Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 46

The afternoon had gone by as I slowly unpacked my trunk. The monotonous action of not using magic helped me ponder my current situation. What was I doing? I am a grown woman; I cannot be fraternizing with a young boy, especially one that attends the school where I work. The idea is outrageous. Nevertheless, this was my chance to start over. I took this opportunity because I wanted it and because I could.

Well, Maera, you know you are not actually immortal. A metamorphmagus can only appear younger, and cannot, in actuality, stop death.

Then, it struck me; I needed to stop death.

Maven, will you waste your life searching for the Deathly Hallows like Gellert?

No.

Then... ah. You were serious about the Anonymous Philosopher's Guide to Soul Arts?

It is the only way, but do not lie, Maera; you knew I was going to do this anyways.

I didn't think you had been pushed all the way to this, though.

How difficult can creating a horcrux be? I have the books, the means, and the power.

You're prepared to kill again, Maven?

I laughed aloud in my thoughts. You forget the massacre of Auschwitz Alchemy Academy. I killed hundreds of students and experiments. I'm quite capable and prepared to kill again, Maera, are you?

You're just like Tom.

Don't compare me to my amateur of a brother. He has never killed and probably won't have the testicles to follow through with his quest for immortality.

Sod off, Maven. You know Tom can do anything he sets his mind to; he's always been like that, unstoppable.

Are you jealous that you are struggling with your new life Maera?

That's not fair, Maven; this is a new life for both of us. Besides, Avenger won't let you do this. You will destroy us, and if you don't care about us, I'll appeal to your vanity. You will destroy yourself.

I have to do this. We have to do this. You know that. And Avenger... he obeys his mother.

"Mistress Zeria?" A voice broke into the internal dialogue.

"Dobby! I am sorry, you startled me." I spun around to see the house elf peering into the room from the hallway. The door must have been open as I was unpacking my belongings, and I had not noticed. Silently, I hoped that Mr. Malfoy had not seen me acting in a very Muggle-like manner by not using magic. "Please, Dobby, do call me Miss Zeria."

"Dinner is served." Dobby attempted to add a flourish to his bow, but swung his hand into the door frame with a loud thud; I could not stifle a chuckle at the poor creature's clumsiness.

"Allow me to change into a dinner dress."

Dobby nodded, and waited outside for me to follow him down stairs.

The table was magnificently laden like a feast at Hogwarts. My hosts were standing behind their chairs in wait for me. Heat flushed my face in embarrassment that I had kept the men waiting. I opened my mouth to speak an apology, but Mr. Malfoy had anticipated this.

"Please," He said with a smile, and walked behind a chair, "shall we dine?" The tall chair was pulled out slowly in a gesture for me to sit. After a low curtsy, I took the seat held out for me.

"Thank you." I said, and nervously curled a loose hair behind my ear.

The first few moments of dinner passed in silence, until I dropped my silverware in fright. My entire face turned beet-red and my eyes widened seeing a whole clove of garlic hidden among my vegetables. I stuttered to excuse my clumsiness for making a ruckus as Dobby returned with clean silverware.

"A simple mistake, there is no need to apologize." Mr. Malfoy responded, and looked at me curiously; I blushed harder, and continued eating, but I avoided the garlic clove like it was poisonous.

The absolute hatred of garlic that I had long harbored had always caused me to eat cautiously. Seeing the heinous bulb nearly induced me into a gagging fit. Luckily, a conversation began. "Miss Zeria, I am very interested in hearing your story."

"Hmm?" I looked at Mr. Malfoy who was holding a goblet of wine.

"Disciplinarian at Hogwarts and so young; you are quite a prodigy, Miss Zeria." The man set his glass down with such grace that I strove to raise my etiquette to a higher standard in order not to displease him.

"Well, after I graduated from Schloss der Hexe und Zauberer, a German school of magic, in 1968, I worked for a year on the security of Azkaban Prison. Then, I was moved to work on the security of wizarding academies around the world." Delicately, I sipped from my wine goblet. "The Ministry was very impressed with my success and offered me a higher position in security, but it has always been my dream to work at Hogwarts."

"If you have been all over the world, why did you choose Hogwarts?" Lucius looked at me incredulously, and I grinned.

"The question of the ages is asked." I glanced at Mr. Malfoy, then back to his son. "I chose Hogwarts because its history has always fascinated me. However, the most attractive thing were the students."

Lucius blushed so deeply, I could have used the color to paint my lips. Mr. Malfoy's laugh caused my heart to drop, yet his eyes quickly caught it again before its red pulse dove into darkness. I was breathless and absolutely captured by the man whose brown eyes shown with joy. It was impossible for me to tear my eyes away from the master of the manor, and now of my heart. His next words replaced my heart into my empty chest and I sighed.

"Miss Zeria, you are quite a mistress of wit."

Tentatively, I swallowed back jittering nerves. "If it pleases you, Sir, I can be a mistress of any."

The brown eyes under the large, dark brows narrowed at me as his head rose in a distinguished manner. My chest rose and fell slowly in an attempt to contain myself.

Lucius cut into the tense moment, "Miss Zeria, what did you study when you were a student?"

"Potions and magical creatures interested me the most." I quickly said, and took a bite from the desert in front of me. "Oh my..." I paused and relished the delicacy. "Did Dobby make this?"

"Yes, he's quite a chef." The reply from Mr. Malfoy seemed rehearsed.

"I absolutely adore peppermint."

"I noticed that. You always smell like it." Lucius muttered under the cover of his goblet.

My blue eyes narrowed like the slits of a snake's eyes. "Sir, do you know the most curious thing that I have discovered in my studies of magical creatures?"

"Pray, do tell." The father seemed quite interested, but I looked at the son as I spoke.

"The Cyclops-Snake responds to Parseltongue." When I finished my statement, I innocently looked at the master of the house. Satisfaction brimmed inside of me as I heard Lucius cough his drink. "Careful Lucius, don't choke."