Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 12: Sweet Innocence

The holidays passed very quickly for Zara that year and before she knew it, she was back at Hogwarts for the new term. Having Christmas alone with her parents was quite satisfying. But the most memorable part of her time away from Hogwarts was the conversation she had with Zeus and Dionysus. The tuft of hair he had given her was now in a vial tucked safely beneath her robes now. But Zeus' words had made an even bigger impact on the young witch. And it was in fact those very words that caused her to seek out Harry Potter the week after term started.

Harry had just come into the portrait hole with Ron that evening, having just visited Hermoine in the hospital wing. Zara approached them immediately.

"Hi Harry, Hi Ron," Zara said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Harry replied with a smile.

"Fine," Ron grunted, still not liking Zara much in spite of the fact that she was his sister's best friend.

"Harry…do you think we could talk alone? I promise it won't long."

"Yeah sure we can," He replied and led Zara to a quiet corner. "What's up?"

"I know you've probably been asked this a million times," Zara began. "But I really need to ask you. It's important."

"You can ask me anything," Harry replied sincerely. "What is it?"

"Did you really fight you know who last year?"

"Yeah I did," He said and then looked at her. "Is everything ok?"

Zara nodded, "I was just wondering that's all. Thanks Harry."

"You're welcome," Harry said and watched as Zara walked back to the table where Ginny was sitting.

Ron came up to him as soon as Zara had gone, "What was that all about?"

Harry turned to him, "Zara wanted to know if I fought he who must not be named last year."

Ron snorted, "Ginny's probably converted her into a Harry Potter fan club member."

"I don't think so," he replied slowly. "She wasn't asking like a fan. I think she wanted to know for another reason."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. But I think she's hiding something."

"She's a Malfoy Harry, what do you expect?"

Harry shook his head, "Zara isn't like Malfoy Ron."

"Why because she's a girl?"

"I don't know."

Over the next several weeks things remained relatively normal for Zara. She had handed the journal off to Ginny upon coming back from the Christmas holiday and had not gotten it back. She didn't question Ginny about it, in fact she had become so vigilant about the warning she had been given that Zara did not even think about the journal.

Valentine's Day found a good portion of the students in less than pleasant moods no thanks to Professor Lockhart's plans. Zara was no different, though she was one of the few girls who wasn't besotted by the man to begin with. After her last lesson, she made her way down to the dungeons for tea with Severus.

"Valentine's Day has not agreed with you I see," Severus commented upon seeing Zara's face after he admitted her into his office.

"The singing valentine during transfiguration did it," Zara replied, an unhappy look on her face.

"Professor McGonagall actually allowed them during class?" Snape asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The creature was in class and singing before she could stop it," She said sitting down in the chair that Severus had indicated. "And mine was first."

"Ah," He said quietly with the slightest hint of a smile. "I take it the poem wasn't to your liking."

Zara considered this for a moment, "I suppose it wouldn't have been bad if it was from someone other than Professor Lockhart. He's just so…" She said but then trailed off.

"I know what you mean," Severus told his goddaughter, his tone meaningful.

Zara giggled a little, "Did any girls actually ask you how to brew a love potion?"

"No, I was not asked any such question though I did not invite any such queries either. As a professor at Hogwarts, I cannot teach such potions to students until they are N.E.W.T. students," He said as the tea on the table between them was poured into cups.

"Does that apply to me as well?" Zara asked with curiosity. "It would be a purely academic exercise of course."

"You already know the answer to that question I think," Severus said sternly but then his tone softened. "Even so, I would not teach you how to do so for any reason. In a few years time I suspect you'll have your pick of suitors without any help," he continued, though it was clear by his expression that he didn't relish the thought.

Zara took a sip of her tea and smiled knowingly at her godfather, "Daddy gets that same look every time mummy wants me to go to a cotillion."

"I don't doubt that," He replied with a soft grunt as he sipped his own tea.

Ginny paced in the corridor outside of Snape's office waiting for Zara to emerge nearly 2 hours after she had gone down. Tom Riddle's diary was stowed in her robes for the moment. But as Ginny waited, it became very clear that she was nervous. The diary was the cause of this discomfort and that was why it had to be disposed of immediately. When Zara finally did appear, Ginny felt relief flood through her.

"Ginny?" Zara called to her best friend with a frown on her face. "What are you doing here?"

"We have to get rid of it," Ginny told her.

"Why?" She asked clearly surprised.

"Not here," Ginny said quietly and led her outside to a quiet corner. "I think the diary is making us lose time."

"How can you be certain?"

"I could remember everything I did over the holidays. But after term started, I started to not remember chunks of time. You must have felt the same way."

Zara considered the statement before answering, "Yes," She admitted remembering only flashes of Christmas and the days after. "I have."

"Then we have to get rid of it," Ginny said firmly.

"I think I should do it," Zara said and took off the necklace that Zeus had given her. "Take this and keep it around your neck."

Ginny took the necklace and examined it, "Zara this looks like unicorn hair," She said looking at her friend.

"It is."

"Where did you get it?"

"From a friend, keep it because it will prevent you from losing any more time."

"What about you?"

"Don't worry about me Ginny," Zara said honestly. "I'll be fine. Just give me the journal and I'll make sure it goes away."

"Ok," Ginny replied looking hesitant. "But are you sure? Maybe we should do it together."

"I don't think so. From what you told me it's been really bad for you."

"It is for you too," Ginny pointed out.

"But I haven't had it for awhile. If I get rid of it now then I won't lose anything. Give it to me."

Ginny hesitated for a moment longer and the reluctantly handed over the diary. "Are you really sure about this?"

Zara nodded and took the diary, "Positive," She said confidently.

"What are you going to do with it?"

"I don't know. But I'll think of something. I'll see you in the common room," Zara said before going back through the viaduct entrance, up the stairs and down the hall until she reached the transfiguration courtyard.

Just as she was walking down the corridor, she felt something inside the diary which was clutched to her chest under her robes, stir. She stopped and turned around. Instead of continuing to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Zara stuck the diary into her bag and went back the way she came. Clearly, giving Ginny the necklace had been a great error on Zara's part. But the young Gryffindor was already lost to reason. Lord Voldemort's diary horcrux had taken hold of her soul.