I'm sure we'll be able to make something out of those two." My friend seemed to take it more kindly than I intended it and I felt a slight weight lift from my worries. Like the flitting wings of a butterfly, the thought of alienating my newest friend wavered away.

"Yes, we shall. They have great potential, the both of them, but their lack of obedience is, well, discouraging." I chuckled.

"Don't you worry, Maera, I've seen it before. First years will come into Hogwarts as disasters and leave as legends waiting to unfold. I will see you at dinner?" Asked McGonagall and I nodded.

Making my way to dinner, I saw a crowd of Gryffindors. Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew were clumped together talking very quickly to one another. Behind them trailed Lily with a few of her friends. With a few swift steps, she was walking by my side with a grin.

"Hi!" Lily chimed, her bright green eyes glittering happily.

"Hi," I replied and wondered what it was that made this particular witch tick.

"REMUS!" Lily laughed when the scruffy light-brown haired boy stopped dead in his tracks, causing the little girl to walk into him.

"Oh, hey Lily, didn't see you there." Lupin smiled and nudged her into Potter. "Hello Miss Zeria." Lupin's green eyes glowed up at me, and I put an arm around him.

"Wotcher Moony," I said softly, so that only he heard me. The eleven year-old's face flickered a bit, but I smiled and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Everything will be fine."

With a nod, he seemed placated.

The nearby whispers of Potter and Black attracted my attention. Immediately, I scolded them, "It is improper of me to withhold knowledge from scholars; but it is also improper of students to steal from the Restricted Section, AND attempt to break into a staff member's office." My blue eyes narrowed at James and Sirius who guiltily looked up at me. "Do not jinx yourselves into further trouble. The older you get, the harder it will be to undo the messes made."

The two dark haired boys exchanged glances and hastened ahead of the crowd of Gryffindors.

Those two boys were going to give me so much trouble in the future; I could feel it.