Ok, if I misspelled anything, or gave a wrong bit of information...let me know, k? Please review, or Im gunna get all depressed and yeah.
Chapter four: The man behind the wizard
Ceo slowly climbed the stair case to the gargoyle that was the entrance to the Headmaster's office. When she got there, she felt thoroughly stupid because she didn't know how to get in. With a childish stop of her foot, Ceo let out a low curse.
"Are you looking for someone?" A deep and calm voice said behind her. Ceo spun around and instantly blushed at seeing Dumbledore smiling passively a few feet away.
"Ah, sorry, Professor," Ceo mumbled, biting her lip and giving a weak smile. "I needed to speak with you."
"Does it concern the education you are receiving?" Dumbledore asked, and Ceo had a feeling he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about.
"Erm...no."
"Then let us proceed to my office where we shouldn't be overheard." Dumbledore gave a sweep of his arm, and walked before the statue saying, "Chocolate Frogs,", which Ceo took to be the password. Never being in the Headmaster's office, Ceo looked around quiet amazed as they walked in and Dumbledore seated himself behind his large desk. A doleful cry came from a corner of the room, and Ceo turned to see a phoenix that was going through its last bit of life through rebirth.
"You needed to speak with me?" Dumbledore prompted, taking his usual position with his fingers steepled and his chin resting on them.
"Yes, about Voldemort." Ceo said, taking her eyes off the bird and in turn looking at the wizard. "He went to school here, I presume, and I was wondering if you taught, or were going to school as well."
"You flatter me, Ceolburg," Dumbledore gave a faint smile, and Ceo inwardly winced at the use of her full name, but didn't dare reproach him. "I in fact did teach when Voldemort was at school. I was not yet Headmaster; I was the Transfiguration teacher."
"I trust that Voldemort is not his...Christian name, for lack of a better term," Ceo frowned.
"You seem to be taking a keen interest in the Prophet, Miss. Hild. Before we continue, might I ask why?"
"I have been thinking," Ceo said slowly, choosing her words. "This man...this dark wizard must be bad, because the Aurors haven't caught him yet. Every day there are more killings and disappearances. I want to know more about the enemy, so it would be easier to bring him down."
"You are very wise," Dumbledore finally spoke after a long moment of silence. "I assume you know that parents do not wish for their children to know?"
"My friend's parents didn't want her to come to school," Ceo said, remembering her conversation with Lily a while ago. "And they're Muggles. I have noticed that everyone is acting very different. Forgive me sir, but even you."
"Voldemort's name is Tom Riddle." Dumbledore said, drawing himself up and looking at Ceo with something bordering respect. "Brilliant with the hint of danger to him. The teachers all loved him, he had a band of followers. Everyone always had high hopes for him. What few people know is, that he is a Parselmouth. He is also a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin. All I know about him is that he was very gifted with magic, not unlike yourself, forgive me for saying. When he graduated, he went to my predecessor and asked for a teaching position. Professor Dippet said he should come back when he was older."
Ceo chewed on the insides of her cheek, thinking. "And did he?" She asked looking up and around at the portraits lining the wall, until she came to a frail looking man with the name Aramando Dippet in a gold plaque at the bottom of his frame; the wizard beamed at her for some reason.
"Yes. Of course I did not allow it to him, but that was the lat I had seen of Tom for a very long time."
"What position did he want, professor?" Ceo asked, not knowing if he had mentioned it and she forgot so quickly, or if he simply left that detail out.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore said, the expression on his face unreadable.
Ceo snorted. At that, Dumbledore gave another one of his small smiles. He then let out a sigh and stood up. "I am sorry to be rushing you out, Miss Hild, but I needed to speak to Professor McGonagall before the day comes to a close." Ceo rose as well, feeling like she had a lot to mull over.
"Thank you, Professor," She said rather humbly as they went down the winding staircase. Dumbledore put a light hand on her shoulder.
"I am rather glad you asked about Voldemort. A lot of people would rather put him out of mind, and not worry. You have a sharp mind and a keen eye." He stopped then added, "But don't get into trouble with them." With a knowing wink, Dumbledore bid her farewell and started off in the opposite direction as Ceo, who was now heading at breakneck speed to the library.
0-0
"The map says she's in the library," James pointed to a small dot with the name 'Ceolburg Hild' in tight handwriting above it.
"The library on holiday?" Sirius asked skeptically, as they changed direction and ducked into a hidden corridor that was also a shortcut to the library.
"Why not?" Remus asked, a little waspishly. Anyone else would have been taken aback with this attitude, except his three closest friends and Ceo; who knew that full moon was fastly approaching.
"Nothing." Sirius said quickly, and they opened the large wooden doors and lowered their voices at a sharp look from Madame Prince.
"There she is," James pointed to one of the tables that was covered in old records, Ceo wading in them, obviously absorbed in what she was reading.
"What are you doing?" Sirius whispered, sitting in the chair next to her and pulling a leaflet of parchment towards him. "'Award for Special Services to the School'?" He asked, give a grimace. "What are you reading this rot for?"
"Information," Ceo muttered, pulling the parchment from him and scanning the list of names. She found the one she wanted, and circled it with her quill.
"Tom Riddle?" Remus frowned.
"Yes."
"And here it says the same person was head boy." James pointed to another sheaf of parchment. "Fancy him or something?" he joked.
"Oh yes, I really love dark wizards who kill mass amounts of people," Ceo whispered dryly.
"What?" Sirius was really confused now.
"Tom Riddle is Voldemort. Voldemort is Tom Riddle. So far I found that he has gotten an award for doing the school a favor, been a prefect and head boy, as well as a few other things."
"You're sure this is the same guy?" Sirius asked, disbelief apparent on his handsome features.
"Very."
"And how do you know?" James queried.
"Because Dumbledore told me," Ceo said distractedly, circling Tom Riddle's name again.
"Oh. Well we came to ask you if you wanted to join us in the Forbidden Forrest."
Ceo looked up sharply at Sirius, who looked perfectly innocent. "It's off limits." She said after surveying him.
"Yeah, but Hagrid needs our help with something. Wanna tag along?" Ceo frowned, and tried not to bristle at the 'tag along' part, but thought about it.
"I would want to ask Dumbledore if it's alright. If it is, then yes." Ceo stood up and gathered all the parchment, waving her wand with her free hand and they vanished. She looked at all their faces, each one a mask of innocence. "When?"
"Tomorrow night." Remus said promptly. Ceo shrugged.