The Dark Mark

Chapter Two:

The Bewitched Bludger

The sky was heavy with white clouds as Amaya pulled her cloak tighter about her shoulders, glanced around the village and shivered slightly. She reached the door of The Three Broomsticks and entered into the bustling room, her eyes searching out Zeva's face. Spotting her in a corner booth, she pushed through the crowded shop, sliding in across from Zeva and, untying her scarf, placing it neatly besides her.

"It's certainly winter."

Zeva nodded in agreement and Amaya ordered a butterbeer from a passing Madame Rosmerta. She settled back into the seat. "So, pick up anything interesting today?" Amaya watched as Zeva pulled up a bag from besides her, spreading it's contents on the table and held up a plastic wrapped tube.

"A poster of the Irish Quidditch team, to hang in the dorm." Zeva grinned proudly at Amaya who only shook her head with a sigh and smile on her lips. The butterbeer was pushed in front of her. She drank it gladly, releasing a happy sigh as she put the glass back down and looked at the rest of Zeva's purchases. She picked an object up; a shrill whistle filled the air and she quickly dropped it and put her hands to her ears. The whistling stopped.

"A sneakoscope? Why would you need a bloody sneakoscope, Zeva?" Amaya glared at the object as Zeva shrugged, picking it up and holding it perfectly well, the object never emitted a sound.

"Hogwarts' isn't as safe as it used to be. I'd like to know if someone evil was sneaking up on me." Zeva shook the object. "Although it seems to be ruined, I don't know why it randomly went off." Zeva sighed, throwing it back in the bag and Amaya looked at her, supsiciously. Although Zeva knew of the Dark Mark on Amaya's arm, ( it would have been terribly hard to hide it from her, ) Amaya had convinced Zeva that it was just a mark and Amaya had never found real loyalty to the Dark Lord. For all Zeva knew, Amaya was just an unlucky victim of Lord Voldemort and that was all there was to it.

-------------------------------------------------------

Amaya had on purpose separated from Zeva soon after they departed from the Three Broomsticks, and was now making her way to The Hog's Head. Her eyes nervously flittering about the street. She quickly entered the inn, pulling her hood low over her face and stood for a moment, then quickly made her way to a table. There sat another hooded figure, mulling over his drink. His face rose when she sat down, his eyes still hidden beneath the shadow of their hood.

"You're late." The figure stirred his drink with a dirty spoon. Amaya watched in disgust but shook her head, breaking her concentration on the spoon.

"I had an errand." She leaned into the table, her hands clasped together and looked timidly about; the entire place gave her the creeps. The customers were all hidden in shadows, nursing mugs of ale and keeping to themselves, the whole place was quite mysterious.

"Come on then, we have no time to waste." The figure stood up while Amaya's eyes were elsewhere and she brought herself quickly to her feet, following the figure up the rickety steps. They passed a few doors and the figure stopped outside of one, opening the door. She entered soon after; the figure closed the door and pulled back the hood. Long raven hair fell out, gray eyes cut into her, studying her features, and a bony hand thrust out from the sleeve, grabbing hold of her arm. Cold flesh rubbed against her own as the sleeve was pushed up. The Dark Mark was revealed and she winced simply seeing it, but he released her arm, satisfied.

The man was as skinny as a rail and sickly looking; Amaya doubted he'd had any food for the past month. His black hair highly contrasted his pale skin and his gray eyes dominated his entire face. Amaya knew him as Brahm Kilduff. She had spoken to him once before when he had come to visit her father in Little Hangleton but then she had been far too young-she had been quickly escorted from the study. When an owl had arrived from him during breakfast in the Great Hall, she had been most curious to what he wanted and had eagerly written back that she'd meet him at The Hog's Head.

Brahm walked to the bed, shuffling through a small green knapsack that lay on the bed and pulled out a poorly wrapped object, with a loose string tied about it. Brahm held it out, Amaya glanced at him first but soon took the package.

"Open it." Brahm seemed impatient so Amaya quickly opened it, and the wrappings fell to the floor. She stared at it, unsure of why it had been so important that she have this and looked to Brahm for an answer. He shook his head; Amaya noticed his lips grow thin in annoyance and his eyes rolled. "I was told you were clever but how that was decided, I can't tell. It’s a Bludger." He took the object from her and Amaya stared at him, her face red with the humiliation of his insult.

"I know what it is! I don't understand why it was so important that I come to Hogsmeade when I could be learning more important things."

Brahm shook his head again, placing the Bludger back in her outstretched hand. "It'sa bewitched Bludger, Amaya. You need to switch this in the next Quidditch match that Potter plays; it will seek him and only him out. It will not leave him alone." Brahm watched as Amaya's eyebrows raised and her eyes widened in realization.

"It will kill him?" Amaya looked to Brahm then back to the Bludger, and Brahm shook his head.

"I doubt it will kill him; someone's bound to notice and help the bloody boy before it could kill him-but it will do some damage." Brahm tapped the Bludger and immediately it was rewrapped, and a grin fell over Amaya's lips.

"Brilliant." Amaya gently tucked the package in the messenger bag strung over her shoulder and looked back to Brahm, who had grabbed hold of his own knapsack. His gray eyes turned to Amaya.

"I must go. Remember to switch the Bludger and do not fail in this task, Amaya. It could be your last." He swept past her but stopped at the door, his hand on the handle. "Oh, one more thing. To remove the Immobulus charm, simply point your wand to it and say Finite." The door was opened and Brahm quickly disappeared. Amaya's hand rested on the object inside her bag. Without another thought, she left the room and exited the Hog's Head to find Zeva.