AN- Ok! Yeah it's been a while, but I'm back with more idea's then ever. Life just kind of side tracked me... Also a little bit of change in the previous chapter. So enjoy!
I don't own Harry Potter yo...
An Honest Objective
Violet and silver drapes, Amethyst jewels of different sizes adorning regal silks.
Desiray was busy redecorating her new rooms, a feminine touch being added to the previously dull and mundane atmosphere. The rooms we're currently a mess though, unpacked bags lay on the ground and multiple items drifted around the room as a result of Desiray's magic.
Curtains hung themselves, carpets unrolled.
Damon had just left a moment ago, carrying in a few forgotten items and staying for only a minute to complain about how Malachi was the one who usually did her dirty work. Her brother's absence had left the rooms strangely empty and somber. The knowledge that her twin wasn't going to be here to bother her with his shenanigans for quite some time, left Desiray in an ill mood.
So she continued unpacking, occasionally throwing glances out one of the large floor sized windows, the sun having set long ago.
The view from the Astronomy tower rooms was a beautiful one, that was something Desiray couldn't deny. Though the rooms were only half way up the tower, it still was high enough to over look most of the school grounds and beyond, the magic 360 walls giving her a full view of the area if she wanted. A secret stair case was located behind her fireplace for quick easy access to the class room and other places.
The very bottom of the stairs actually held a secret tunnel that let out near the forbidden forest, in case a quick meal was needed.
A small grin graced her lips. Dumbledore always thought of everything.
A sudden thud and creek snapped Desiray's attention into play, her eyes settling on a small tawny owl that landed cautiously in the room. It's talons dropping a small note on the far table before it fluttered off.
Desiray, scoffed. It wasn't like she was thinking of eating the disgusting bird...
With a sigh, the woman moved herself to pick up the note that smelled like whatever rat the winged mammal had decided to chew on recently.
'MY OFFICE' stood out in bold shaky manuscript, causing Desiray to raise her eyebrows curiously. It was obviously Albus's handwriting...
Her floo wasn't working at the moment...so that meant a long trip down Hogwarts many corridors. Perhaps a bit of time out of this dust confining room would be healthy, her nose was already protesting due to the captivity.
Desiray exited the rooms with a sigh, taking the stairs in the most efficient way she found possible (jumping), and continued a leisurely stroll down the long corridor. It didn't last long, she had forgotten how long the corridors really were and found herself sprinting down the hall, sticking to the shadows as time blurred before her.
The woman slowed at the offices entrance, which was curiously left open, and took the steps two at a time. Her ears slowly became aware of voices, Albus' calm heavy voice and Snape's angry exasperated one. They seemed to be arguing...the rise and fall of their tones a sign of stress.
"I dont want to do this anymore headmaster!"
"You gave me your word..."
A tired sigh.
Half tempted to stand by and eavesdrop, Desiray warily pushed open the thick wooden door. Two pairs of eyes darted to her, one hostile the other tired.
The first thing to catch Desirays attention was of course, Snape's ridiculously tempting scent, but it was surprisingly overpowered by something more...sinister.
Albus was sprawled heavily in one of his plush chairs, blue eyes cloudy and wrinkled skin pale. A darkened smoking ring encircled his ring finger, leaving blackened skin and dying veins. The sight of it actually made the vampires stomach lurch slightly.
"Either I am intruding on something, or you called me here for this specific reason." Desiray commented, eyes assessing the two men. Had this year's excitement already begun?
"There is a reason of course." The headmaster said with a small smile on his face, his voice thick with ailments.
Snape let out a frustrated breath, "Headmaster, you cannot honestly be thinking of trusting this..." He gave Desiray an insulting look, "WOMAN with such information. We haven't even known her more than a few days!"
"You haven't known her more than a few days, my dear boy." Albus corrected, "Dare I say she knows me better than you do?"
Snape glared at the vampire distrustfully, "Fine."
Desiray shut the door behind her and took a few steps towards the elder man. Snape's form tensed as she came closer to the two, his eyes narrowing, but the woman's attention quickly ignored it in favor of the ring.
The ring on Albus' hand was a striking gold against the blackening skin, a blood red ruby set in the center. Tendons of death seeping into his withering veins.
"Does this conversation have something to do with a curse? And a blood curse at that..." Desiray asked, slowly taking in the fowl looking jewelry. Something inside of her was drawn to it. The dark magic seeming to attempt to pull something out of her.
It smelled of... death and living essence, but it seemed weekend, defeated. Dead and Desiray was instantly grateful that the full force of it was no longer there, it would have spelled disaster.
The cross at her chest started to burn and Desiray griped it, a shocked look crossing her face, "Sweet merciful oblivion, Albus. What deep pit in hell did you have to dwell in to drag this out?"
The old man looked at her with a sliver of hope, "So you know what this is?"
"Not for sure, but I know of its nature. A corruption of something deeper than blood and the ring, a containment of the same, but I've never seen something so...concentrated."
A speculative silence followed.
Snape crossed his arms, "That's hardly helpful. We don't need opinions. We need results."
Snape attempted to rough house his way past her, but Desiray sidestep him with an automatic reflex and watched as he pulled out his wand. He mumbled a few words in Latin, waving that stick wizards were so found of. Colors of magic circled around Albus' hand, bringing back a more natural color to the arm, but condensing the corruption to the area near the ring.
"That should hold you for now," The Potion Master said, slowly removing the ancient ring with his wand as he said so. The other hand pulled out a vile of some clear liquid, placing it in the Headmasters good hand. He chugged it down passively.
'For now,' the words echoed in Desirays mind, 'but not for long.'
The vampire knew death when she saw it and even better when she smelled it. This dosage of whatever magic this was, was lethal. A slow agonizing assault of something deeper than blood.
Dare she say soul? Though she never really believed in such a thing...perhaps it too was a mere form of magic.
"What brought this situation on?" Desiray asked curiously, arms folded under her chest and a hand occasionally stroking the hot ebony steel of her necklace.
"An foolish overpowering need to destroy Voldemort." The old man sighed, and Desiray noticed Snape flinch at the name.
"The...destruction of this ring is something that will help against your dark wizard?"
"Yes, something of the like. Or so I hope. It seems I'm running out of cards to play."
Desiray nodded in understanding, "Eagerness has spelled the death of many wise men and unfortunately the victory of many fools, Albus. You best be careful."
The old man sat up more professionally in his chair, a healthier color having returned to his cheeks, "Yes, but if everything goes right, we'll be done. Now," He crossed his hands under that long beard of his, "Have you settled in well?"
Snape seemed to give a quiet exasperated sigh, moving to adjust his weight against a nearby shadowed wall. Desiray didn't like the quick change of subject either, but answered anyways.
"More or less," She shrugged, " I've almost finished packing and my brother just left a few minutes before you sent for me. The view from the Astronomy tower is also quite impeccable"
"And your class plans?"
"I'll have them to you first thing in the morning, if you wish."
"By Friday would be quite alright dear. Now you are alright with Astronomy taking up most of your nights? We can adjust the schedule of Mythology, since it is just an elective."
Desiray sighed, "It's fine. I don't sleep much anyways and I like the subject, so it taking up my time doesn't bother me."
The woman ended the answers, keeping them short and sweet in hope that Albus would get back to the original subject. She knew the old man wanted something from her, otherwise he wouldn't have called her up here at near midnight...
They stared in an awkward silence, Desiray fixing him with a tired look, arms still crossed.
He seemed to understand the accusing look in her eye and sighed, "The ring. I would like you to take it for study and tell me what you discover about it. I want to be completely certain of this new knowledge before I even begin to entertain the thought."
"But Headmaster," Snape spoke up from his corner, " If anything I should be the one to analyze such a thing. As the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor my experience-"
"Severus," Albus cut him off in a sharp tone, " I do not doubt your experience, but when it comes down to something like this, I know of Desirays expertise first hand. This is something well in her knowledge and understanding." His eyes fell to were Desirays hand now held her cross firmly, the metal having grown uncomfortably warm.
Snape glared hostilely at the woman, his eyes sizing her up before he left the room in an agitated gait. Desiray had to step out of the way of his angry form and was left to stare after the hostile male.
"He doesn't seem to take very kindly to me, Albus." She said slowly.
"No worries, Severus doesn't take kindly to anyone really."
"Is that so?" Desiray mused, her eyes settling back on the wizened man. Heavy wrinkles, long uncut hair, but the same gentle blue eyes and soft respectable features. There was so much that made her not want to recognize the man in front of her, but even more that spelled out who he was, like writing on paper.
His lips twitched into what could have been a smile, "Yes, I know I'm not the same dashing young lad you remember from all those years ago."
Desiray chuckled, slightly embarrassed, "I didn't mean to stare so Albus, I'm just not used to seeing people I know change over time. The humans I do loose contact with usually don't cross my mind until some eons later. I must admit though, you've been around longer than I expected."
"It's been a long 115 years." He chuckled, "Dare I be jealous over your resistance to the elements?"
The vampire almost laughed, "No, no. Sometimes I wish I showed some kind of proof of my experience. These old bones could put your stories to shame."
"Nonsense, I still don't believe you to be a year over twenty." he said in a serious tone, though his eyes sparkled from behind clear spectacles.
Desiray laughed shortly and enjoyed her first moment of amusement in this school, hopefully one of many to come. Probably, since Albus always had been a rather witty individual. She enjoyed his company.
The vampire grinned and nodded as if answering a silent question, "Albus, I have no problem with you using me in any plan you may come up with. Whatever your motive is, it's mine for as long as you demand it. This I can assure you on reasonable terms."
Albus looked at her with a speculative eye, "Do I recall you saying something like that back during Grindalwalds reign?"
"Ah yes. I would prefer to agree with your using of me than just being moved around against my will. My fathers the only one aloud to do that...though I do suppose I forgot the bow." She place her right hand below her collar bone and the other balled in a fist behind her back, then made a short but regal dip of her body, "How's that?"
"Acceptable, if it makes you comfortable."
Desiray grinned, "Excellent. I'll take that monstrosity of a ring off your hands then and update you on the status." Desiray pulled a medium sized vile out of one of her inside pockets and let Albus drop the ring in there with his wand.
She corked it and placed it in an outside pocket, not liking the feel of it being close to her skin.
"Many thanks, dear, your already doing more than I previously imagined."
"Any time Albus. I'll see you soon." And with that, Desiray left for her rooms to continue the rest of her unpacking. The farewell of Albus' reaching her ears shortly after.
It seemed she already had plenty of work on her hands...