Poison Ivy | T. Riddle ✔

[60] Witness

As a result of the uprising in the forest and the testimony given by Eridanus, many of the most active student Death Eaters notably including Avery, Mulciber and Nott were suspended from the school. Though the rest of them such as Isadora Yaxley, Regulus Black and the Carrow twins were given strict warning to refrain from attending such meetings while they were in the school premises.

The term had come to an end and the students were sent back home all except Eridanus who had to wait for Dumbledore to take him to his family's current hideout. With the Whitburgs forced to go in hiding, life had gotten difficult for Eridanus as well as he had to be cautious of each step he took.

But that did not drive him astray from the target he had set in his mind. He vividly remembered the career choices he had highlighted back in his fifth year when Professor McGonagall had asked him what path he would like to tread on in his future.

His foremost choice was that of an Auror; a ray of light in the darkened world, a warrior in the cause of banishing evil and especially eradicating the deadly darkness spread by his own father. An Auror just like Nathan Whitburg who had sacrificed so much for the betterment of the wizarding world and was still fighting for the right cause.

Though he had selected the profession of a Healer as a backup if in case he could not be eligible for the Auror criteria. 

But Professor McGonagall had assured him back then that if he resumed with the same zeal and devotion, he would most definitely achieve his target. He was a brilliant student, his academic report was sufficient to grant him a chance at becoming an Auror and the determination he had was indeed a positive factor for him in his path.

And now that his school years had come to an end and he had stepped into practical life yet the world around him was dark, he could only focus on following that decision he had taken years ago.

If Lord Voldemort was so intent to drown the world in darkness, his own son Eridanus was willing to stand against him, risking all to save the world from drowning.

He was waiting in the Headmaster's office when the door opened and in entered Minerva McGonagall.

"Professor," he stood up out of respect and she nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Mister Whitburg, I hope you are all prepared to leave?"

"Absolutely," he replied.

She remarked, "the Headmaster can not accompany you today hence I will be dropping you off at your home."

"Thank you," he picked his trunk following after her as she led him down to the castle grounds where a thestral carriage was waiting for the two. 

Soon as they had gotten seated and Danny had carefully stowed away his luggage, the thestral spread its wings and took off though it was only visible to Minerva McGonagall but Eridanus could sense its presence.

Over the years, his sinister abilities had increased; he could not only read minds and speak to snakes but also manipulate people to a certain extent, assessing their nature much sharply as compared to other wizards of his age. But he made sure never to misuse his abilities and kept them secret from others around him.

And yet his inseparable connection to Lord Voldemort had grown even worse, tormenting him each time the Dark Lord burned in his wrath and Eridanus could somehow feel exactly what his father was going through at certain moments.

"I am proud of what you did for the school, risking your life to uncover the conspiracies raging under our very nose," she spoke up, breaking the silence at last.

Eridanus nodded but then voiced out the question that was perturbing him, "but Professor, there was no other witness willing to testify with me against them, how come the Wizengamot did not abort the trial? Such decisions can not be taken on the basis of just one testimony."

"Oh but there was another testimony confirming your account," she replied, "I had given it myself."

A slight wave of shock and confusion spread over his features though he stayed silent, allowing her to explain herself. 

"Your uncle had warned us that the Dark Lord was planning to infiltrate the school beforehand but we had no idea that all his conspiracies could have reached such a severe extent."

His grey eyes flickered in surprise, "Uncle Perce warned you?"

"Yes. He suspected that the Dark Lord was laying out his traps at Hogwarts even, which got proved as you witnessed it yourself and helped uncover it. Your uncle feared that you were the most at risk from these conspiracies and he had specifically asked me to keep a watch on you. That night when you stepped among the Death Eaters, I had been witness to all that passed in that clearing as well."

He could not comprehend how that could have been possible but knew that Minerva McGonagall was a remarkable witch and could have disguised herself well enough for not even him to get a whiff of her presence back then.

What he did not know was that Minerva was an Animagus and she often used that ability to make sure that nothing out of discipline happened at Hogwarts, including the forbidden meeting in the forest.

"So you saw everything, Professor?"

"I did."

His face was set in a thoughtful expression, "and you know now who I really am, who my father is..."

Minerva looked at him with a reassuring look in her eyes, "Mister Whitburg, I know you have no intentions of following in his footsteps."

"I know I must not hence I would do all in my power to ensure that I do not end up like him. That is partially why I want to become an Auror," he mused, a reminiscing look evident in his grey irises, "I want to prove that just because he is my father doesn't mean that I would be the same."

Minerva nodded as her features softened towards him, marveling at the pure determination in his tone, "my best wishes are with you and I know you will truly succeed in achieving your target. You will become an Auror and you will banish the evil spread around us by the Dark Lord. I have my faith in you."

A slow smile crept on his lips as he spoke, "thank you, Professor. I will not let you down, I promise."

***