Chapter 14

The next morning Nyx had been pulled from most of her classes. She spent the day in Dumbledore's office which really wasn't that bad. He spoke to her a lot of the history of Hogwarts and asked her how she was doing and if she got that alarm clock he gave her last year. Sitting in a large comfortable chair she stared at the Phoenix in the corner who was preening its flaming feathers.

"Licorice snaps?" Dumbledore smiled, sliding a bowl of little licorice candies to her. She looked at them and shook her head.

"No thank you professor." She smiled at him before looking off across the room. She enjoyed the older mans company, but she didn't want to have to miss out on all of her classes just because of what happened last night. Although only 30 points were taken from Slytherin, she guessed that she'd be serving detention as well.

"Is something on your mind, Ellenyx?" Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, popping a licorice piece into his mouth. She didn't say anything; instead, she looked down at her lap. The headmaster continued to look at her, a smile slowly stretching across his face. "Is it about Fiske?" He questioned. She looked up at him questioningly, her forehead crinkled as she wondered how he knew. "You two are such good friends, what happened?" He looked at her, his fingers linking as he rested his elbows on the armrests of his chair.

"He's no friend of mine sir." She muttered, looking down again.

"Because of what he did to Severus." He added. She swallowed and looked up at him, feeling her eyes start to tear up.

"I hate him."

"For what?"

"For kissing the professor!" She growled.

"Why would you hate him for that?" Dumbledore questioned, keeping his voice on a single level.

"Why wouldn't I! I told him how I felt and he turned around and made love to the man I-" She stopped and bite her lip. She'd said too much already. Dumbledore looked at her, his eyebrows raising, a smile on his face.

"The man you…" She cussed silently and looked down, letting her black hair cover her face. He watched her hang her head in shame, his smile stretching even farther. "You love him."

"I do not, how could I love a brash man like that?" She hissed.

"How could you not? Your hearts are connected through the same levels of trial. He too was picked on throughout school, had little friends if any at all. You two are the same."

"I am nothing like that." She whimpered, not understanding why the comparison between her and her professor hurt so much.

"You are, Ellenyx." He sat forward a little, grabbing another candy. "Are you sure you don't want one?" Looking up at the bowl, her eyes glowing blue she shook her head gently, whispering.

"No, I hate licorice." Dumbledore smiled at her noting the difference in her eyes. The difference in her behavior, and most importantly, in the way she spoke.

"It must hurt loving a man like him." Dumbledore went on; pushing himself out of his chair he walked around the table to look at the paintings on the walls. Nyx continued to sit, her hair in her face as she hung her head.

"It does. It feels like every time I'm near him he looks right through me." Her voice quivered as she spoke.

"It's difficult for a professor to express his love for a student. If affairs like that happened openly we would have no teachers left to teach the students." Reaching up he adjusted a painting so it was straight.

"He does not return my feelings anyway so it does not matter." She looked at him.

"He hurt you, didn't he Emilie, and yet you continue to love him with every beat of your heart."

"He should have been mine, Albus." She turned, facing him. "Lily Evans rejected him and yet he continued to latch on to her like a leech and in the end he only hurt himself! Even now he will not let me in!" She cried out.

"I understand this Emilie. All over the world people's hearts are breaking to see the one they love happy. It happens to be a messy love circle you stepped into." He turned looking at her.

"What are you talking about, no one loved me." She looked back at her lap.

"Lucious Malfoy loved you." He opted.

"Tss, Malfoy that coward." She hissed.

"James Potter also had feelings for you." He admitted. Whirling around she looked at him horrified.

"James Potter? No, that's a lie he had no feelings for me!"

"I'm afraid that that is the truth, Emilie. James Potter loved you as an equal to Lily Evans, if not more."

"Then why did he insult me? Why did he constantly talk about her all the time?" She pulled at her hair, whipping her head back and forth as if the thought of it were pulling her mind apart. "Why are men so stupid?" She groaned at last, dramatically flopping over the back of the chair, purposely kicking it backwards so it'd fall backwards. Dumbledore just laughed. He remembered back when Emilie was in school she used to spend a lot of time in his office doing the same exact thing. Dramatically flouncing about, all in the name of good fun, but some of what she said she took to heart. Her actions were a way of softening the truth for her.

"James Potter had an image to uphold, though he allowed it to take hold of even his private life." He began explaining, his eyes going back to a portrait on the wall. "James was the youngest seeker in Gryffindor, a magnificent Wizard and very good at what he did. Sports and what not. He was attractive and he knew it," He looked at her over his shoulder. "He hated Slytherin because of what their house represented, not because of the students in it. You were a Slytherin, so to keep his guard up and his image intact he insulted you. He clung so passionately to that that even when you two were alone he insulted you." He stopped for a second and turned around, facing her, his mouth open as if he were going to say something, then stopping. She looked up at him from her spot on the floor, her forehead crinkled starting to see James's character form in her mind like it was a drawing on a sheet of paper. "James loved Lily, but part of his love for her, was because out in the open he had convinced himself that he cannot love you." He whispered.

"I see," She looked away from him, staring at the ceiling. "Gryffindor with Gryffindor, Slytherin with Slytherin, the world outside the house is nothing but what you imagine," She began rambling, her eyes closing. "I'm in love with a lover who won't love me back; he'll break all of my pieces and cut me in half. He'll drag my body to the entrance of the cave, starve me forever, leave me for days. But I do love him so, his hair like the night, his pale skin that glows. Sweet sweet lover why do you run? I'm not the enemy like you have become. I'm trying my hardest dear, won't you agree? I'm always smiling but you won't see me. You're in love with a phoenix, there's no time for an owl, how does her heart hard as onyx soften your scowl? I'll be free of these bonds, break away from your spell, grab your hearts strings and drag you to hell, for I may be free I'll never give up, forever my love..." she stopped, opening her eyes again staring at the ceiling.

"That was the poem you submitted for the Poetic Wizard Weekly," Dumbledore noted. "But it was shorter back then." Nodding she stared at the intricate designs on the ceiling, running her fingers through her hair.

"Yes, for every year I loved Severus I added another section of the poem. Almost 17 years I've been in love with him, Albus." She smiled her eyes full of sadness. "It hurts still seeing him, but I'll manage. Right now, all I want is for my daughter to be safe." She looked up at him, all traces of sadness gone. "Albus, I want to tell you how I died," Flicking her wand the chair sat up-right. Dumbledore had never heard the true story of how Emilie died. He knew she was murdered, but for what he didn't fully know. There were many rumors of what happened.

"Yes, I've been curious," He admitted coming around the desk, sitting in his chair getting comfortable, ready to soak in all of the information.

"It was soon after my marriage to Nicolo I found out I was pregnant with Ellenyx. Because of how he looked I was able to love Nicolo with every ounce of love in me, but he knew why I chose to marry him. He knew that I loved Severus. I joined the Death Eaters when Severus did, you know that much. It was a stupid mistake to make, especially with what has been passed down throughout my family through generations." She cupped her hands over her chest, staring at him sternly.

"And what would that be?" He looked at her confused. She hesitated, then pulled the necklace out from under her blouse, holding it up for him to see. He stared at it with wide eyes. Reaching forward, tipping his glasses down to peer over them he grabbed the pendant between his fingers. "My my, what is this?" He examined it, his thumb brushing the gem on the front.

"An item the Dark Lord will no doubtably try to get once more." He looked up at her, a feeling of unease rushing through him. "This is the Spiders Charm. He found out about it when I joined the Death Eaters. It was Bellatrix who informed him about it, I told him what it does. This was before Harry was born of course. I told him that the wearer can control any spider, any arachnid to create a horrifying army that will never disobey you. He decided I was a valuable asset to keep around. I wasn't aware just how dangerous I was. I didn't care; I only wanted to be with Severus so I didn't care what else happened. It was only then did Voldemort try to take the necklace from me did I realize what mistake I had made. After having Ellenyx, I went into hiding with Nicolo, leaving the Death Eaters behind. I lived each day with a spell protected home, praying that I could live in peace with my family.

"Unfortunately that wasn't to be. One night I heard from a little bird that Voldemort used Bellatrix to find out where I lived. I attempted to run through the secret entrance in the basement, but Nicolo attacked me. He injured me vastly and left me to bleed to death on the living room floor while he went to get Voldemort. What he failed to realize was that I was stronger than that and his attack wasn't fatal. Gathering Ellenyx in a blanket I snuck out through the exit. I was slowed down by the amount of blood I was losing but it would be enough to escape. I managed to make it to Diagon Alley before I was pursued. I tried my hardest to escape but I was attacked from behind and killed. I had managed to give the necklace to Ellenyx before I was struck down. Luckily she made it to safety. This necklace must never fall into Voldemort's. I doubt he'd need it to do what it is he wishes to do, but I know that if he gets his hands on it he'll wreak havoc on everything.

"People could be killed in an instant. A simple bite of a poisonous spider, friend or foe to the staff here could end a child's life and not a damn thing can be done about it. That is why I contacted you before my death. I had a feeling that I would not last long, I was aware of the threat. Please, protect my daughter. It's so much to ask of you, but we cannot let that noseless bastard to get hold of her." Dumbledore sat back. He had never known that Ellenyx held such a dangerous item. Her situation made the safety of the school change all together. All of the children were in danger of two things, but it didn't surprise him.

"I understand Emilie. I promise to keep Ellenyx safe, as long as she is within the walls of Hogwarts, she is safe." He smiled at her. She looked at him sternly, looking for any chance that he may be lying. When she found none she returned the smile.

"Thank you. I can never repay you." Closing her eyes she let her head drop slowly. Dumbledore watched. After a minute Nyx lifted her head, her eyes violet once more, a look of confusion on her face. "I'm sorry sir, I must have fallen asleep." She rubbed her eyes. Smiling Dumbledore stood.

"Yes, it seems that it is almost time to return to your room." She looked at the clock, shocked to see it was seven.

"Oh dear, time flies by doesn't it?" She stood as well and grabbed her books, itching the back of her head, her hair tangling around her fingers before sliding free.

"Indeed it does." Heading to the door he smiled back at her, his hand stretched out. She followed him but was pulled to a stop as she attempted to leave. "Ellenyx," Stopping she turned looking at him confused. "that necklace you're wearing," He pointed at it. Looking down she thumbed the necklace, rubbing the gem on it. "That necklace is a very important necklace, not only because of the very special yet dangerous powers it possesses, but that necklace belonged to your mother." Her eyes drifted back up to his, shocked that he knew that. "It is a very important necklace, worn by a proud Slytherin who loved everyone with all of her heart." With a soft movement he rested his hand over his heart, his eyes kind as he looked into hers. "Keep it safe Ellenyx, you'll find that it will be the key to great things even when you fear the worst is upon you." Resting his hand on her back he opened the door, leading her out into the hall.

"Goodnight sir." She whispered looking back. Waving the door closed behind her, leaving her in the silence of the hall. Looking down at the necklace, the thought of her mother danced through her head. She was never interested in learning who her mother was, not until now. Where was she? Why wasn't she there for her throughout her life? She wasn't sure, but she was desperate to find out.