Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 41

After lunch ended, Professor Alduin hastened up the moving stairs to my side. His annoyance of my attempts to avoid him since the start of the semester were apparent and unavoidable now. The sudden jolt of the moving stairs caused me to falter on my high heeled boots. "Miss Zeria, I would like your advice." Alduin said, leaning against the staircase that began to change its path.

Do I look like the type of person that could give good advice? I asked myself and took a breath to calm myself from the persistence of the Ancient Runes professor. "You may ask, but I am half inclined to disappoint you."

The man grinned and I could not help but straighten my posture, he was marvelously handsome. "What ever should I do if I am trying to catch a fox?"

Relief washed over me as the staircase stopped and I rushed to the platform in attempt to escape my admirer. "Remus!" I practically shouted upon bumping into the little boy whose light brown hair was tousled. He had a bandaged hand and a small cut on his cheek. "Excuse me, Professor Alduin, but I have tutoring hours all afternoon. Perhaps I shall see you around the castle. G'day." My hasty lie snuffed the hopeful candle of the older man like a cold wind. "Remus, come with me, please." My fast words were obeyed and the student quickly followed me to my office.

Once in the safety of my office, I locked the door for good measures, and then turned to face the little boy who stood awkwardly by my desk. "I'm sorry about that Moony," A wave of invitation brought him to sit next to me. "Even us staff dodge each other."

"He likes you very much, Miss Zeria. I think he's too old for you though; he could be your father." The observant boy chuckled and smiled at me with such bright green eyes that I was coaxed to smile back.

"Well, with consenting adults age gaps do not matter, my young friend. I am sorry I was not there to help with the transformation." My voice was gentle and regretful for not keeping to my word that I would try to help the young werewolf.

"It's okay." He sighed and rubbed his nose with the back of a thin hand. "Headmaster Dumbledore and Hagrid did a very kind thing to make a shack where I can safely transform. There really is nothing you can do."

The soft touch of my hand brushing back Remus' light brown hair caused him to shiver. "Is it obvious that Professor Alduin fancies me?" I laughed and the boy shrugged.

"He seems to have eyes for no one else, but you are too nice for him. I've heard he's a really strict professor. I'm glad I don't take his class. Besides, you are far too beautiful for any wizard here." Remus stopped in a slight blush. "Why are you here anyways?"

"You are too kind, Remus. Actually, I'm here because I wanted to work with witches and wizards where I knew it was safe. The world is a frightening place." I looked out to the window expecting to see Avenger perched on the sill with his white eyes lazily gazing at me, but no such thing appeared to me. "I believe you know this better than any student here."

"I like you, Miss Zeria. You really know how to talk to the students more than any other professor I know."

"I guess I'm a child at heart." I chuckled and waved my wand to set the kettle on for tea. "Would you like to stay for tea before you return to your studies?" A shy nod consented to my offer which prolonged our conversation.

We spoke of classes and how things were going from a student's perspective. Very quickly, I learned that Remus was excelling in academics as well as making friends. "Yes, Lily is a fantastic witch." I agreed and then commented about his other companions. "However, Sirius seems to need some guidance. He and James both look like they are up to no good whenever I see them."

The boy laughed at my statement in agreement, "It's true; they are my best friends, but I wonder about them sometimes. Sirius needs to take class work a bit more... ha ha well, seriously."

A grin widened upon my face as I finished my tea. "Indeed, it would be a great joy if you could get them to come to tutoring with you when you visit me."

"Thanks, but I don't think they would very much enjoy that. You see, they think you are rather... unpleasant because you support Slytherin House."

I rolled my eyes, "Is that so?" and laughed, "Well, those boys just need to stop getting Gryffindor in trouble and maybe I would like them a bit more. Still, the kindness you and Lily show me is a saving feature of the Gryffindor first years."

Suddenly, a little ringing noise from within my robes beckoned my attention. Retrieving the silver pocket watch, I gazed at the mechanical face. "I'm sorry Remus, but I have some urgent business to which I must attend. You may see yourself out when you finish your tea. Just don't touch anything, and mind the door." Rising from my seat, I walked from my office and swiftly headed to the Astronomy Tower. There I transfigured into a crow and set forth to Hogsmeade.