Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 55

Christmas came and went faster than I anticipated and soon I was back at Hogwarts with many smiling students. The first evening back from holiday, my favorite students were delighted when I gave them with small wrapped gifts from Diagon Alley. "How endearing." A baritone chuckled over my shoulder as Remus, Lily and Severus ran back to their common rooms in grateful spirits.

"Professor Alduin," Carefully, I created a few feet of distance between us. "How was your holiday?"

"Mediocre. Though, I have to say, you would have made it spectacular." The man's frankness brought an uncomfortable heat to my face and I fidgeted to find a way out of the conversation.

Nervously, my fingers twisted the engagement ring I now wore.

"What's that?"

"What?" I stuttered and conjured a quick invisibility spell to hide the ring.

"I thought— Calmly, the dark grey haired man dismissed the subject and looked into my blue eyes. "Maera, I would like to show you something."

Tentatively, I followed the man through the castle until he stopped near a blank wall. In an instant a door appeared in the wall and I gasped; it was the Room of Requirement. "I heard of this room, but I have never intentionally sought it out. How did you come by it?" I asked with great interest because the legendary room was said to supply the individual who summoned it with everything they needed at the moment of passing.

"Call it, intuition." The Ancient Runes professor opened the door for me to enter.

Curiosity beckoned me inside, and I felt the side of my corset where my wand hid. I was prepared for any sort of mischief. The man followed closely behind me.

Inside, the Room of Requirement's walls were a dark grey similar to Alduin's hair and dimly lit by an ornate chandelier. "Sir, what is it that you wished to show me?" Turning away from the empty room, I looked at the elder man who blocked my only exit. Fear began to seep into me and I reached for my wand.

"Oh, I took the liberty." Alduin chuckled and opened his coat to show my wand nestled next to his. I patted my corset and pulled out a very unmagical stick.

"Professor, I would be much obliged if you would return to me what is mine." My voice dropped to a cold growl and the man grinned.

"What exactly will you do?" A smirk pulled at the man's thin lips as I slowly advanced towards him.

In an instant, I transfigured into a white scaled dragon and knocked the man to the ground with one swipe of my massive hand. The wizard was quick to retaliate, but I dodged the curses that were aimed at me with precision by transforming into a smaller target. Back and forth, I zipped in the form of a bat until high pitched screeches blinded my senses. Crumpled on the ground, weak from auditory paralysis, I returned to being Maera Zeria and tested my luck with my fists. Hand-to-hand combat was a Muggle's way of settling a dispute, but without my wand and inability to escape curses as another creature, it was my only choice of defense. I was swift enough to strike the wizard a few times before he paralyzed me completely.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Like a chopped tree, I fell sideways and was completely helpless. Seething with hatred, my eyes narrowed at the smirking man who trapped me in a pair of shackles. "I was hoping not to use that, but I see that you don't like keeping still."

To Alduin's words, the room began to shift and pillar rose from the center of the room as walls of torture tools circled around the pillar. Correcting his posture, the broad shouldered man secured my shackles with heavy chains to the pillar. Once restrained, the full-body, bind curse lifted and I jumped up, yanking at the chains, and screaming at the hazel eyes that sneered at me. "FREE ME, YOU RUDDY PIG!"

With a wave of his hand, my knees buckled and I bit back pain from collapsing on the stone floor. "Why? We are just about to have a decent conversation for once." Deliberating, the tall man walked near the wall of weapons, cautiously perusing his collection with his hands. "I wondered when I would be able to catch you, Miss Zeria."

"What are you playing at?"

Alduin's hand rested on a simple riding crop and my jaw clenched in anger. "My dear sweet gel, I think we both know that you are Voldemort's sister."

I hissed disgustedly, "I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT FIEND!"

"Yes, you do, Maven Riddle." Lightly tracing my face with the crop, Alduin struck the bottom of my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Do you really think I would not cover all angles when hunting the greatest dark wizard of all time?"

"You're an Auror?"

Again, I felt the sting of the crop across my face. "Of course you fool. Now, tell me what your dear little brother has been up to. I know you have been sending messages to him. Tell me, where is he?" Stooping down, Alduin grabbed my chin and brought my face to meet his. "I would hate to ruin that gorgeous face of yours."

"Eat shit." I snarled and felt the blasting force of the man's hand across my face.

"Knockturn Alley was your last meeting with one of his Death Eaters, but my colleagues are always watching for him without success. You of all people must know where he is."

Firmly seizing my hair, Alduin pulled my head up and I screeched in pain. "I don't know where Tom is!"

Professor Alduin dropped me with a sigh. "Crucio!"

My insides burst a boiled within me and the shrieks that escaped me could rival a banshee's. When I was able to breathe again, I persisted with my defense. "Just let me go!"

"Give me what I want!" The Auror roared and kicked me in the stomach. A loud thud sounded as my body collided with the pillar. I was a crumpled body of groans while my torturer replaced the crop and took up a short, barbed whip. Striking me several times with the whip till my skin broke in chunky wounds, I was too weak to stand. "Crucio!" The double attacks of magic and physical tools drained my body and my soul.

"Please," I coughed blood and strained to look up at the man standing over me. "Just let me go and I will tell you anything you wish to hear."

The man's smooth chuckle echoed in my ears. "Oh no, Maven. I am no fool to the loyalty you have toward your brother. I know very well that if I free you, you will kill me. Crucio!"

After screams, I scoffed and wiped blood off my chin with the back of my hand. "Do you really believe I have any energy left? You might as well kill me now."

Contemplating his options, the man paced the bloody ground and nodded. "Alright then."