I really loathe heels, like, more than any other shoes that I have ever worn, but they do the job.
The ones I was wearing unfortunately, were brand new too, replacing the usual black boots that I preferred to wear when out on my typical endeavors. Unfortunately being invited to a party filled with upper class pureblood wizards and witches whom I saw as nothing but in fact criminals meant that I had to dress the part. I ended up having to ditch my comfortable dragon leather boots for the ridiculous shoes so that it could match the dress I wore.
It was a sleek red stain material that was too tight and had a dangerously high slit that was at risk of meeting the top of my upper right thigh. Every time I moved in a certain way, I had to be careful so that I wouldn't risk exposing my crotch. Surprisingly I didn't have any ill intended dark witch try to hex me with in sight for daring to dress in such a scandalous outfit, but they did clutch their husbands closer and gave me furious gazes, and not that I was interested anyways in their pitiful partners, seeing as most of them were either old wizards with money married to younger wives, or were nowhere close to being anybody that I fancied at all. In fact I was more focused on my task, why I had to attend in the first place and why I had bothered to dress.
For the past few weeks I spent an considerate amount of time pulling strings and bribing certain dark wizards in ways I never would have imagined myself utilizing, especially considering how easily repulsed I get, but it did mean that opportunities came much more easily than I had ever dared imagined. My methods were not for the faint of heart, but I had to admit they were rather satisfying, considering that the dark wizards that I had toyed with were followers of the very same criminal that I was trying to hunt down.
Tom Fucking Riddle.
Or Voldemort.
It wasn't easy trying to find the likes of him, but after months of undercover investigation and careful searching, I was closer than ever to catching him- the bastard that was responsible for the oncoming destruction prophesied to come.. It didn't help that Riddle liked to disappear and do his dirty work in the shadows like a phantom, but even so despite trying to evade notice, glimpses of him would appear at random times at random locations.
Riddle was a wizard who liked to travel extensively, much more than any wizard or witch that I had ever known. It was impressive, that, I have to admit. He never liked to spend too much time in one country from the pattern that I've noticed, and he also didn't like to visit the same country more than once either, unless he absolutely must, from what I've concluded. He had already amassed dark followers who were wizards and witches of all sorts, from all across the globe wherever he travelled. Many of them came from all over Europe, Asia, North and South America, some from Africa, and a few from Antarctica. It was an impressive array of personalities, ethnicities and races all joined together with wands interlocked and controlled by one Dark Lord - Their Dark Lord.
Whispers of his power reached the four corners of the earth, underneath the guise of friendly chatter and meaningless conversations filled with cryptic messages and secret symbols. One would never know what it all meant, unless one knew what they were looking for. When I had pieced everything together and found a possible location of an upcoming meeting place, which was actually going to be in the disguise of a private party underneath the St Peter's Basilica church in Rome, it was simultaneously confusing and surprising.
I had imagined some meeting in a dark forest located somewhere far away abroad in Asia, or the North and South Americas, because last I had heard Riddle had conducted a meeting abroad in West Africa, in Côte d'Ivoire, a western African country colonized by the French that had many sacred rainforests. Taï National Park is where he and his followers had decided to gather, a place where it held the remnant of the oldest Tropical humid forests in West Africa. There they entered the sacred forest of Zaïpobly in the east of Taï National Park, a place of source for the village peoples food, medicine, widespread flora and fauna.
I had gotten there hours later than originally planned due to some conflict between me and one of my colleagues, only to find the smoke of secrets that were discussed by it's vanished owners before they disappeared to some other place of secret origin. I could still feel the dark magic in the air when I stepped foot into the forest, and although it was beautiful I couldn't help but feel as if something evil had walked into and desecrated its light. I took note of the very minimal evidence I could find which was lacking. The air was beyond humid, almost like I could feel it as I played my fingers through the air. The amount of thick greenery and beautiful majestic tall trees that soared into the sky was magnificent. A few times I had witnessed chimpanzees eyeing me curiously from the high tree branches, their eyes locked onto me. I merely waved back to their blinking orbs and set foot into more ground area, looking for Riddle's trail. There was a patch of interesting looking red spiral flowers shaped like cones that looked like they had been uprooted and taken. I wasn't sure whether that was the work of Riddle's followers or of the muggle village people that lived by or maybe the witches and wizards that lived close by, but I noted its shape and color.
As I made my way through some of the green bush, I heard the rustling of leaves on the ground, like small feet padding across carrying a minimal body weight. An animal? I had looked around while my hand held my wand and slowly I surveyed my surroundings when I made it into an open clearing. I couldn't spot anything on the ground, not even from the trees besides the still eyes of the chimpanzees that watched in an eerie way from their positions at the branches. It seemed like they were expecting something, or someone.
I stayed still, arm up at my waist, whoever- whatever it was, even the animals could sense it. A minute passed by and I decided that maybe I needed to take my leave. I didn't find anything besides the missing flowers and Riddle had been here in this forest - too bad I couldn't catch him. I was about to apparate when I heard it- the sound of a low growl from behind me and I whipped around with my wand outstretched and pointed to my target.
A large leopard a few feet from me had emerged through the bush in which I just came from, its golden eyes locked on to mine as it's tail moved slowly behind it. It opened its mouth and growled, and it's teeth - oh it's teeth looked ready to tear and kill. But it was just an animal and so I lowered my wand and made myself look less threatening. Deciding it wasn't enough as it hissed at me again I carefully but slowly bent down with eyes locked on its body before lowering the wand on to the ground.
"Hello, I'm sorry was I in the way? I was just leaving now, aren't you a beautiful creature," I purred softly and then stepped back. If it was going to attack it meant I had to use wandless magic to detain it back just enough so that I could disappear.
The leopard widened its mouth and then hissed again, before taking a step forward, its paws looked prepared to jump but I was ready too. I wasn't surprised that I was going to be attacked simply because it felt like I was invading its territory, so I apologized to it despite the fact it probably couldn't understand me. "I'm really sorry that I'm intruding on your land, your home, but I'm investigating someone. A warlock who came here, maybe with a few others and they are not from here, I believe he has taken something from here. Stolen it, actually - a plant. He is not a good wizard - he's killed many of my kind and even non magics, so I'm hunting for him...Forgive me.."
I bent down again to grab my wand slowly, but surprisingly the leopard stepped back, its teeth still however looked threatening as it tilted it's head, golden eyes wandering over me- like it understood my words and I let out a sigh of relief when it backed away slowly appraising me. I smiled at it and before I could apparate, something miraculous happened. The leopard laid on the ground and then there was glimmer over its body before it's legs began to peel back - the skin morphing slowly - and then it's face changed - and then I blinked and a dark skinned man was kneeled on the ground watching me before he stood up. He wore simple blue breeches and a white shirt - muggle fashion more like
To say I was surprised was an understatement, it was more like shocked. I definitely wasn't expecting another wizard much less one who was so effortlessly good with transfiguration. The wand in my hand twitched again but I lowered it when he spoke, "You are trespassing witch. You should be punished for it, but, I won't." His accent was thick but understandable, but there was no threat in his tone, merely an observant one.
"I know, I'm sorry. I should be on my way now."
He narrowed his eyes, "You are not one of them then?"
I raised a brow. "Clearly, no. I mean to catch him - so that he may face judgement for his past crimes before he commits more wickedness."
He studies me again, "We don't get many foreign witches or warlocks here, around this part of the continent unless-" He paused, brows furrowing before he glanced around the area. He walked around the thick bushes and then stopped by the plants I had been looking at. The red cone shaped flowers. One's I've never seen before until I entered the forest.
He plucked one and then held it and peered closer before glancing at me, eyes boring into mine, a darkness passing over his features. "These flowers," he mentioned slowly, "only a select few know of what they can do in a certain potion but - it seems that it has reached your criminal yes?"
I nod, "It has. I came here searching for him but I was too late, but I did notice some of those have been taken-."
"Stolen," he corrected, jaw clenching and then he walked towards me. "These flowers are called the Alpinia purpurata or Vieill. It is found here and in Australasian countries where it is warm and humid. Your criminal is smart. Clever. This is no ordinary warlock yes?" He asked.
I shook my head, "No, he is not. What can these flowers do? I'm assuming it is a potion of some questionable kind. It would not be something sold openly in the market," I add.
He shook his head slowly, eyes dark, "No, it is not. It can not be used in any other potion but one - the Furantur potion. It takes skill, and dedication and a powerful warlock who can create it. Not an ordinary one either. There is a reason why knowledge of it is kept limited to many, only a few know it's value and it's...danger."
"What is the potion, may I ask?"
His dark gaze considered mine, a thoughtful look expressed on his face before he placed his hand out with the flower, lips pulled thin over his teeth, "One that is worse than death and itself."
But what could be worse than death itself? Suffering, maybe? The cruciatus curse then?
"What could be worse?"
He worked the muscles in his jaw, "This potion is very- very dangerous beyond belief. Although it only lasts a few hours, it can do much more irreversible damage than the worst potion or spell you can ever think of."
A fleeting thought of horror passes through, and I think to myself, what the hell was Riddle up to?
"There is a specific time, only once towards the end of the year, where you can brew it underneath the moonlight. It takes many hours throughout the night, without resting, and it must be cooked and prepared by a wizard who possesses a strong magical core, an iron will and the cleverness and strength to do it. If not done by a strong warlock, it will kill the brewer but it seems your criminal knows that he can accomplish this."
"He will do anything for power, so this potion once ingested? Or- help me understand what it does?"
When it is finished, when the furantur is ready-" he pauses, eyes distant, "the victim of your choice must drink and then you cast the killing spell. But something happens before the killing spell takes effect, something dark and evil."
I swallow roughly, the air although was previously humid, now felt less so, like the temperature had lowered. Even the chimpanzees had disappeared. "The potion runs through a witch or a witch's veins, it forces your magical core out, ripping it from its host and then seeks the next closest body nearby- the one who brewed it. It attaches into the brewers body, joins forces with the maker's own magical core, adding on to it."
I gasped, and then almost dropped my wand, "That's not possible- no that's not possible. How- but why, why it would only mean-" I feel a cold chill lick up my spine, "He's stealing their power, their own magical power- thats- that's impossible-"
My mind felt heavy, and my chest felt tight. If Riddle were to do this, it meant he was going to steal someone else's power for his own. It would mean he would gain their strength, all for himself and already Riddle is powerful enough as it is, to think that he would do such a diabolical thing. I had to warn the Ministry of Magic. I had to.
"It is very much possible which is why only a few of us have kept the knowledge secret but somehow he found out about it. Only five of us know, but one has betrayed us."
"Are you all here? All five of you?" I asked.
"No, I am the only one in this continent. The others are scattered across the globe." He said.
"You have to get together and discuss this. There is a chance one of you is working for this criminal and you must find out before it's too late."
He nods, "I have no choice, this morning I had already sent a message out. Your warlock is going to use the knowledge of this flower and create this potion. There is only a few months left before he can brew it, he will use it to steal any witch or wizard's magical core, and once it is done, it can not be undone."
I take deep breaths, my mind wild with thoughts and horrible images of Riddle doing such a diabolical thing. "Please tell me, please tell me this can only be done once? No more than this?" I ask desperately, my hands trembling with horror.
He sighs softly and then a hint of a resigned smile comes upon his lips, "No, thankfully not. This potion only works once and even brewing another one will not work to steal another's magical core."
"But that's still one important life, a witch or a wizard who's going to die without their own magical core, it sickens me to think that he would do this."
"Yes, yes it is sickening."
I reached out to grasp the flower in his hand, "You didn't see him here? Others with him?"
There's a disappointed look on his face "No, it was this morning just after sunrise but I was too late. I live in the village nearby, I look after the muggles, they see me as their own doctor. I come here now and then to gather food and plants for them but the children ran towards us and explained that they saw figures when they were playing out in the outskirts of the forest," he said.
"What did the children say?" I asked, "How many could do they see? Did they tell you?"
He frowned, "They said they wore black robes, at first I had thought they were telling stories, you know how children are, but then one of the boys, only eight years old, looked terrified-almost sick. He told me that he saw a pale one, a man with eyes as red as blood and that he smiled at him. But it was the feeling that he got from him, that concerned me."
"Like what?"
"He said it was like death, as if the man was death itself. I promptly sent the children back to the village after, and went into the forest. I felt the forest air, as if it was telling me something terrible had happened. Then I truly felt it. Black magic, one that I have never felt before, powerful, potent and deadly."
I shuddered. "Yes this particular wizard tends to carry it around like a black cloud." I placed the flowers in my robe pockets. "Thank you for speaking with me, I apologise for intruding again."
He shrugged and then gave me a firm look, "It is fine, take this knowledge I give you and find him, before it is too late."
I nodded, "Yes, thank you. I will."
When I returned back to Britain with a heavy heart I had to immediately contact Albus. I needed advice on the situation I was dealing with. I was so close and yet so far off from finding Riddle. I ended up causing a chaotic mess in my apartment, papers flew everywhere, my table upturned and my furniture was ripped to shreds. That very same day a pale snowy owl stood outside my window with a letter in its beak. Waving my hand, the window opened and I grabbed the envelope.
Opening it, I read it's content's.
To Miss Christine
It has come to my attention that you have been neglecting your professional responsibilities in favor of seeking out a high profile Case that is not formally assigned to you, nor is it even within our division. Therefore please be at the office tomorrow 8.00 am sharp in the morning for a disciplinary meeting to discuss your actions with myself, and your Leader Mr Nuttley.
Arnold Peasegood
Supervisor
Accidental Magic Reversal Squad
Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
Ministry of Magic, Whitehall, London, Level 3.
I chuck the letter on to the side of the bed with an annoyed huff. Well fuck. I didn't expect them to catch on so quickly. I spend the rest of the day sulking, and then finally cleaning my room and setting everything back together. I even owled mom and dad, explained to them what had happened and how day went. It was a shame I couldn't see them for another few weeks, as they were all the way in Germany. Apparently a cousin I never even knew I had was having a wedding, but I wasn't prepared to ask for leave from my job. There were far too important things going on.
Eventually I had to get back up on my feet and start doing more paperwork. Work was getting tiresome, it was the same thing over and over again and I was getting bored. I preferred continental travels and hunting down Riddle. That was more fun and a lot more serious. Fuck I guess I had to let Dumbledore know about my findings.
Well, here we go. Another day, another life.
