Chapter 2: Secret Conversations
I would like to sincerely apologize to all the fans of my story for taking such an enormous amount of time to update… its been crazy with school, work, and everything in between if you know what I mean. Anyhow I promise I will update my story much much sooner this time around! Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy, and please review… I would like to hear everyone's outputs and opinions, for it helps writing immensely!
Following Ciara's antsy ride upon the Hogwarts Express, they finally arrived to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ciara peered around her newly made friends, and attempted to cloak her amazement and wonder, at technically her first glimpse of Hogwarts. The fact that she was not truly a Gryffindor sixth year was classified information between herself and one other person, Albus Dumbledore. Technically speaking Ciara was old enough to be a graduate from the school, but that was something no one needed to know for the moment anyhow. When they arrived at the Great Hall Ciara gazed in awe at the starry moonlit sky that was illuminated above her by magically levitating balls of light floating several feet above the tables. What soon appeared before them was a feast that she had only encountered on several occasions that were few and far between. All the Gryffindors chatted joyously in between large gulps of scrumptious food. During that time Ciara seized the chance to take a closer look at her surroundings and began to commence what she had been specifically trained for. Unknown to her eyes darting throughout the hall was that she had a stalker.
The intrigued ice cold blue eyes of Draco Malfoy gazed intently at the girl who baffled him so. He found her rather attractive but also curious… Draco knew he felt someone probe into his mind while on the train and had a distinct feeling that it had been her doing. He distinctly knew what it felt to have his mind read, since his father had trained him to block such things, and put him through dozens of excruciating tests to learn how to do so. Draco figured he did not need to voice his suspicions upon the girl quite yet, but did intend to woo her into his affections in order to find out more about her for purposes of his own. His thoughts had suddenly been rudely interrupted when a rather annoying unattractive Pansy Parkingson had realized he hadn't been paying one iota of attention to her stupid jumble of incomplete sentences erupting from her lips.
After the feast Ciara ditched Hermione, Ron, and Harry with the excuse that she needed a word with Dumbledore over possibly switching one of her classes. She knew she wouldn't be questioned since she had correctly interpreted that Hermione was indeed very fond of anything to do with homework and classes, and she would move Harry and Ron along to their dormitory. Ciara while walking down the hall closed her eyes for a moment and brought the mind picture that Dumbledore sent to her the previous day to assist her in finding his office. Finally she arrived at the Gargoyle that covered the entrance to his domain and muttered the password 'lemon drop' at it. As she ascended the winding staircase she wondered where the upcoming conversation might lead her this time. She knocked softly upon the door, which then swung open to reveal Dumbledore sitting at his desk amidst all of the intriguing trinkets he possessed. He peered up from his half moon spectacles with his blue twinkling eyes as usual, not at all surprised by her visit. Ciara took the chance to speak first and said, "Good Evening Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore replied with a warm smile, "Miss Ciara Flemming I presume, or should I say Miss Ciara Black, how are you faring so far? Would you care for a chocolate?"
"No thank you. Flemming is fine enough for here anyhow. I do hope you have listening spells protecting your walls, for we wouldn't want my alibi getting out the first day I arrive at Hogwarts," Ciara tartly retorted, "On the other hand I am so far so good, I think I have subdued any suspicions that have arisen about me so far."
"These walls are protected with magic that no one would be able to puncture withany conceivabletype of magic. Excellent. By the way I have the information that you requested," Dumbledore mysteriously said while handing her a piece of rolled up parchment.
Ciara unrolled the paper and peered at the list of Voldemort's current posse of death eaters. She came across the name Lucious Malfoy, and was not in the least surprised.
"Thank you," she replied to Dumbledore, "this will greatly assist me in this task."
"You need not worry about someone elsereading what the parchment truly contains for it is heavily magicked to appear as schoolwork when anyone else should read it. I must ask you to be very careful, for this will most likely be the most dangerous mission I have asked of you so far, and I must impress the importance of secrecy upon you," said Dumbledore in a very serious tone while peering down at her from behind his spectacles.
Ciara retorted with a smile, "My Da didn't raise me from the cradle to be a spy for nothing. I will take your word into caution though."
Dumbledore nodded and dismissed her with a graceful wave of his hand and said, "I have no doubt in my mind that you are not suited for the job, nor that you are not qualified enough Ciara Black. You have many gifted abilities and I hold my ultimate faith in you."
With that Ciara left the office and vanished into the shadows of the dimly lit hall that would lead her towards her new home, while contemplating of the unsettling events to come.