CHAPTER FOUR
NIGEL AND TOMWhen she returned to her Godfather's office, Remus, Severus, and Sirius were all gone.
"I sent them down to dinner," Albus said as he read the question on her face. "Come, Orion, let's walk together." The woman jumped, startled by her Godfather's address to her. She new that Albus was going to ask something of her.
"What is it?"
"It's about the teaching job I offered you," he sighed, "I got an application and resume from an American who wishes to fill the position."
"An AMERICAN? At HOGWARTS? Whoever heard of such a horrible thing! Uncle! Honestly—" she was furious.
"Please Orion. I know how much teaching here means to you. But I could use you as my right hand…woman. There's still loads of planning to do and I don't know how I'm going to do it on my own," his eyes shimmered. Orion thought for a moment. "And if you'll do this for me," he continued, "I'll give you a guidance counselor position. Lord knows we could use one here with all the crazy things that happen," he smiled. His Goddaughter was certainly not qualified to be a counselor, and Albus knew that; but apparently he thought she should try it out anyway.
"Alright then, I suppose I shall give it a shot." A great smile graced Dumbledore's face. "But on one condition. Let me interview this American; let me determine if he is qualified enough to teach here." Albus looked a little worried, but then said, "Works for me! He arrives on Wednesday. Off to dinner then!"
***
On Wednesday evening the teaching staff sat down for their last quiet meal before the students arrived and the new semester started. They sat at the staff table that night. Orion sat on the left side of Dumbledore, and Sirius sat to the left of her. As they ate, the doors of the Great Hall flew open and a man came running in.
"So…sorry…I'm late," the American said, clearly out of breath. His short dark brown hair flew out of his head in every direction. His eyes were a warm caramel. He had excessively arched eyebrows and a quaint nose. Dumbledore put up a hand to silence him, and then he introduced the new professor. "Professors, Mr. Filch. This is Professor Nigel Jones. He is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Please, Nigel, let me introduce you to your new co-workers." Nigel approached the table, and Albus started introducing all the teachers one by one. He started at his right, with Professor McGonagall and finished that side with Snape. Severus gave him a death stare as they were introduced. Then Jones made his way back to the center of the table and Albus introduced Orion.
"Nigel, this is my Goddaughter, Orion Avery. She is our guidance counselor."
"Pleased to meet you," Nigel said as he kissed her hand.
"Pleasure's all mine," she replied with a wink and a smile. Sirius noticed her mock flirtatious behavior.
"And my God! If it isn't the famous Sirius Black! What an honor it is to meet you. A true honor," he repeated as he violently shook Black's hand.
"Nice to meet a fan."
Nigel leaned over and whispered, "Never thought you were evil. Not once." Sirius gave him a little smile. When Professor Jones made his way down the table once more, Sirius said to Orion, "Guidance counselor, eh? Didn't know you had such qualifications."
"Shut it Black."
"Now that you've met everyone, come, have a seat," boomed Albus over the conversation. Sirius took advantage of the opportunity to embarrass Orion.
"Nigel, old boy, come! Sit between Orion and myself." He couldn't help but laugh to himself. Orion looked as though she could have killed him. Black pushed his chair away from hers and another appeared between the two. Jones took a seat.
"Thanks Sirius!"
"No problem," he said with a wink.
"So, how long have you been here Miss Avery?" asked Jones.
"I graduated when I was one hundred and ten."
"What? One hundred and what? How… how old are you now?"
"One hundred and thirty nine."
"What the--? Am I missing something?" Half the teachers snickered, Sirius burst out laughing.
"I'll explain after dinner," replied Albus from behind Orion.
Nigel tried to make conversation with her, but she was clearly not in the mood. Sirius had humiliated her. Soon the teachers were done with their meals, and one by one got up and left the hall. Pretty soon only Albus, Orion, and Jones remained.
"Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom," said Orion, cutting off Jones. She got up and stormed out of the room.
"She's, uh—"
"Interesting, eh?" Albus said.
"I was going to say feisty, but I guess that covers it too. What's her story?"
"Orion is very old, very wise, and very gifted. She is an Enigma, an ancient breed of superior wizards born every five hundred years to protect mankind," Albus snickered to himself as he saw the shocked expression on Nigel's face. "She knows more than any of us will ever know. And she is the most powerful person on this planet. So I suggest you don't try to upset her."
"Too late for that," Nigel said as Orion re-entered the hall, looking a lot calmer than she did when she exited.
"Right then, Professor Jones, if you please," she beckoned Nigel from his seat and they walked out of the Great Hall together.
"I'm so sorry if I upset you in any way," he began.
"Yes, well, you should be." Nigel tensed up and became silent. Orion laughed, "My dear boy I was only joking," she said with a smile. Jones' tight muscles began to relax a bit. She could tell by his look that he was nervous. "So I guess Albus told you about me eh?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. I don't mean to look nervous or frightened. I suppose I'm just intimidated."
"Well, you should be intimidated by me." Jones laughed, but Orion was serious this time. "So, think you're qualified to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Well yes, I believe I'm fully qualified."
"Have lots of training 'in the field' do you?"
"Yes of course, experience like that is a necessity."
"And have you taught this sort of thing before?"
"Yes, in Boston's Kangafits School for the Magically Inclined. I have references if you'd like to see them."
"No need, I believe you. There is one other thing--" Orion was cut short. Remus and Sirius were running down the hall toward them.
"Thank God...we...found you," gasped Lupin.
"It's...Tom. He's acting...very strange," heaved Sirius. The four wizards scrambled down to the dungeon, and gathered their breath as they stopped at Voldemort's cell. He was sitting, cross-legged, facing the corner of his cell. He wasn't blinking, and it seemed he wasn't breathing either. Orion entered his cell, with her hand on her sword.
"What's wrong old friend?" she whispered in his ear as she knelt down to him. "Feeling a bit lonely?"
It happened so quick no one had time to react. Voldemort took hold of Orion's wrist and hoisted her sword up to her neck. Both were standing as Lupin, Black, and Jones raised their wands and demanded that he let her go.
"Put down your wands you stupid humans. If you try anything, you will kill your friend." Now he whispered into Orion's ear. "Take me to the forest." She fought desperately to break free of his grip, but he just held on tighter. The pain from Orion's head and chest were excruciating. She couldn't breathe.
"NOW!" Immediately the stone walls and three men disappeared, and trees sprouted around them, but Riddle's grasp was too tight, and they only made it to Hagrid's hut. Orion tried to scream, but nothing came out.
"Thought you'd hold me till you had your way with me, eh? I told you you'd help me out. Now it's your turn to be the victim." Before Orion knew what was happening, Tom had taken his wand from her robes, knocked her over the head with the butt of her sword, and fled into the forest. She fell to the ground, unconscious and sword-less.
***
The sun was rising when Remus, Sirius, and Nigel came running out of the castle doors out onto the grounds. "She could be anywhere in that forest," said Lupin.
"She might not even be in the forest," said Black as he scanned the grounds for any sight of her.
"Sirius is right. Looks like he knocked her out right in front of that hut," responded Jones as he ran down the hill to her side.
***
Orion awoke in a hospital bed. Her vision was still fuzzy and she had been drooling on her pillow.
"Good lord," she said as she noticed a large gathering watching her sleep. The three men that had saved her and Dumbledore were all standing around her bed.
"How are you feeling, child?" asked Albus.
"Perhaps better. I'm not really sure."
"What happened after you apparated?" Nigel wanted to know.
"He hit me over the head with my sword and took off with the damned thing into the forest...God how could I have been so foolish!" she grabbed her face, her eyes still burning furiously.
"Come now gentlemen, let the poor child rest. I must insist that you leave," Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she entered the room. They left reluctantly, but Dumbledore kissed Orion's forehead before he exited.
"I'm glad you're all right, you gave us quite a fright."
"I'm just glad he didn't take me along for the ride, I might just have died," she smiled. Once they were alone, Madam Pomfrey administered some foul tasting medicine.
"For the head pain, my dear. And it'll help ye sleep." She was right. It was only a matter of minutes before Orion was once again drifting off to sleep.
As she slept she dreamed of Severus, of all people. Professor Snape, who she had despised so many years ago. 'Had he always been so cruel?' she wondered. Yes, he had. He was always the dark and mysterious Professor Snape--the teacher who every student dreaded getting a detention from, or even confronting. But she was never afraid of him. He knew what she was, and never let up on her, and she had little respect for him, and was never afraid to show it. The medicine started to wear off, and Orion opened her eyes, and looked straight into Snape's.