Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 28

A sixth year by the name of Narcissa Black, whom I presumed and later asked, was cousin to Sirius Black, came knocking at my office one Saturday morning.

"Curious how families can be placed into different houses," I noted to her while pouring over a dastardly essay for History of Magic. "Dear girl, who teaches this class?"

"Professor Binns," she replied and her brow furrowed anxiously.

"Ah, of course. How could I forget that." I muttered darkly.

"Why?"

"That explains the essay."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Oh no, no; it's just... very boring. But that is not your fault. Professor Binns is... well, boring." I chuckled and she giggled gently. "Don't worry; with a few corrections and some citations, this essay will do well."

"Thanks," the young lady grinned and rolled up the parchment I handed back to her. "Are you coming to the Quidditch match today?"

Narcissa's question made me look at a pocket watch I had chained to my corset, "Um, actually, I do not think I can. Plus, the thought of flying on broomsticks makes me ill." I admitted and tucked the silver watch back into its lace pocket. "Cheer the team on for me though," a courteous smile followed this. Another reason I did not want to watch the sporting event, was that I wanted to avoid the now off probation Slytherin captain, Steve Laughalot. I half hoped he would get hit by a Bludger in the game. "Actually, I may change my mind." I smiled and placed my quill in an inkwell that was the skull of a raven.

"Wonderful!" Narcissa's thin face broadened with a smile and in a sweep of her blonde-streaked black hair, she exited my office. "Oh, hi Severus!" I heard her say and then a wiry first year appeared at my door.

"Severus, I don't have you scheduled till tomorrow, is something the matter?" I asked the small boy who tentatively came up to my desk.

A sniffle and quick glance at his hand told me exactly what he was here for, "I will only help you if you tell me who jinxed you." The dark eyes averted mine. "Severus, let me see your hand." Reluctantly, he held out the pale hand that was tainted red in irritation. Examining the infliction, I realized that I could not identify what jinx this was caused by. "Who gave this to you?"

"I—" but the boy stopped and straightened up at my harsh glare. "I did."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not. I was experimenting with jinxes and I couldn't reverse this one. That's why I didn't go to Madam Pomfery."

"You're telling me this was not from some bully?" I paused and pulled up his black sleeve seeing that the irritation crawled all the way up his white arm. The spreading rash would only be healed by a counter-jinx and not alchemy. "Alright, tell me what you did."

After minutes of explaining what jinxes he had experimented with, I realized this boy was a genius. A few hours passed before we eventually found a counter-jinx to what we named Fire-Rash. "How did you learn all this?" I asked pointing my wand at the rash and watching it slowly disappear.

"Reading and practicing." Severus replied simply.

"Well, Mr. Snape, I have to congratulate you, the amount of magic that you can do is phenomenal."

"Thanks."

Then an idea struck me like a stone, "I say, how do you like your Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"

"Very well thanks. Professor Busterforth is quite knowledgeable. Although, I'm anxious to practice spells. We've been mostly learning from the books so far and not really practicing against other students."

"I take it the defensive spells aren't to your liking. You seem the type to... well, learn the attacks." I motioned to the fading redness from the Fire-Rash and the boy blushed. "Don't be so modest, Severus." I laughed, "With your jinx work I would say you are well ahead of many of the students here."

The flushed face deepened with color.

"But I will advise you, it is good to keep your power hidden," I waved the light brown wand I held in my hands and touched it to a piece of parchment that folded itself up into a suit of armor, "if you boast or show off unnecessarily people will find reason to dislike you and become dangerously jealous." I handed him the paper knight I easily made and straightened up.

The little face looked up at me with great intensity, "Now, isn't there a Quidditch match starting soon?" As we walked from my office to the large stadium with three fifty-foot hooped goal posts at both ends of the pitch, the young boy asked me a question that made me smile.

"Could you teach me what you know of the Dark Arts?"

"With pleasure," I said and gave the child's hand a reassuring squeeze. Behind the frame of black hair, the pale face beamed and we quickly found a spot among other Slytherin students.