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Chapter Three: More Unknown Magic

Age Fifteen…

Gretchen and Sirius hadn't spoken to each other after their little argument, and another strange and new sight was that Sirius was in love. Although he denied it, Sirius seemed to take a fancy in Lori Patterson, the 5th year Ravenclaw. Gretchen seemed angrier than usual because she kept hexing James and setting Sir Fang against Sirius. Lily and a couple of Gretchen's other friends believed she was jealous and whenever they brought it up, sparks would shoot from Gretchen's wand and she'd scream.

"I am not jealous because Black has a girlfriend!" And her friends would drop the subject and talk about something else. Gretchen had also been thinking these things. Am I really jealous? Are Lily and the others right? She'd huff and say:

"I need some rest!"

It was like a routine. Each morning Gretchen woke up, her and Sirius would shoot each other guilty looks, but turn away quickly. Denying what they both had seen. Gretchen would eat breakfast with only her friends (the other Gryffindors feared Gretchen because of her 'snake talking ability'). She'd hastily take notes, and so would Sirius, but for him he was taking notes of how to get a girl to like him. Lori and Sirius had broken up not that long ago and that had changed the 'routine'. Sirius sneaked a peek at Gretchen and whenever Gretchen caught Sirius doing something stupid, she'd laugh.

It was around midnight as Gretchen decided that if she was up she might as well study. She opened the door silently, not wanting to wake anyone up especially Sir Fang. It was like the snake knew everything; he slithered right over to the tip-toeing Gretchen and hissed angrily.

"Okay, you can come too. Just don't make a racket." Gretchen whispered quietly and she was about to go downstairs when Sir Fang hissed again.

"What?" she asked, starting to lose patience.

Don't go downstairs...

"Whatever." She said jokingly and jumped over Sir Fang, racing down the stairs.

Fool…

Gretchen stopped. She had heard the same, voice that had given her nightmares for so long. But, it wasn't possible. How can she be here at Hogwarts, and in Gryffindor Tower? No, Nagini wasn't there. Gretchen shook from head to foot. Safety first. She thought as she took out her wand.

"Lumos!" she whispered and a little light enlightened from her wand, flooding the wooly rug and sending shadows bouncing on the walls. She looked from side to side, nothing. But then:

"Incendio!" And a tiny fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, but Gretchen was not the caster of the spell. It was the wizard that had stepped into the room, his red eyes blazing with excitement.

"We need to talk, Gretchen." And with a flick of his wand Gretchen's body stiffened. He had placed a Full-Body Bind Curse on her. She couldn't run away or call for help.

"Oh yeah." The wizard hissed and with another flick, the doors were sealed shut so that no one can get in or out of them.

Gretchen stared into the snake-like face of the man, but she couldn't move an inch because of the fact he hadn't released her from the Body- Bind Curse.

"Why did I want to talk to you?" He said. "I wanted to ask you if you are ready to die."

When he said the word 'die', the jinx broke and Gretchen stood her height and looked the wizard in the face.

"You're voice." She said. "I know where I heard it from; it was you! But why?"

"It had to be done. I don't want anyone to live when their Blood – Traitors." He said coolly

"Oh so that's the reason! That's the reason you killed them!" She raised her wand. "I'll avenge them."

The evil wizard just laughed, a cold high laugh, and with a flick of his wand, Gretchen's one and only defense flew from her hand and to the ground. Gretchen's body seemed to fight back her brain. She wanted to run, but instead her feet were planted to the ground as she raised her hand. Lights flashed around the room and the wizard fell back, his red eyes widening with horror and anger.

"Get Back!" She shrieked as he tried to come near. "Stay away or I'll curse you into oblivion!"

"Just like your parents! Fighting before you die!" His red eyes glowing with triumph as he roared "Avada Kedavra!"

Gretchen's voice acted of its own accord as she shouted the same spell and to her amazement; the curse hit the wizard square in the heart and he collapsed to the ground, dead. Gretchen panting and sweating raced to retrieve her wand, but just then:

"You can never kill Lord Voldemort, I am invincible!"

Gretchen whirled around; Voldemort was standing up and grinning with triumph.

"I am not going to kill you anymore; you are valuable to me. Will you join me?"

"Ha!" Lord? And never!" Gretchen roared as she pointed her wand at Voldemort.

Leave my master alone...

Gretchen whirred on the spot and saw Nagini, her black eyes glinting dangerously. Just then a snarl and Sir Fang leapt from the stairs and he was face to face with Nagini.

Fool…Traitor…You shall die…

Is that the way you talk to your sister…The great snake, Nagini, said slyly.

Sister… Sir Fang spat. I have no sister…

And the two snakes lunged at each other. Nagini knocked down Sir Fang, but she was too intent on protecting her 'Master' that she betrayed herself. Sir Fang struck Nagini to the ground. And his fangs pierced her neck. A horrible snarl from Nagini sent Voldemort running to the snakes and with a flick from his wand, Sir Fang howled in agony and Nagini retreated to Volemort.

Until then, Nagini… And Sir Fang slithered away; Gretchen backed away from Voldemort as he glared at her and he was gone, Nagini went with him

The two, Sir Fang and Gretchen, stayed in the common room until they finally found the spell to unlock the doors.

"Alohamora" With a click the doors opened and the pair went back to bed. Sealing the door magically so nothing can happen.

"Rise and shine!" shouted Lily as she shook her friend awake.

"Five more minutes!" Gretchen mumbled sleepily and put the pillow over her head.

"But why? You are usually up before all of us." Lily said a look of concern on her face as she saw Gretchen bite her lip. Gretchen decided to explain everything to her friend. After she was done, Lily had a look of horror on her face.

"You must tell Professor Dumbledore."

"Ok, maybe I should!" Gretchen said enthusiastically, and with Sir Fang following close behind her, she ran to the gargoyle.

"Sherbet Lemon!" she shouted, but nothing happened. "Come on!" she kicked the stone gargoyle and hopped in pain.

"I need to see DUMBLEDORE!" At the last word the gargoyle hopped aside and Gretchen bounded up the steps.

"Yes, Ms. Giudice! Voldemort met you, I assume?" Dumbledore said as he approached Gretchen.

Yes? But how did you know?"

"I was up all night trying to solve your special abilities when all of a sudden I heard evil laughter and assumed Voldemort was in Gryffindor Tower, perhaps torturing you. And so I race over there as fast as possible and I see that the entrance to the tower is sealed. So I go back to the m-I mean to my room and try to find charms that can get me into the tower. Alas, I couldn't and so I hoped for the best. And here you are! Safe and sound."

"Yeah…"

"You're perhaps wondering how you can cast spells without a wand?"

"How'd you know I can do that?"

"Research and I was pretty sure Voldemort would have disarmed you and since you can't conjure spells, you'd be dead by now."

"True…"

"No one…No one has ever survived when Voldemort wanted them dead."

"Oh…"

"I know only one person who will survive in the due time, but I am very pleased to find out you have."

"Well, I just wanted to tell you what happened and I had a few questions, but you answered them all so I'll head to class." Gretchen said.

"My dear, I think you should take absency today and check out this typical book." Dumbledore scrawled something on a piece of paper and handed it over to Gretchen.

"Secrets of the Dark-"

"Don't read it aloud." Dumbledore told Gretchen.

"Oh ok." Gretchen looked at the paper:

'Secrets of the Darkest Art

Albus Dumbledore'

"Well, bye!" Gretchen waved and raced to the library. The strict librarian, Madame Pince, glared at her, as she read the little paper Gretchen held for her to see, and said.

"Memories…" and she began mumbling to herself. "Obviously this is a forgery! Why on earth does the headmaster want you to check this out?"

"He said it'd help me find out things about Voldemort." Gretchen said as she rolled her eyes because Madam Pince let out a squeal at the name 'Voldemort.'

"It's not his real name!" Gretchen said exasperated.

"Oh yeah? What is it then?" The librarian asked. Gretchen knew Madam Pince really knew who Voldemort had been so she said loud and clear.

"Tom Riddle...It was Tom Riddle."

Madam Pince's face was white as she said. "Oh very well! I'll-I will be getting the b-book n-now." And she scuffled to the Restricted Section. Then in about five minutes returned, holding a rather moldy, and ancient looking book labeled Secrets of the Darkest Arts.

"Thanks." Gretchen said as she heaved the book into her purse which could hold objects larger than it because Gretchen had placed an Undetectable Extension Charm. "Have a good day."

Gretchen thought it best to read the book in the haunted girl's bathroom; the bathroom was haunted by the ghost of a girl who had died in the very bathroom (only Gretchen knew that Moaning Myrtle had died there because the other people never cared to ask).

"Good morning, Myrtle!" Gretchen chirped as she saw the girl floating around the sinks, moping as usual. Myrtle stopped crying abruptly enough to say.

"Hello, Gretchen. Why aren't you in class?"

"The Headmaster wanted me to read this book." Gretchen gestured to the book and Myrtle gasped.

"Are you sure? I thought the Headmaster kept it in the Restricted Section because it contains the darkest powers of all."

"Yeah," Gretchen mumbled. It's bad enough my own House doesn't trust me, but Myrtle? She's a ghost for goodness sakes and usually ghosts can trust people. "He wanted me to find Voldemort's secret so I can know how to defeat him or something.

"Defeat the darkest wizard of all time. Is Dumbledore that insane?" Myrtle cackled.

"I think it's pretty nice of him to look out for me!" Gretchen said, starting to hate the ghost girl more and more. Why does she always have to meddle in people's business…? "As much as its-erm- nice to talk to you I really have to reas this book so if you don't mind me being in h-"Gretchen was interrupted by insane laughter.

"Oh, well if it isn't 'The Evil Snake Talker', Gretchen Giudice." Peeves, the poltergeist, cackled with glee.

Gretchen laughed derisively as she made a swing at Peeves, but she shouldn't have done that because Peeves had read the book and was starting to scream. GRETCHEN GIUDICE IS READING A DARK BOOK! There was the pounding of footsteps and everyone rushed into the bathroom ("Why can't I ever rest in peace?" sobbed an angry Moaning Myrtle as she dove into a toilet, splashing water up Gretchen's robes.) and Peeves laughed with evil glee, soaring away from the scene. A brave first year made a dive for Gretchen's book, but Gretchen held it out of reach.

Accio Book! Roared a seventh year Gryffindor and much to Gretchen's horror the book soared into the seventh year's hands.

"I guess Peeves isn't lying for the first time ever…" the Gryffindor prefect said in disgust.

"I would have expected better of you!" screamed the Head Girl and five fifth years made to capture Gretchen because they thought she was using the book for her own gain.

"Stand back!" Gretchen shrieked and the fifth years stepped back slowly as Gretchen pointed her wand.

"Expelliarmus!" and Gretchen's wand soared out of her hand, but Gretchen wasn't about to let them hex her so it was as if her body took over her brain.

"Stupefy! Stupefy!" and no one was a match to the girl who can use magic without a wand. They all fell and many ran away, screaming that she was evil. But Gretchen wasn't, or was she?