To Tame A Wild Heart || Book One (An Open SS Fan fiction)

CHAPTER 33 : I Was Once Glowing*

"Professor Dumbledore!" the woman, who was openly attacked, exclaimed in surprise as she dodged the spell directed at her swiftly.

She noticed however that the spell wasn't aimed at her but rather at the fireplace behind her making it lit up. Turning back to the headmaster, his expression didn't flatten once, his face grim and extremely unreadable. Stella visibly swallowed.

After a few moments, she slowly and cautiously came closer to the old headmaster, "Sir, are you alright?"

Dumbledore was breathing heavily staring at the brunette haired blue eyed woman with extreme intensity. He figured trying to calm himself down will be a more appropriate approach despite him boiling with rage from within.

"No Wilson, I am not alright," he said after a few uncomfortable moments.

She stood in front of the fuming headmaster concern itched on her face, "Sir, please come in and tell me what's –"

He immediately interrupted, "I appreciate your concern Wilson but that won't be necessary at the moment. I came to inform you that the Woods girl successfully retrieved the book."

The concern on the woman's face was suddenly replaced with a deep intense smile, as if she was waiting to hear that news for years. Dumbledore gave her a few suspicious glances taken aback by her smile. When she got aware of her smile intensifying, she quickly recovered and nodded.

"However I am also here to inform you that you are nothing but a lying deceiving snake," he spoke calmly the twinkle in his eyes evaporating.

She arched a brow but remained calm or rather uncaring. "How is that so Sir? You required my assistance and I assisted you with the best of my ability. Is that the thanks I get?"

"You knew very well I was going to be cursed no matter what I did. As soon as I opened the first page, the book came to life and cursed me."

Stella gasped softly her expression unreadable, "I am truly sorry to hear that Sir. However you are accusing me of a crime I took no part in –"

"I wasn't born yesterday Wilson!" Dumbledore snapped. "I know very well when I am being lied to. Your death eater ways will never change. You and your dark lord are the lowest scum of the Earth."

She sighed totally unfazed by his insults, "Sir, please try to relax and lets break this down rationally. You said that you touched the book and immediately got cursed yet you told me before you don't need the book for your personal gain." 

Dumbledore took a step back and visibly swallowed "Don't you think that's a bit odd Professor. The book's rules are crystal clear, you cannot be cursed if you empty your heart from greed. Your intentions were supposedly pure and selfless then how did you get cursed?"

There was silence between them as they stared at each other. The old man lowered his gaze fiddling with his fingers. She knew she got him cornered and smirked when he wasn't looking. 

She knew very well that his intentions weren't pure. He was looking for the book to horde its treasure, he would have been cursed regardless of what he did.

The old man kept looking at the ground. He understood what she was trying to say. 

When he visited her a few months back, he tried his best to mask his greed from her. He came up with a fake tale that he needs the book's powers to defeat Voldemort. That however was the furthest thing from the truth but he was able to fool her by that tale along with Severus.

But now the old man's greed was evident to both Severus and Stella. Both gave him the exact same look, he was just a lair.

The old man however didn't want to admit that truth in front of Stella.