A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 41 ~ Two Stellar Moments


Four days later, Volaria was sitting in Hermione’s rooms studying Arithmancy. It was one of the studies she needed to brush up on. The young witch found it interesting and challenging, the study of lei lines was complicated and learning the basic operation of them like solving an intricate puzzle. Hermione was down in her labs, still working with the pixies.

Suddenly Volaria heard someone taking down the wards on Hermione’s door. The voice was definitely male and did not sound like Professor Snape. She closed her book, wandlessly disillusioned herself and hid behind the armchair she’d been sitting in, ready to defend herself. The door opened…and in walked Albus Dumbledore.

“Volaria? Volaria my dear, come out,” the kindly wizard said, striding into the rooms and closing the door behind him.

With a sigh of relief, Volaria removed the disillusionment spell and stepped out from behind the armchair. Dumbledore smiled at her benevolently.

“Ah, self-preservation…the first law of nature,” he quipped at the young witch as she approached him.

“Good morning, Headmaster,” Volaria said, her blue eyes wide as she wondered why the great wizard was visiting her, “I didn’t know who was coming in…and I am supposed to be a secret…”

”Yes, yes you are Miss Riddle, but not for much longer. I have come to take you on an outing to Diagon Alley. You see…it is time for you to get a wand,” the old wizard said, still smiling as she clapped her hands together happily.

“I’m going out into the wizarding world?” she asked him, almost unable to believe this.

Dumbledore nodded.

“That you are, my dear, and I will be your escort,” Albus replied, “It is highly doubtful Bella is wandering about searching for you openly, but should she show up, I assure you I am more than capable of protecting you. Now, do you have a traveling cloak?”

Volaria shook her head. Albus pointed his wand at her. She was wearing a pair of Hermione’s jeans and a t-shirt. He changed her clothing into a blue robe with a blue traveling cloak tied over it.

“There we go,” he said benignly as Volaria looked down at her clothing with a smile. “You are going to need a proper wardrobe as well. Crimson robes are not the normal garb here at Hogwarts.”

Volaria’s blue eyes clouded a moment.

“But Headmaster, I have no money,” she said.

“Not to worry my dear. You are a charge of Hogwarts. We have a fund to take care of the needs of those who are financially challenged. You will receive whatever you need as long as you keep your marks up. After talking to Miss Granger about your evaluation, I have no doubt you will do that easily,” Albus said.

Volaria nodded.

“I love learning new things,” she replied as she followed Albus to the door. She became apprehensive when he opened it.

“Aren’t other people going to see me? How will you explain me?” she asked the Headmaster.

“You are a new student. That is all anyone needs to know…however…”

Albus pulled out his wand again and cast a spell on her that made her feel rather cold for a moment. It kind of felt like a disillusionment spell but she could still see herself. Volaria looked up at the wizard.

“What did you do to me?” she asked Albus curiously.

“I cast a little-used spell called ‘Notice-Me-Not. It is rarely used, the disillusionment spell being the preferred method of concealment. Since this spell leaves one visible, it isn’t as well-liked as the disillusionment spell because it leaves a feeling of vulnerability, as if one could be seen. But I assure you it is just as effective. Only I can notice you,” the wizard said.

Volaria had never heard of this spell. It seemed quite good but she did feel rather nervous that she was visible. The disillusionment spell definitely brought more comfort.

“Come along,” Albus said, exiting Hermione’s rooms.

Volaria hesitated for a moment, then walked out into the dungeon corridor. It was a rather dark, foreboding hallway and she hurried to keep up with the Headmaster, who was walking briskly toward the arch of light a distance away. After a minute or two they entered the main hall. A few students greeted the Headmaster, but didn’t acknowledge his young companion.

“They don’t see me,” she whispered to Dumbledore.

“No, but you can be heard,” the Headmaster said, barely moving his mouth as they approached the main doors that led out to the school grounds.

Volaria fell silent. She didn’t want anyone to hear her.

They exited the castle and walked quickly across the grounds to the main gate. Albus pointed his wand at it, and the gate opened.

Once outside, he warded the gate back, then walked up the road a short distance until they were beyond the sight of the gate. Then he removed the spell on Volaria.

“Have you ever apparated?” he asked her.

“Short distances inside the stronghold,” she admitted, “I splinched the first few times though. I learned it by reading about it.”

“Admirable,” Albus said, “But in the wizarding world, you are not allowed to apparate until you are seventeen. You have to adhere to the rules, Miss Riddle.”

Volaria nodded.

“I will,” she said as Albus offered his arm. She took it.

“I will do the necessary apparition for both of us. Now hold on,” he said.

Volaria adjusted her grip to be more secure.

With a crack of thunder, they disappeared.

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In her lab, Hermione watched as the pixie she fed less than a dropperful of elixir contorted, clutching its throat, falling to the ground and writhing about in great pain. She was used to this now, and watched dispassionately as the small creature’s hair fell out and blue skin purpled and became scaly, the ears and nose disappearing. It was usually at this point the creatures died.

The pixie dropped to the counter, falling still. Hermione sighed. Another one had died…or so she thought. She started to pick the tiny creature up when its eyes opened, crimson and glowing, and it sat up, scowling at her.

“Oh my gods,” Hermione breathed as the pixie stood up, then rose, its normally light, translucent wings, dark, long and slightly ragged almost like a zombie butterfly’s wings would look like if there was such a creature.

The pixie flicked a tiny snake-like tongue at Hermione, then suddenly shot a blast of fire at her that was quite long and powerful. Luckily Hermione was quick enough to avoid it. The creature had tried to blind her. Hermione quickly cast a freezing spell on it, but it only went rigid for five seconds before throwing the spell off, this time darting away and blasting the lab with flames…Hermione chasing it, extinguishing the fires before they did too much damage. Finally she cast a freezing spell with her signature and that immobilized the Voldie-pixie long enough for her to pluck it out of the air and place it in a cage with a dampening spell on it.

The pixie recovered quickly still, and glared at her from the cage, attempting to cast fire at her, but only a teeny spark flying from its scaly palm.

“I’ve done it,” Hermione said happily, then rushed off to get another pixie, which she fed the precise dosage. It too turned into a Dark Pixie, and Hermione quickly immobilized it and put it in the cage with the first.

This wasn’t a good idea. The first Dark Pixie immediately fried the immobilized one, the blackened body dropping to the bottom of the cage, smoking. Apparently, the first pixie wanted to rule alone, much as Voldemort did.

Well, she would just have to provide separate cages for each of them. She looked down at the pixie, which was holding the close bars tightly and looking up at her with hatred in its crimson eyes. There was an odd movement at its midsection. Hermione picked up a large magnifying glass and looked at the pixie. She gasped.

The creature’s penis was writhing about in a snake-like manner, much longer than a normal male pixie’s organ. Oh Circe. That was awful. Did Voldemort have a cock like that? Hermione shuddered and the Dark Pixie seemed to leer at her. She put the magnifying glass down, then walked over to her research notes and updated them.

Finally, she’d had a breakthrough. Soon she would be able to work on reversing the effects of the elixir.

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Albus and Volaria arrived at Diagon Alley, the young witch’s eyes going round at the sight of all the shops and items displayed in the windows. It wasn’t as busy as when students were purchasing school supplies but there were more people strolling about than Volaria had ever seen in her life.

A beautiful broom rested on a long cushion in a window. Volaria pressed her face against the glass, her eyes longing.

“How beautiful,” she breathed as she looked at the streamlined polished handle, silver stirrups and gleaming bristles. The sign read: “Firebolt 7 SE.”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled.

“A topnotch broom,” he commented, cupping his hands around his face and looking through the glass as well, “Very nice.”

He pulled away from the window.

“Come now. We must visit Ollivander’s and choose your wand. Perhaps in the future you can return and window shop,” the wizard said kindly.

Volaria reluctantly left the window and followed Dumbledore. She drank in the sights as if inhaling them, reading the names of the shops as they walked. Eeylops Owl Emporium, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Flourish & Blotts, Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, Magical Menagerie, Scribbulus Everchanging Inks and others. Barrels full of ingredients, charms and doodads lined the sidewalks and street peddlers shouted their wares. They passed a window full of robes and other nice clothing, then a bookshop loaded with books of all shapes and sizes, some of them flitting about and being netted by disgruntled clerks. Gods, she wished she could explore everything.

‘Ah, here we are. Ollivander’s,” Albus said brightly.

Volaria looked at a narrow and shabby little shop. In the window was a faded purple cushion, and resting on it, a single wand.

“Ollivander’s shop was closed for quite a while when your father came back into power,” Albus said to Volaria in a low voice, “It reopened after his…demise. No one knows where the owner went and he refuses to tell to this day. Now, shall we go in?”

Volaria nodded and Albus pushed open the door. There wasn’t that much to look at. There was a counter, a single spindly chair and the walls were lined floor to ceiling with thousands of narrow boxers. No one appeared to be present.

“Is anyone here?” Volaria asked the Headmaster.

As if in answer, a wizard slid into view riding a ladder, grinning.

“Of course someone is here, my dear,” Mr. Ollivander said, climbing off the ladder and walking behind the counter, “Albus! A surprise and pleasure to see you again.”

Albus reached over the counter and shook hands with the wizard.

“And it is always good to see you,” the Headmaster replied

Volaria stared at Mr. Ollivander. He was a rather strange looking old wizard, with wild gray hair that stood all over his head and eerie moon-colored eyes. Suddenly they shifted toward her, looking curious.

“And you are?” he asked Volaria.

“Volaria Ruddle,” she replied in a small voice as those moon-colored eyes seemed to look right through her.

“Ruddle. Ruddle. Not a name I am familiar with, though you, my girl look familiar. Who are your parents?” he asked her.

“She’s an orphan, with no record of her birth parents,” Albus interceded, “She has just come to Hogwarts and is in need of a wand.”

Mr. Ollivander studied the witch, his brow furrowed.

“How sad,” he said sincerely, “How very tragic. But you are quite the lucky witch to be attending such a fine institution as Hogwarts. No wand, eh? Well, we’ll do something about that,” he said, studying Volaria for a few seconds more before disappearing into the back. Dumbledore went and sat in the spindly chair, Volaria looking after him nervously.

“Don’t worry. Just do what Mr. Ollivander tells you,” he said, beaming at her.

Slightly reassured, Volaria turned back to the counter. After about three minutes, Mr. Ollivander returned with an armful of narrow boxes which he piled on the counter. He studied Volaria again, his hand hovering over first one box, then another. Finally he picked one up, opened it and offered its contents to Volaria.

“Go ahead, take it,” he urged.

Cautiously, Volaria removed the wand, holding it awkwardly, as if it might explode.

“All right, now flick it,” Mr. Ollivander said, moving out of the way.

Volaria did so…and nothing happened. Nothing at all. Ollivander scowled.

“Curious,” he said, taking the wand from Volaria and replacing it in the box, “Usually there is some reaction. But don’t worry. We’ll try again.”

Behind Volaria, Albus continued to smile, his hands resting on his lap.

Mr. Ollivander placed the box aside, and once again hovered over the wands left, then chose another one, offering it to Volaria. Again she flicked it. Again, nothing happened. Mr. Ollivander got an excited look on his face. He loved a challenge.

“This is really quite extraordinary,” he commented, studying Volaria who was beginning to believe she couldn’t use a wand.

They tried several more wands, all with similar results. Nothing. Not a spark of magic. Ollivander packed up all the wands and looked at Volaria, who was absolutely crestfallen.

“I wonder,” Ollivander said to himself as he looked at the witch. He gathered up the boxes. “I will be right back.”

Ollivander set the wands on a table. He’d put them back later. He walked to the back of his shop and entered a small storeroom. On a shelf rested a single narrow box. He picked it up and caressed it for a moment, his eyes shining.

“Maybe you’ve found a Mistress,” he said to the box, then exited the storeroom, walked back to the counter and reverently placed the box on the counter. He looked at Volaria.

“I made this wand while I was ‘away,’” the wizard said to her, “It was the last wand I made to date. It is made of yew, exactly 12 inches long, and the core…”

Here, Ollivander hesitated, his voice dropping to a whisper

“…consists of two phoenix tail feathers. A very special wand indeed, meant to do great things, very great things.”

Albus’ eyebrows rose as he heard Ollivander describe the wand. Two phoenix tail feathers? Fawkes had given him four feathers decades ago. Two had been used for Tom Riddle’s and Harry Potter’s wands. The Headmaster always wondered what became of the other two. Now he knew.

Did Ollivander’s disappearance have to do with the creation of this wand? Such a powerful magical item would have definitely attracted Voldemort’s attention, as would the person who wielded it.

Ollivander opened the box slowly. Volaria looked at the wand…it was beautiful. Polished and tapered, the wood carved into a spiral, a tiny phoenix carved in the handle.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“Yes it is,” Mr. Ollivander agreed, his hand shaking slightly as he held the box toward her, “Take it, girl.”

Volaria reached into the box and removed the wand, admiring it. At first nothing happened, but suddenly she was enveloped in a golden light, her blonde hair whipping about her as if caught in an updraft. Mr. Ollivander looked at her in awe.

“Yes…yes…it was made for you,” he said in a low voice as Volaria continued to glow. He held out the box again.

“Put it back,” he rasped.

Volaria did so, the glow around her dissipating, her hair now a bit wild as it settled.

Mr. Ollivander stared at Volaria as Albus rose and approached the counter.

“I would give my right arm to know your parentage, witch,” the old wizard said, his strange eyes looking at her hungrily. “You have a destiny.”

Volaria stared at him but didn’t say anything. But she was happy. She had a wand that worked for her.

Albus settled the account and together they left the shop, Volaria’s wand tucked under her arm securely. The witch was so happy she couldn’t say anything.

Albus looked thoughtful. He believed Ollivander created that wand to thwart Voldemort, but never had the chance to find someone to use it, or else had tried but found no one suitable. That the daughter of Voldemort now held it was significant. But how and why, the old wizard didn’t know. One thing he did know was Volaria was no ordinary witch.

They apparated back to Hogwarts, Albus replacing the Notice-Me-Not spell on Volaria and escorting the excited witch back to Hermione’s rooms.

“Now, don’t use the wand without someone to give you guidance, Volaria. More than likely we will have to arrange private tutoring by Professor Flitwick. But Hermione is quite talented and may be able to help you focus,” Albus said, a bit of warning in his voice, “You will be tempted, but I ask you to please wait for someone to help you. There are wand motions you need to know. It is not the same as wandless magic.”

”Yes sir,” she said, caressing the box, then placing it down on the small table next to the armchair, “Thank you for taking me to get it, Headmaster. It’s the first gift anyone has ever given me.”

Albus smiled at her…then suddenly Volaria walked up to him and embraced him around the waist warmly. Albus patted her back.

“You are very welcome, Miss Riddle…er…Ruddle,” Albus said, correcting himself for the first time, “But we may find that it is you who is the gift.”

Volaria released the Headmaster and looked at him, not understanding.

“What do you mean, sir?” she asked him.

“Just study hard my dear,” the wizard said with a smile, “Learn all you can.”

”I will,” she replied, and watched as Albus walked toward the door.

“Good day, Miss Ruddle,” Albus said, waving at her.

“Good day, Headmaster,” she replied.

Albus exited Hermione’s room and warded the door securely with an altered signature that Hermione would be able to get through.

Volaria sat down in the armchair and looked at the wand box for a moment, before she opened it, took out the wand and caressed it lovingly.

It really was beautiful.

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A/N: Wow. Hermione made a Dark Pixie and Volaria got her own wand, a very powerful one. Interesting. Thanks for reading.

A/N/N: The "Notice Me Not" spell was suggested to me by a reader back when I wrote "A Matter of Matrimony" when Severus was following Hermione and Marcus to the nightclub. I will have to look up who it was...not sure if it was AFF or here. Most likely AFF since I moved those stories here. Thanks whoever you are***