Dark Wizard Collector: A Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 56

Although freed from the shackles, I had no more fight within me. "Tom is dead." I lied as the striking face glared at me expectantly. "I went to Knockturn Alley to hear confirmation of what I hoped not to be true. Even though horrible misguided and mislead, Tom is my brother and I will always love him."

"How touching; but I am afraid your information is false. Voldemort, as he calls himself now, is alive and accruing an army of dark witches and wizards." Alduin paused and knelt down next to me. "You really don't know anything about his plans or whereabouts?" The tone my colleague used softened to a piteous mutter.

"I could have told you that." I hissed and turned my face away when the man reached out to touch my face. "What are you doing?" My words cut short as I felt the man pull me close to him.

"Imperio," the baritone whispered and a strange sensation took over my body. Under the influence of the Imperious Curse, my body was Alduin's to control and command. "I would have enjoyed this more had you willingly succumbed to my advances earlier."

Listening to the man speak, I simply stared at one of the room's grey walls. "Anything you wish, I shall do." The hollow sound of my voice echoed in my ears like a foreign tune and Alduin smiled.

"I wish you to recount to me every one of your encounters with a dark witch or wizard. I want the date, location, and names of the people involved."

Over the next hour, Alduin learned of my affair with Gellert Grindelwald and many other wizards and witches I had used to create my alias, Maera Zeria. Pausing once to answer a question I never wanted to be asked, I faltered. "The child?"

"Yes, Maven; tell me what happened to the child you conceived with Grindelwald."

The curse that was controlling me caused my throat to close as I fought to keep my secrets. Every ounce of free will fought the Imperious Curse. "I can't tell you that." I managed to whisper through clenched teeth.

Alduin grabbed my chin and stared into my eyes. "Do I need to use Veritaserum?"

Inside, I battled against the professor's compulsion and hot tears rolled down my cheeks. "No." I replied and grit my teeth. Desperately, I conjured every last bit of my strength to summon help. "AVENGER!" I screamed and the giant, black Eagle Owl materialized next to me. Instantly, the faithful bird attacked Professor Alduin and I was able to snatch my wand from his robes. "BOMBARDA!" I aimed the explosion at the door before shapeshifting into a tiny spider. Nestled among Avenger's feathers, I was able to escape the Room of Requirement and found sanctuary in my room.

Quickly, I safe guarded the small office and bedroom with every enchantment I knew. Avenger sat at the edge of my bed with a blank stare in his glossy, white eyes as I mixed and drank potions to help me regain my strength and heal the deep wounds in my back. Like a madman, I paced and mumbled to myself, wondering how I could cover up or escape this mess with the secret Auror that had been hunting me. "Whooo." Avenger broke into my thoughts and I snapped my gaze at the creature. Again he hooted and I approached him slowly.

"You know exactly, who."

"Why?" Avenger replied in an empty rasp.

"Because Alduin is a bad man," I stopped and put my hand against the side of Avenger feathery face, "and now that he knows about you, he will try to find you and kill you."

Avenger blinked and hooted, "Sev at door."

Shortly, a quiet knock came and I welcomed my small friend in with a cautious glance outside the dark corridor. "Severus, why are you here? It is the middle of the night."

The dark haired boy expelled the light from his wand and looked up at me with fright. "I had a nightmare, Miss Zeria."

"So you think breaking the rules and leaving your dormitory at night is a good idea?" My brow rose and I crossed my arms at the first year who stared up at me with his beautiful brown eyes.

"I wanted to make sure you were safe." Severus began and then dropped his head to glare at his feet. "In my nightmare, you were being tortured. I needed to know that you were alright."

Shock gripped at my throat and I knelt to hug my friend. "I am well, thank you."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, anything." I smiled and curled his black hair behind his ears.

"Can we continue Legilimency and Occlumency?"

"I supposed so." I nodded and saw the look in his eyes. "You want to do this right now?"

A smile appeared on his pale face, "It would take my mind off of my nightmare."

The child astounded me with his persistence of learning the difficult mindreading magic. "Very well; clear your mind and focus on controlling your emotions." I said before pointing my wand at the boy and entering his thoughts. "Legilimens." I hushed and found myself staring at a blank room. "Severus?" I called out into the quiet white room that the young wizard had conjured in his mind.

A voice gently called out from behind me and I saw Severus meekly watching me. "Wotcher."

"Excellently performed, Sev. I think you may have mastered Occlumency." I laughed and approached the student.

"May I please try Legilimency now?" Severus asked and I hesitated for quite some time before assenting.

We returned from the white room that barricaded Severus' thoughts and I stared at the student briefly before speaking. "I am warning you, Severus; I am not a practiced Occlumens, so please do not delve too deeply into my thoughts."

"Well, this is your chance to practice, now isn't it?" The child smiled and brandished his wand carefully. "Try not to think about me too much, darling."

Upon hearing the boy taunt me, my jaw dropped and I thought of what a rogue he would grow up to become.