1995. 8. 27
Emma followed Severus Snape down the hallway, feeling the anxiety grow stronger as she mentally prepared herself to meet Lord Voldemort. What did he want with her? What would he ask her? Was this about her father? So many questions buzzed through Emma's mind. Snape stopped in front of the closed door and turned to Emma, staring at her blankly for a moment, as if trying to convey some telepathic message. Whatever he was trying to say, Emma missed it. Before she could ask, he opened the door to reveal the backs of four men sitting at one, long, oak table. One chair at the table, however, was empty.
"I have brought her, my lord." Emma stole on last look at Snape's fact before entering the room. Who were the five men in the chairs? The way the room was set up almost made it look like some sort of testing panel. Was she going to be tested? If so, in what ways? Emma could feel small beads of sweat falling down the back of her neck as she walked around the table and turned to face her judges. Severus Snape took the empty seat on the far right of the table. Sitting next to him was the man she had met in the alley a week or so ago. The one with long blond hair and noble composure. At the far left of the table was the woman who had been in the alleyway with the blond, the one her father had called Bellatrix. Could this be the same Bellatrix Lestrange that was on the wall of their family tree at Grimmauld Place? Sitting next to the crazed woman was a man that Emma did not recognize. He was of small stature with sandy brown hair and deep green eyes that seemed to cut right through her. The man sitting in the middle of the table, however, Emma knew immediately, even though she had never seen him before.
Lord Voldemort stood from his chair in the middle of the table, smiling mischievously. "Welcome, little one. I have heard from reliable sources that you have developed an extraordinary gift." Voldemort glanced at Snape, who was continually staring at Emma intently. What on earth was he talking about? What gift? Emma did not say anything, simply waiting for the snake-like wizard to continue. The blonde man sitting next to Snape spoke next, "How did you acquire your gift? Did your father teach you? How about Dumbledore?" Voldemort spat upon hearing Dumbledore's name.
Still confused, Emma gulped and asked, "Uhm, I'm sorry... but I don't know what you're referring to." "She's a liar!" Emma could feel her heart pounding in her forehead. Stealing a glance at Bellatrix, she knew that there was no chance she would win if she tried to argue with the crazy-haired witch. Instead, she decided to stare at the floor, waiting for the adults to decide for themselves.
"We are referring to your ability to use magic without a wand, Emma. That is a very useful gift. One which the Dark Lord wants to make use of." What that all? But, couldn't all witches and wizards cast magic without the aid of a wand? Emma had never considered that ability a special one. Her uncle could not take Emma to Ollivanders when she turned 11 because her father was still in Azkaban. Therefore, he had to find one that she could use temporarily until the time came that she could have her own. Emma never asked where her uncle had gotten the wand that she had in her possession now; she didn't care as long as it worked.
"Why don't you give us a demonstration. Something... simple for starters." A demonstration? Emma had never intentionally tried to use her "gift;" it had always just happened when she willed it. She never had to focus her thoughts on it. What exactly did they want her to do? Emma's eyes darted around the room frantically, not wanting to test their patience, when she noticed her teacher, Snape, motioning casually to a mug that was in front of him.
Emma smiled, feeling more relaxed that Snape was still looking out for her, even though she was in front of Voldemort himself. Pointing at the mug, Emma closed her eyes, envisioning the mug turning into book. She pictured the cover of the book, a brown leather cover with golden streaks across it. The page count was four hundred and thirty-eight. No one was gasping in surprise, which made Emma's heart sink, thinking that she had failed. However, when she opened her eyes, she no longer saw a mug on the table, but a large, leather-bound book. Even though he was not smiling, Emma could tell that her professor was pleased. Being his student for more than half of her life had given her the ability to read even his blankest expressions.
Voldemort clapped slowly, that same mischievous smile still on his face. "That was very impressive. Now, what else can you do? Can you defect a spell?" Was she allowed to answer him directly? Glancing at Snape for help, she was relieved once more when he answered, "My lord, I don't believe that she has ever been attacked, so she has not had the opportunity to try." Wait a minute. The way Snape worded his sentence almost made it sound like he was encouraging Voldemort to hex her to see if she could deflect it. Confidence melting away, Emma gulped, looking at the different faces before her, trying to discern what would happen next.
"Percy, why don't you try a simple jynx to see if the little one can deflect it." Only a jynx... thank goodness. For a moment, Emma was terrified he would have her cursed to see if she could deflect it. The man sitting next to Bellatrix with the sandy brown hair stood from his chair, raising his wand at Emma. Shaking slightly, Emma started intently at the man's wand, waiting for the jynx. What would he use? How on earth would she deflect it? Should she imagine a shield? Or should she simply shout Protego and see what happened?
Emma bit her lip as the man shouted, "Ridiculous!" Nothing happened. The man called Percy tried once more, "Ridiculous!" Absolutely nothing. Confused, the blonde wizard stood, "Don't tell me you are having trouble jynxing a child, Percy?" Percy huffed, insulted, "No, Lucius. Something is the matter with my wand." Voldemort's gaze went from Percy to Emma then back to Percy. To her amazement, he applauded her once more. "I see. Your gift is indeed great. Now, for one last test. Let us see you cast a spell with this gift of yours."
That I can do.