A/N It's Valentines Day. It's cold, snowing and I refuse to go outside. So here's a chapter...
I do not own Harry Potter.
Touché
When Desiray stepped onto Hogwarts grounds, there was a new liveliness in her stride, despite the disgusting blankets of snow on the ground. The way her body moved was more fluid and her eyes didn't dart to the slightest movement in the corner of her view.
It was the result of a somewhat decent weekend with her brother. She gave his coat back eventually, trading it for one of the heavier robes that wizards wore, something that Damon refused to stop joking about. After a glass or two of Champagne cocktails, Desiray was comfortable enough to listen to her brothers future plans.
He was serious about planning for Oktoberfest and wild Halloween parties, but Desiray was in no place to argue. She liked raunchy house parties as much as any other young woman in her prime. The thought of revealing costumes, masked glances and the heavy bass of loud music intrigued the woman.
Desiray was half way to her rooms when a sudden 'pop' interrupted her thoughts, she spun around to see a short house elf with the name Winky. She cowered under the woman's impatient stare like a mouse under the gaze of a hawk.
The elf swallowed heavily before spitting some nonsense about jewelry, curses, children and Snape in its poor excuse for a vocabulary and even more pitiful excuse for a decent vocal tone before snapping out of sight.
Desiray raised an eyebrow.
House elves were such questionable creatures, distasteful in every manner and the definition of the word 'peon'. They were stronger than plenty of wizards yet still they seemed to be perfectly happy serving as slaves for mankind.
What a joke.
The woman considered ignoring the random encounter mostly out of spite, but decided against the thought. After all, there was plenty that could go wrong with 'Jewelry, curses, children and especially Snape'.
Desiray grinned.
When Desiray opened the mentioned door she was instantly met by an overpowering scent, almost as if someone had put on to much perfume and she wished she was lucky enough to sneeze in that moment, but the blessing was lost to her. Instead her nose burned with that impossible itchy feeling.
"Ms. Belle is lucky to be alive." Snape's low drone drifted into Desiray's ears. He stood over a podium, his wand out and hovering a dark looking amulet while McGonagall peaked over his shoulder. The three children she recognized as 'the golden trio' stood in front of him looking anxious, pitiful and like they really rather be somewhere else.
"One of you sent for me?" Deisray interrupted the small gathering. The trio eyed her uncertainly, though Desiray didn't pay much attention. Her eyes remained locked on that amulet and the whispers that intensified as she walked closer.
"Oh my..." Desiray's eyes widened as she took in the artifact, her head tilting to the side curiously. What had she missed?
Potter caught the soft sigh of her words, "She was cursed, wasn't she?" He exclaimed at the new possible information, " I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was bringing that to someone, she wasn't doing it knowingly."
"Yes. She was cursed." Minerva said in a very tired tone. She turned toward the new professor, "We hope that you would understand this better than we do, Professor and perhaps even place what this object is with your extensive knowledge of History."
"Yes Professor, tell us what you may possibly know about...History.", Snape mocked.
Desiray just raised an eyebrow, "I know exactly what that", beautiful, "monstrosity is. Although I haven't seen one in quite a while and the last one was made of rubies. Same concept though, with the whole cursing and mind abuse thing. She's probably having awful nightmares by now, but don't worry, she won't remember."
"You would know wouldn't you?" He murmured.
Desiray's eyes narrowed at the man before refocusing on Minerva, "Then you agree that Ms. Katie Belle is lucky to be alive?"
Desiray scoffed, "Oh yes, extremely lucky. Actually I'm surprised one of them didn't feel the effects from just the wrapping. It's not difficult to feel the pull of corruption from even this distance. Who was this to be delivered to?" her eyebrows furrowed in thought, "Not to sound rude, but an artifact like this is rather priceless... Ms. Belle isn't worth this much to her enemies is she?" She stared at the amulet cautiously but with a hint of admiration in dark eyes.
Snape seemed to share the same expression.
"It was to be delivered to the Headmaster." Snape answered.
Desiray wasn't surprised, "Of course."
Potter seemed to muster up some kind of courage, "Malfoy did it."
The eyes of the three professors snapped quickly to the 'boy who lived', but none faster than Snapes. His eyes narrowed, deepening the scowl that was already permanently etched into his face.
"That's a very serious accusation, Potter." McGonagall said in a tight voice.
"Indeed. Your evidence?" Snape requested with eyes locked on the boy.
"I just...know." The boy said, looking rather pathetic in his attempt to convince the adult audience with just three words.
Desiray raised an eyebrow at the arrogant response. It was unnecessarily bold of him to say such a thing even if it was probably true.
Tact was a skill for a reason...
"You... just... know. Once again you astonish us with your gifts, Potter, gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One."
Desiray could almost see her father's face now as she mused over the idea Snape had just pointed out. Beet red and seething as she relayed the results of a failed stealth mission, probably with a nervous hand rubbing the back of her neck. She could almost hear the grinding of his teeth and the unspoken yell of 'You did what?!' on the man's furious lips.
It was a very vivid image. Probably because it had actually happened once or twice in the not so distant past...
She tapped a finger on her chin, "Professor Snape has a point. I wish I just knew things. Perhaps it would have ended a few unfair disagreements with my Father or prevented a devastating war or two if I simply handed over unverified information. Don't you think?"
"Indeed." Snape answered.
His sarcasm was so dry that Desiray had to resist the smirk on her lips.
The students were soon dismissed by a tight lipped Minerva, muttering to each other with their heads hung. They didn't seem to like Desiray very much. She was blunt and unfair, just like Snape.
Such is life.
Minerva placed a hand over her face, shaking her head in exhaustion, "Those three are always getting into trouble."
"Those three are trouble, Minerva." Snape grimaced as he placed the necklace back in its case, wrapping it in some enchanted material then placing even more powerful wards around it.
"They're just children, Severus." The elder woman sighed.
Snape didn't comment.
It seemed to Desiray that this was a long running argument between the two heads of house. Slytherin and Gryphindor were obviously rivals, but she wasn't aware that the rivalry ran deep in the adults as well.
"I know your an expert on Dark Artifacts," Desiray spoke up, " but if you're hoping to get rid of that necklace as soon as possible, I have the perfect space for it back home... " In the archive where they kept all the antique relics, right next to its three set mates that she already owned.
She eyed the box as Snape secured it for transportation.
If only...
"Must you constantly make things so unnecessarily difficult?" Snape droned.
"Must you always be so sardonic?" Desiray mocked his tone with a smirk.
He glared, an act he seemed to like doing in responses to most of the things she; or anyone else, said.
"You can't be serious Ms. Salvatore, such a dangerous artifact must be handed over to the ministry." Minerva frowned, apparently oblivious to the tension.
Oh yes, the ministry... where her brother apparently worked.
"Of course, of course. I was merely joking, Minerva."
This seemed to relieve the woman quite a bit.
"So what exactly happened while I was away?" Desiray asked as the two waited for Snape to finish his assessment of the amulet.
As Minerva told her of the incident, Desiray became more and more upset over the fact that she wasn't here to see it firsthand. Katie Bells skin had barley touch the artifact and it had caused her to rise six feet into the air, gracefully it would seem. The trio found Hagrid soon after and later discovered that the girl was more than likely imperioused.
Desiray was having a hard time understanding why Hagrid would let children carry an obviously fatal, cursed weapon. There was such a thing as magic after all and she was sure the seventh year students knew how to levitate a person safely, even if Hagrid was too incompetent to do so.
"Interesting..." Desiray contemplated, " I have heard of them sending people into coma's, morphing someone's form, yes. Derailing a person's mind even, but never levitating someone... and the voices..."
"I am finished." Snape said. Interrupting whatever thought process Desiray had planned on voicing.
"Excellent." Minerva responded, The words clearly taking a load off her shoulders."I'll leave you to bring it to the Ministry, Severus. That magic gives me the chills. I honestly cannot grasp how you stand it."
"I...manage.", he said slowly.
The elder woman nodded and headed towards the exit, "Then goodnight professors. I do believe I'm overdo for a well deserved nap."
Snape muttered a simple 'farewell' while Desiray waved once and chuckled.
An awkward silence fell across the room when the two were left alone and Desiray instantly felt eyes on the back of her head.
"You seem rather cheery today. Then I take it that you got the most out of your weekend." He sneered.
"I'm afraid I don't fully understand what you mean, Professor Snape.", She grinned.
"Oh really?" He stressed, not really enjoying her games, "I imagine you must feel as content as your average tick by now, vampire."
The woman eyed him deviously, "Oh you know me too well, professor. Who am I to deny myself a little taste of the finest cuisines. Allegra was more than willing to compromise under such short notice and she's Italian which is my favorite. The girl makes a superb pasta dish, you'll have to try it some time."
He scowled, "Hilarious. Do you really expect me to believe anything you inform me about your little trips?"
She shrugged, "You don't have to trust anything I say, but what's wrong with a girl enjoying a warm hearty breakfast in the morning?"
" I find your puns to be quite nauseating and have long since lost interest in what kind of activities you decide to partake in."
Desiray rolled her eyes, "Oh relax. I was only poking fun, but I see fun isn't exactly in your vocabulary. If you really wish to skip the pleasantries, I went home for this."
She pulled a decent sized vile from an inside pocket, the red liquid inside was almost impossibly bright. The liquid swirled in the vile, almost as if pulsing from some outside force even though it was thicker than water. When a stray ray of light hit the fluid a jet of fiery gold could be seen within its vast array of warm colors.
Snape eyed the vile with open lips, "Is that fresh Abyssal Dragons Blood?" His eyes snapped up to hers, "How did you acquire such a thing?"
Desiray grinned and tucked the vile away again, much to Snape's obvious displeasure, "Didn't I tell you not to worry about it?" She paused and eyed the man curiously, "But perhaps we can arrange a trade of sorts?"
"No." He said simply, clutching the jewelry case tighter.
"Fine fine. At least let me touch it."
He raised an eyebrow, "Just to risk the chance of you becoming cursed like Ms. Bell? I think not. The last thing Hogwarts needs is a cursed vampirestressing its corridors."
The man turned away sharply, his long gait carrying him rather quickly toward the exit of Minerva's class.
The woman rolled her eyes and followed, easily keeping up with the man's pace since her height was above that of an average woman.
"As much as I admire your concern for my health," She ignored the heated glare he gave at the statement. "That's not at all what I was getting at."
The man stopped abruptly and spun to face her with crossed arms and a stern look, "Do you really think I am unaware of what happens to a cursed vampire Salvatore. I have worked with many of your kind before as you so kindly enjoy pointing out."
Desiray made a disgusted noise, "Worked with those low life's, yes, but not me. Dark artifacts such as those tend to have a fabricated memory of the souls who have handled them. Memories that I just so happen to be very sensitive to. I'm just trying to help you out wizard, in all honesty, I couldn't care less."
He raised an eyebrow, but she was certain the look in his eyes was a relenting one.
"Come on," She told him, "ok, maybe I'm a little curious, but what is there really to lose? If things get to scary feel free to eliminate the threat in any way you see fit."
She was wasn't being serious, the thought of anyone successfully taking her on was simply laughable even in a physically impaired state.
A moment of silence followed but who could really pass up the chance she had just given him?
His sigh followed by a sharp "Fine." Was of no surprise to her. Either way, she still did a small hop of excitement when he turned his back and as she followed there was more of a spring in her step.
The hall was quiet for the most part, with most of the students out for the weekend, though she could hear the muted gossip of the ones that stayed. The talk of Katie Bell was already spreading like wild fire...
The man in front of her soon came to a halt near a set of double doors that she recognized as an unused potions class room. He opened the door, its unused hinges groaning loudly, but he fixed that problem quickly by pulling out his wand and casting a silent spell towards it. He waved a few wards around the door as well before letting Desiray cross into the room.
It wasn't ridiculously old but the stale air still managed to pull a few small sneezes from the woman.
"Aw, don't you trust me alone with you in your personal rooms?" Desiray teased, walking up to a desk and propping herself up on the edge with one leg dangling above the ground.
He eyed her, "Not even to the slightest degree."
At least he was honest.
Desiray chuckled, "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
She was honestly curious, his blunt and uncaring attitude was an interesting change to the normal atmosphere of typical kindheartedness that others extended toward her being. If it was through the guise of a young woman or the schools new resident vampire, they all talked to her like she might snap and attempt to end someone's existence.
"Don't be ridiculous, Professor." He deadpanned, "How exactly do you suggest we go about doing this?"
Desiray stood silently and reached a hand out gesturing to the necklace tucked away in its case.
"Nothing to complicated. I suppose you can call me a seer, though that wouldn't be completely true. I have a certain sensitivity to memories, particularly those that are magically fabricated. Just hold it out, let me poke at it, and then I'll tell you everything."
The man hesitated, but did as she asked. He opened the package slowly, placing it on the desk before peeling back the magic and undoing the wrapping with his wand. It soon levitated in the air by the will of his wand and Desiray became captivated instantly.
She could see her reflection in its unflawed surface, drawing her closer... What would she find in the depth of history? It had been centuries since she found the pervious piece of this gems set mates and even then, most of the stories bound to those were generally of the inside of dragon stomachs or greedy humans reaching for the wrong amulet in a stock pile of gold.
This one...
This one was in found in wizard territory, not some dank cave void of everything but the rotting carcasses of unfortunate humans and plague carrying rats. Who knew what kind of unlawful, dastardly deeds were being guarded by its deadly magic.
The opal gems sparkled innocently, throwing glints in her eyes as it rotated on that finely crafted chain. She licked her lips and reached for the masterpiece, feeling a cold aura reaching for her as she did so.
Obsession engulfed her.
-TFP-
AN- Oops cliffhanger... Couldn't resist it. Everyone seems to be getting along so well right? :)