Chapter 2: The Snake's Lair

Maeve marched boldly up to the creepy old house on the hill. Evil and death seeped from the ground and hung in the air like a poisonous gas acres from the dark Riddle House. She paused for a moment when she reached the door, which looked like a good sneeze would knock it down, but she was sure it was guarded by dark magic. A flicker of fear, like a flame, licked her consciousness, freezing her heart and her bravery with it. But only for a minute. She was used to hiding things like fear and sadness and forgetting about them in a dark little dusty corner in her head. She banged on the door with her fist and waited.

She only waited a few minutes, but with her heart thundering away in her chest so much that it hurt, Maeve felt like she waited a couple millenniums. Finally, she heard shuffling footsteps and a "whoosh" as the spells guarding the door were released. The door creaked open, revealing a short, squat man with a large bald spot, a pointed nose, and watery little eyes. She fought the urge to laugh as he spoke in an odd squeaky voice. He was supposed it be intimidating, she supposed. Right...

"Who dares disturb the House of Riddle, current residence of..." he tried to growl, but it came out more in a kind of whimper.

Maeve couldn't stand it any longer, so she interrupted, in a calm and much more effective scornful voice, "Who dares? What, are we in the 16th century or something? What's it look like? I dare 'disturb the House of Riddle' apparently. And you shouldn't just go announcing who resides here. You don't know who I am; I might have wanted to harm the Master of the House. Luckily enough for you, my intentions are just the opposite."

The little man stared at her in shock for a moment, or maybe he was just trying to process what she had just said. Maeve couldn't tell. He eventually managed to stutter, "B...b...but who are you? What is your business?"

"My name is Lux; my business is with Lord Voldemort. That's all you'll get outta me, buddy. Are you going to make me stand here till sunrise?"

Footsteps sounded quietly from the dark behind the man. A cruel, cold voice joined the conversation. Lord Voldemort stood just out of sight in the shadows.

"You use my name carelessly. Do you not fear me, girl?"

"Why should I? Your little magic tricks can make the little kiddies like him," she gestured to the man at the door, "Wet their pants, but puh-leez! And if I may say so, your manners are lacking quite a lot, most evil Dark Lord."

"You are either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave. Which is it?"
"Bit of both, I suppose." Maeve smiled charmingly and watched the little man stare fearfully to his left.

"I see. And what brings you to the doorstep of my home?" asked the Dark Lord, sounding amused.

"Your home?" she asked, with a lighter edge to her voice, keeping in stride with the evil guy's mood, "Don't you mean 'evil lair' or something fun like that? Sides, I came to see you, now that you mention it..."

"Here's my problem, girl. I cannot decide to kill you now and save the time, or to hear you out, for you amuse me," he mused.

"I'd recommend the second, good entertainment is so hard to find anymore. But I'm perfectly ok with the first option, please go right ahead. Really, there's not much to this life anyway," she said earnestly, keeping the fear out of her eyes and voice.

"I suppose I can always kill you later, as well...alright, Pettigrew lead her into the sitting room," said the Lord V.'s voice as it receded down the hall.

TO BE CONTINUED…