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Back in my room at Hogwarts, I place all my new acquirements on my bed. Taking Iggy's food out of one of the bags, I am more concerned with the item I failed to acquire. Voldemort is expecting me to report to him within the dark forest /with/ the Philosopher's Stone. My feeling of dread can not be compared to anything else I have ever felt before. Well, maybe the day I met Voldemort can be compared to this moment. That was very scary, indeed.
With shaking hands, I remove Iggy from his cage. I know, not a very original name for an iguana, but who says I have to be original? He nips at my fingers playfully as he eats out of my palm. I'm trying, desperately, to relax. I pace about the room trying to build up my nerve. I have to come up with an explanation. I'll just tell the truth. Some one got there before me, which was completely unexpected. I can not be blamed for it at all. He can't do anything to me if I did nothing wrong.
It's very pathetic, how I attempt to fill myself with confidence. I look at myself in the mirror over the dresser. I look far from confidant. My eyes are wide, skin pale, and I'm nervously chewing my lower lip. And damn, I look ridiculous holding this stupid pet! No, Iggy isn't stupid. He's a very loyal pet.
What about me, though? Am I loyal? Yes, I am Voldemort's loyal pet, and I'm more stupid looking then the lizard. My ears are too big. Why the hell am I talking about my ears? After tonight I probably won't even have any body parts left!
Well, I better just go and face my fate. Placing Iggy back in his cage, I take a deep breath. This is not going to be fun. I grab my hooded cloak and head out of my room, locking the door behind me.
The night is quite nice, all things considering. The warm August breeze pulls at the edges of my cloak as I get closer to the dark forest. I remember my days as a student here at Hogwarts (it wasn't that long ago anyway). Every year we were reminded that the forest is off limits to students. Unfortunately, I have been getting a first hand look at why. It's obvious why Voldemort has chosen this place to lay low. Most of the creatures residing here are the kinds he would keep as pets. Of course the deeper you go, the scarier it gets, and my rendezvous point with my master is in the heart of forest.
I veer off from the path. I can hear my heart racing in my ears. Wait, no that's hooves. Must be the centaurs out and star gazing. I duck behind some trees hoping that they will not find me, Centaurs do not take kindly to intruders. I watch, but the creature I see is not a centaur at all. My breath catches as I spot the most beautiful living being that as put upon the earth: a Unicorn. It's dazzling white flanks shimmer in the silver moonlight. I am captivated. It stops in the middle of the clearing and begins to graze.
I can not help myself; hesitantly, I come out of my hiding place. It sees me and stiffens, but does not run. I stop too, and we stare at each other for a few seconds before it starts grazing again. I start to approach and it just continues having its dinner. It doesn't seem at all scared of me. I wonder why. Usually unicorns are very skittish around humans and are a bugger to catch. Not this one. I stand right in front of it now. Tentatively, I reach out a hand and touch its back. It lifts its head suddenly and I pull away. It doesn't run. Again, I reach out, and this time no reaction. So, I begin to pet it. It's so soft and calming. Such a beautiful creature. It even bends its head and nuzzles my shoulder. I laugh, forgetting the heart wrenching fears I had before. I could stay like this forever.
All good things, though, must come to an end. There is a rustling in the brush. My entire body is instantly gripped in fear. The unicorn feels it too, and with a startled neigh it rears and gallops away. There is only when thing to explain this: Voldemort. With the unicorn's disappearance, all my hope runs away with it.
A snake, much larger than any snake that inhabits these parts has any right to be, slithers out of the forest and into the clearing. The snake's black scales glimmer in the moonlight, but the gleam ominously, not the beauty that the unicorn possessed.
You're late...
"S-Sorry, Master."
Careful, Janus, that stutter is becoming a habit
"Y-Yes, Master."
The stone Quirrell...
"Uh..." I'm sweating now, horribly so. Voldemort sees this.
No stone...and why is that
I swallow hard before I answer, I'm shaking now. "W-When I got there, the v-vault was empty."
Empty I don't like how calmly he's reacting to this news. Oh Janus, I knew I shouldn't have trusted a pup with this important of a mission
"N-No, Sir."
Still...I need you. I will need to take matters in my own hands it seems, but I do not have any hands do I, Janus?
What kind of question is that? Oh how I hate this enigmatic talk. Why can't he just get to the point and kill me? "No, Sir, you do not."
A contemplative hiss emitted from the snake. You are to be punished, Janus
"Of course, Master." So this is it.
Don't be so concerned, I am not going to kill you, like I said, I need you yet. Of course, maybe you'll want to die then....Let's test your loyalties, invoke the punishment, and get personally involved all at once. There is a way. Are you ready?
I have no idea what he just meant by all that. Well, maybe the loyalty test is to make sure I respond to the question correctly, even though I do not understand it. Ready for what? "I am, Master."
Immense pain. Oh, that. That is what I am supposed to be ready for. What is this, the Crustacious Curse? I have no more room for ponderings, pain is all that exists now. I feel a hot flame engulf me, burning me. I feel as if every part of me is being stretched in contorted, every muscle, and every vein, twisted in agony. There's a dull pressing against my brain. My thoughts become muddled. Hot white is the pain in my body, but pressing and numbing in my head. Oh, gods, make it stop!
And it did.
I look around me, the snake is gone. I can hear my screams of pain reverberating off the trees and stones. A wolf howls in the distance in response to my own howls of agony. The fire resides, but my mind still pounds with dullness. I only know that I have to find my way back to the castle.
Instinctively, I flip my hood up. Oh, I feel so strange and not completely myself. What has he done to me? I run through the Dark Forest, not sure how, but knowing my way blindly thought the thicket, back to the school without taking the path.
I finally make it back to the castle. I just want to go to my room and try to figure out what happened to me. As I scurry through the corridors, I run straight into Dumbledore and Severus. Hatred I suddenly get a searing hatred for these two men, but Severus sparks it even more. I have no idea where this is coming from. I stand there, staring at them. My mind is a swirl of emotions, anger and shock. This is too much. Dumbledore is looking at me like a concerned father. and Severus, well, he's just giving his shrewd, calculating look that makes you feel he's staring into your soul. "E-Excuse me," I manage ot sputter before pushing past them.
Finally, I make it back to my chambers. My eyesight is beginning to get hazy, must be from the headache. I throw off my robe and begin to inspect my body, to see if there are any marks left on my skin from my master's torture. My hands and arms are clean...wait, what's that on my forearm? I gasp as I recognize it. How many times have I seen this image in my books about the Dark Lord's reign: The Dark Mark. Only this is far more detailed than the ones illustrated, not as ordinary as the one I spotted on Severus' arm last year. The snake had clear scales, the skull had dimensions to it.
I inspect my new marking as I head towards my wardrobe, but I stop. I just happen to glance at myself in the mirror as I pass it. Ah...so that's why I've been having the headaches. I'm too horrified to scream. The vision before my eyes is more terrifying than any description I heard of Voldemort's snake-like appearance, that's because the visage is attached to my own head. Where my dark hair once rested, sits the ugly face of my master.
I find my voice, finally, but it is only a great sob.
Goodnight Janus
Darkness... |