Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 44

The next day, Severus was knocking on my office door, as I lost myself in a book. "Enter."

"Good morning, Miss Zeria."

"Hello Severus, sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks. Not a sound in all the castle."

"How alike we are." I chuckled. "I promised to take you to Hogsmeade, yes?"

He nodded with excitement, as this was his first time venturing to the nearby village where only third years were allowed to visit on excursions. Hogsmeade was particularly beautiful covered in snow this winter. A few townspeople walked past the window where Severus and I sat sharing a Butterbeer. The Three Broomsticks was rather empty for a Saturday morning, but I preferred to not see too many people I knew.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hmm?" My mind was wandering and Severus could tell. "Nothing really."

"That's a lie." Severus muttered and took a sip from the warm Butterbeer.

"What do you think was on my mind?" I gave the little boy's childishness a proper retort.

"That man, the one with the blue eyes and blond hair."

My long nose flared in annoyance, "I told you never to— Cutting myself off, I restrained my anger because I knew that children were just extremely curious creatures. "My travel plans were on my mind."

"Fine then. I know what was on your mind." My young friend passed the warm mug over to me. My eyebrows rose in doubt, asking him to continue. "Me." He said plainly. My mouthful of Butterbeer would have sprayed across the table and onto the boy had I not choked it down instead. Severus grinned and took the mug from my hands.

"You are the most presumptuous child I have ever met!" I coughed and watched the dark eyes glint mischievously. From a lace pocket in my corset, I pulled my silver watch and read the time. "Ten minutes till noon, I should be going."

"Was I correct?" Severus asked as I slid from the bench and grabbed the handle of my large black trunk.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" My soft voice lowered as I leaned down to meet the child's face. A pause followed as we looked one another in the eyes. "Be good and play nicely with Avenger; he can be rather mean." I said with a smile and kissed the top of Severus' head. Quickly, he drank the remaining Butterbeer and followed me out of the bar.

Snow whipped up in front of me as I walked to the street corner where an iron lamppost watched the passersby. Unexpected arms wrapped around me in a hug. "You be careful, Miss Zeria." The little voice commanded me, released his embrace, and stepped a few feet back.

"Cheerio, Sev." In barely a whisper, I wished him a Merry Christmas and Disapparated to the Leaky Cauldron. Inside the inn, I found it to be a busy Saturday morning. No doubt witches and wizards were bustling to and from Diagon Alley to buy Christmas presents for their loved ones. A young girl and her beau bumped into me as I stood looking for any signs of the Malfoys.

"Molly!" The ginger haired young man scolded his sweetheart. He turned to me, "I'm sorry about that mum."

"Quite alright," I replied and saw the youth chase after his plump, red-haired girlfriend who ran off in embarrassment. From afar, I watched the young couple laugh and smile at each other; I sighed. From the corner of my eye, an apparition of a young Gellert walked past me. When I turned to look, there was not a single blond in the inn. You damned fool, Maven. Maera scolded and I crossed my arms. Stop thinking about Gellert; you are only hurting yourself. We have a new life now, another chance at living correctly; do not let the past cloud the future.

"Excuse me?" A small tug at my fur-lined coat grabbed my attention. The downward glance revealed to me a hideous looking house-elf; I nearly yelped with disgust. Clearing my throat, I remembered the kindness of Jan and thought that this tennis-ball-eyed house-elf probably needed to be shown sympathy.

"Hello, Master House-Elf. How may I help you?" I replied and bent a knee to see the thin creature on eye level. He looked absolutely baffled and his green eyes widened.

"Master Elf? Oh my... Dobby has never been called that before."

"Dobby? Is that your name? Well, what is it that you need?"

"Yes, yes, Dobby is me. Are you Mistress Zeria?" The grungy elf replied and wrung his hands together.

"Well, Dobby, you have found me. And please, do call me Miss Zeria." I admitted and watched the elf wipe his abnormally long nose.

"Young master Malfoy has sent me to fetch you."

"Ah..." I looked around to see if Malfoy was here; I was deciding if I wanted him to meet me in person or not. "Lead on then, Dobby." I stood up and watched the elf look around nervously. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh no, no. Dobby is careful, nothing wrong. We travel by elf magic. Hold your trunk tightly." The servant said and then grasped my index finger. With a snap, my trunk, the elf, and I disappeared and reappeared in front of iron gates with a grand 'M' woven in the design.

Upon arriving at the Malfoy Manor, I was struck at the absolute luxury of the grounds and the home itself. Snow covering the garden was spectacularly gorgeous, yet melancholy. Marble statues stood like silent sentinels guarding shrines throughout the low cut garden maze. For a second, I felt as if I had walked into an empty cemetery that even the souls abandoned. Morgana's Broom, what is this place? Awe struck me like the cold chill of snow that whisked the air.

"This way Mistress Zeria." Dobby squeaked and began dragging my trunk toward the door. I cringed a bit when the house-elf continued to call me by a title I would rather not have used in such a common address.

"Please, just Miss." I repeated and began walking to the grand double doors of the home. The movement of a window's large curtain caught my eye and soon the entrance door swung open. It was strange seeing Lucius in proper attire, for I had never seen him in any other clothes than his Hogwarts robes. "Hello, Lucius."

"Maera, I'm glad you arrived safely."

"Of course, elf magic was spectacular." I admitted.

"Really?" He snorted. "Dobby here is a rather miserable creature. He's restricted from using elf magic unless commanded." The young man led me inside and left the house-elf to struggle with the large luggage.

"Accio trunk." I said plainly, and relieved the elf from the punishment of toiling in the snow. "Come, come now, Lucius. Don't be cruel to the helpless creature." The youth flinched at my kindness to the servant and I arched a dark eyebrow in reply.

Clearing his throat, the young man began by showing me the parlor and dining room. When we returned to the entrance hall, where the stairs were located, a wooden creak beckoned my eyes to look at the top most steps. A pair of dark, well-polished shoes began descending and I watched the figure of a man materialize from the shadows. Unconsciously, I held my breath; it was the master of the manor, Lucius' father.