Theft Most Unusual

October 31, 1992, 6:00 PM, Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts

Vanessa Zhenya

Vanessa observed the boy vanish into the tower, likely ascending to join his family.

Impressed with his progress and the diversification of his repertoire, she contemplated the boy’s magical journey so far.

Adam Clarke… His chains are powerful, yet they are not unbreakable. My demonstration a few months ago seems to have convinced him to adapt and improve them somewhat. She thought. He is still a significant distance away from achieving their full potential, though.

But, when he did…

Vanessa felt a surge of anticipation, sending her heart into a rapid rhythm. The very essence of her being resonated with a suppressed power, every muscle poised and ready.

The mere thought of facing Adam at his zenith ignited a fervor within her, a raw and exhilarating excitement that danced beneath her skin, creating a heady concoction of blood-pumping intensity that left her senses heightened and her mind ablaze.

It was more than that, she realized. She was aroused again. Vanessa huffed and quickly collected herself, redirecting her thoughts.

Her immediate focus shifted to the present, as she had a mission to complete— a task that demanded her undivided attention and skill.

With a final glance toward the Quidditch pitch and the impending match, Vanessa turned away, beginning to navigate her way toward the castle.

She had a mission to complete. There would be time for pondering and excitement later. Vanessa joined the throngs of people, moving against their current with an air of boredom. Two passing patrolmen, too absorbed in their tasks, paid little heed to her presence.

The fools— they only saw what they wanted to see, didn’t they? Still, much as she would enjoy a fight, Vanessa was glad that she hadn’t blown her cover, just yet.

However, those very thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the commanding voice of a third, demanding her to stop.

She obeyed the order, turning to face the man, with both of his partners coming back to her position.

Not good. She thought, and yet a mysterious smile continued to adorn her features; it was a mask, concealing the hidden currents of anticipation and readiness beneath the surface. She stood before them, a poised figure in the midst of an oncoming storm.

“What are you doing, here?”

“Oh, just wandering around.” Vanessa said, keeping her tone airy and light.

The air gained a somewhat tense quality as the magical law enforcer scrutinized her, suspicion etched on his face. She couldn’t see it, but her gut instinct told her that the other two were slowly, but steadily approaching her from two different angles, just in case she attacked.

It wouldn’t save them, of course; they didn’t have a prayer against someone of her caliber.

The patrolman directly confronting Vanessa crossed his arms over his chest. “Wandering, you say?”

“Yes.” She said, shrugging. “I thought I would go see the famous school, perhaps explore it a bit.”

“Is that so…” The wizard continued, entirely unconvinced. “And where exactly were you planning on exploring— and during the match, no less?”

Vanessa offered a serene smile, her eyes dancing with a playful glint. “Here and there. I wished to pass the time— Quidditch isn’t really my… How do you British say it? Ah, yes; it is not my ‘cup of tea’.”

The officer confronting her sent a glance towards the men behind her, a silent communication unfolding between them. She didn’t see them, but she could imagine what they conveyed simply by looking at the man before her— with his expression shifting from suspicion to disgruntlement.

“Carry on, then.” The man said and left without another word.

Were she any other person, Vanessa would have been appalled at the sheer dismissal. However, only amusement flickered behind her innocent facade. The apparent lack of suspicion from the men amused her, yet it also left her contemplating the vulnerabilities within the magical security apparatus. The intricacies of espionage and subterfuge were lost on these fools.

In a way, their oversight highlighted the flaws in the system.

Vanessa had managed to slip through the cracks, her true intentions obscured by a veil of feigned innocence. The irony was not lost on her— a renegade witch from a clan obliterated for violating magical secrecy now engaging in covert operations.

As she continued on her way, the cheers of the Quidditch match lingering in the air, Vanessa couldn’t help but savor the light thrill of her mission. It wasn’t quite fighting, but this excitement would sate her for now.

Vanessa stepped into the castle, a silent specter navigating its halls with the guise of innocence draped around her. The portraits lining the walls bore witness to her passage, their eyes capturing her transient presence; she knew, however, that they wouldn’t be able to give any useful details, if questioned after all was said and done.

From their point of view, they would only have seen a wandering witch, looking to explore the castle as so many have done since Hogwarts was first constructed.

As she traversed the castle’s storied corridors, Vanessa couldn’t deny the pull of history that resonated within these ancient walls.

Even for one who thrived in the shadows, there was a certain allure in the echoes of the past, a recognition of the honor and pride woven into the very fabric of Hogwarts. Though she didn’t consider herself as boring as Matthias, she still couldn’t help but appreciate the sheer majesty of it all.

In the intricate dance of contradictions that defined Vanessa Zhenya, the notion of honor held an anomalous place. Forged in the crucible of her own turbulent past, where betrayal and survival intertwined, honor became a paradoxical compass guiding her actions. Despite the shadows that cloaked her choices and the clandestine alliances she wove, there existed within her a strange adherence to a code of honor.

It was a hypocritical embrace, a duality she acknowledged with a wry smile. She’d found an unlikely ally in honor, even if its manifestation took forms others might not recognize, or even perceive. For her, it was not the rigid ideals of an established society but a personal creed shaped by her own experiences in this broken world.

She stopped for a moment, realizing she’d taken a wrong turn. Letting out a breath, she relied on her internal map of the place to recalibrate her course. She swiftly backtracked, retracing the steps that would lead her to the heart of the castle’s underbelly.

As she approached the dungeons, the air seemed to grow heavier and colder. Vanessa’s footsteps echoed in the narrowing corridors. The anticipation of reaching her destination heightened with each step.

And finally, there she was.

Vanessa scrutinized the patch of wall before her, a seemingly ordinary expanse of stacked, weathered stone. Her experienced eyes navigated the surface, searching for the subtle cues that betrayed the presence of hidden passages. The concept of concealed corridors and secret chambers was a language she spoke fluently, having practically lived her entire life in the clandestine underbellies of both wizarding and muggle worlds.

Her information had guided her here to this peculiar juncture within Hogwarts. The absence of overt indications perplexed her, for Grindelwald’s foresight had unveiled this specific spot.

She shook her head; this must be it. She recalled the password which Grindelwald had given her and uttered it.

“Ariana.”

Nothing happened.

Perhaps she had reached the wrong location? Vanessa shook her head again; no, it was exactly as Grindelwald had described it, down to the distance between the doors, as well the strange suit of House Elf armor to the left.

Determined, Vanessa brought her hand to the stonework, fingertips gently exploring the surface. The touch was methodical and thorough; there had to be some kind of trigger mechanism. She only needed to find it. Her mind, attuned to the whispers of magic, sought the elusive threads that might unravel the mystery before her.

She knew that this place could only have been found through one of Grindelwald’s visions. They had no operatives in Hogwarts, only Hogsmeade— and even then, the ones stationed in the wizarding village knew nearly nothing of the goings-on of the school itself.

Vanessa’s meticulous inspection of the wall had yielded no tangible results, prompting her to employ magical means to uncover the hidden defenses or mechanisms. Her practiced senses reached out, intertwining with the weave of magical signatures that might betray the elusive secrets embedded within the stone.

Frustration danced at the edges of her focus as her attempts yielded no fruit, once more. She pondered the prospect of brute force, of shattering the wall to expose the concealed passage. However, the thought of such an inelegant approach stayed her hand— that, and the possible damaging of the artifact held within.

Expanding her magical scrutiny to encompass the entire corridor, Vanessa’s awareness brushed against the seemingly inconspicuous suit of armor she’d spotted earlier. Its diminutive stature hinted at it being meant for a House Elf, an absurdity that momentarily drew a wry smile from her. Despite the peculiarity, she focused her scrutiny on the miniature guardian, searching for any telltale signs of hidden mechanisms.

Her fingers traced along the intricate contours of the armor, seeking an imperceptible trigger or concealed switch. The juxtaposition of the mundane and the magical in the form of a House Elf-sized suit of armor spoke to the surreal nature of Hogwarts itself, a place where whimsy intertwined with ancient secrets.

The unexpected sequence of events left Vanessa momentarily taken aback. Her fingers brushing against the armor’s shoulders had triggered an almost comically simple response— a twitch and clank— prompting her to withdraw her hand for fear of a trap. The miniature sentinel resumed its stoic pose, leaving her to scrutinize the wall with a furrowed brow.

In a testing gesture, Vanessa cautiously placed her hands on the armor’s shoulders once more. True to the oddity of the situation, the small figure responded with another twitch. She repeated the motion, trying to discern a pattern or purpose behind the peculiar mechanism. A subtle experimentation revealed that the twitching only occurred when her hands were positioned on the armor’s shoulders.

Feeling a mixture of amusement and disbelief, Vanessa decided to push the limits of this peculiar interaction. She moved her hands to the back of the armor’s neck, expecting a reaction, but the stoic guardian remained unmoved. Frustration tugging at her patience, she leaned against the tiny figure, hugging it briefly in a moment of ironic exasperation.

To her surprise, the muffled sound of stone grinding against stone reached her ears, and the wall before her began to shift. A hidden passage revealed itself in response to this unorthodox activation method. Vanessa’s initial reaction wavered between incredulity and amusement, captured in a muttered remark to herself.

“I had to hug the House Elf?”

Collecting herself, Vanessa stepped into the newly unveiled corridor, leaving behind the House Elf-sized guardian. The corridor’s atmosphere shifted as Vanessa reached a spiraling stairway, torches flickering to life with an ethereal, eerie blue glow that cast elongated shadows along the walls.

With a trace of annoyance, Vanessa found her next obstacle— a dead end. She approached it cautiously, eyes once again scanning the immediate surroundings for any signs of hidden mechanisms. A quick survey of the walls and floor became a meticulous examination, searching for switches, buttons, or any concealed triggers that might reveal the continuation of her journey.

Vanessa’s frustration lingered for a moment, but she swiftly regained her composure.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to try the password she’d been given, again. With a newfound calm, she uttered. “Ariana.”

This time, the wall responded; it shimmered, revealing a concealed door that beckoned her forward. Despite the excitement that welled up within her, Vanessa’s experience and instincts urged caution.

Before fully committing to the newly revealed path, she cast a series of detection spells to ensure that no traps or hidden dangers awaited her beyond the door. Satisfied with the results, she cautiously swung the door open, staying a few feet back from it.

Just in case.

As the door creaked open, Vanessa found herself standing on the threshold of a hidden chamber— a treasure trove of artifacts awaited her gaze. The room was bathed in a soft, ambient glow, the artifacts within appearing to hold centuries of magical history. She stepped into the chamber, eyes scanning the collection of items that whispered tales of power and mystery.

Delicate quills with ethereal feathers, scepters adorned with dark gemstones, crystalline lenses on intricately designed stands, perpetually flowing sand in hourglasses, and majestic crowns with shimmering gems created an awe-inspiring tableau.

Each item carried an air of antiquity and arcane resonance. Vanessa moved deeper into the chamber, surrounded by the echoes of centuries past as she seeked out her target; a large mirror at the back wall.

“The Mirror of Erised.” She muttered as she approached it. Why Grindelwald wanted this, she couldn’t say.

The Mirror stood tall, its ornate golden frame casting intricate patterns of light across the chamber. Vanessa approached it with measured steps, remaining cautious.

The surface held a mysterious allure, and as she read the inscription carved into the frame, a sense of enigma enveloped her.

“I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.” She spoke softly after a few attempts to understand the inscription. Vanessa felt the urge to lower her eyes towards the glass surface. She resisted it for a moment before curiosity overtook her.

What could it hurt?

Her eyes locked onto the reflective surface, and a wave of nostalgia swept over her as the image unfolded before her, making her heart stop. The mirror revealed a poignant scene from her past— a time when innocence and familial warmth still lingered in her heart.

The visage of her younger self, hand in hand with her father, held a bittersweet beauty that reached into her frozen heart and set it ablaze with remembrance. For a fleeting moment, the cold, calculated exterior Vanessa presented to the world melted away, replaced by a vulnerable glimpse into the depths of her heart’s desires.

“Papa…” She said without thinking, and as soon as she heard her own wavering voice, her demeanor changed.

Vanessa’s moment of vulnerability was swiftly replaced by a surge of anger directed inward. The raw emotion exposed by the Mirror of Erised unsettled her, and she berated herself for allowing such weakness to surface.

With a determined glare, she forcefully tore her gaze away from the mirror, the remnants of her shattered emotions concealed beneath a mask of steely composure. The realization dawned upon her— the mirror wasn’t a mere curiosity; it was a potent instrument capable of stirring the depths of one’s desires.

Vanessa, composed and resolute, faced the mirror once more.

Despite the haunting reflection it offered, she focused on her objective. With a wave of her wand, she shrunk the Mirror of Erised to a miniature version that could easily fit in the palm of her hand. After a lingering glance, she stowed it securely in her pack.

A brief survey of the remaining artifacts prompted her to shake her head; the potential dangers of Dumbledore’s collection outweighed any possible gains, and she had a specific mission to complete. With her prized possession secured, Vanessa departed from the hidden chamber, leaving behind the enigmatic treasures that could have spelled her downfall.

A single one was enough to give her nightmares for the next few months.

Vanessa, having ascended the staircase with the hidden chamber now sealed behind her, moved with purpose toward the exit of the castle. Her intention was to vanish into the Forbidden Forest, blending into the shadows once more, with no one being the wiser.

However, her plans were disrupted when an unknown voice called out from behind her, posing a simple, yet direct question. “Going somewhere?”

Aurors? Vanessa’s shock at being discovered was palpable, her eyes widening in realization that she had not anticipated someone tailing her. As she turned to face the unexpected intruder, she was met with a face she recognized from a few headlines— Gilderoy Lockhart.

Gilderoy Lockhart had a well-groomed and charming appearance. His wavy, golden hair framed a face that seemed almost frozen in a perpetual state of self-confidence. His cerulean blue eyes sparkled with what one might mistake for genuine charisma, but Vanessa knew better. Dressed in robes that screamed flamboyance, Lockhart projected an image of a wizard who valued style over substance, yet his reputation hinted at a darker truth behind the carefully crafted facade.

She’d known the story of one of the recruits, Guffries; a dark tale involving Lockhart, connecting the man to his father’s tragic end.

In that moment, Vanessa felt a surge of disgust and enmity, directed towards him. Whether it was to avenge Guffries’ father or simply to unleash her own pent-up frustration at having seen the image of her own departed father, she decided that this encounter with Lockhart would not end well for him.

“Avada Kedavra.” Vanessa raised her wand and swiftly cast a Killing Curse at Lockhart, the green light streaking towards him with deadly intent.

In the dim glow of the moon near the Forbidden Forest’s edge, Vanessa’s Killing Curse narrowly missed its mark, the green light almost grazing Lockhart’s form as he sidestepped with deceptive agility. The smile on his face remained, an unsettling contrast to the deadly exchange.

“A bit of an overreaction, isn’t it?” Lockhart remarked, the moonlight reflecting off his confident expression.

“However, since you wish to fight…” His hand moved to draw his wand. “I’ll oblige.”

The air crackled with an unspoken tension as the two faced off, their wands poised for a duel. The rustle of leaves and the cheers of the Quidditch watchers in the distance seemed to underscore the impending clash of magic.

The Forbidden Forest became a chaotic battleground as spells flew with breathtaking speed. Vanessa’s form nearly blurred, an agile dance weaving through the night. She lunged forward, casting spells from all angles, gouging out holes in trees and leaving trails of magic in her wake. Her movements were fluid, almost preternatural, as she leaped over Lockhart, launching spikes of ice from above.

Lockhart’s style, in contrast, was a curious blend of flamboyance and skillful counterplay.

Every move seemed calculated, his wand flicks almost thoughtless. He countered Vanessa’s every assault with a flair that bordered on arrogance. Spells from her met their match as he deftly parried and dodged, maintaining an irritating expression of overconfidence that seemed almost unshakable.

The trees bore the scars of their magical duel, some ablaze, others frozen in place.

As the confrontation escalated, Vanessa attempted to confound Lockhart with unpredictable maneuvers, but he remained unfazed. His counters were like a dance of their own, deflecting and redirecting spells with calculated precision.

Throughout the fight she continued to dodge the man’s retaliatory strikes, though she resisted the urge to swear. Was he not taking her seriously? His spells barely did any damage to their surroundings.

The arrogant smile which formed on the man’s face at the sight of her expression of realization cemented her conclusion.

And yet, she did not grow angry. Instead, she became excited at the prospect and let go of her own self limitation.

Vanessa’s movements became more fluid, her anticipation turning into a fierce determination. Lockhart’s seemingly lackadaisical approach only fueled her desire to expose the facade he hid behind.

She dodged another one of his spells, a smirk playing on her lips. Lockhart’s flamboyance seemed to mask a fundamental flaw in his dueling style— a lack of true offensive prowess. Vanessa seized the opportunity to press the attack.

With a swift, spinning motion, she sent a barrage of curses towards Lockhart, each one calculated and aimed with precision. The air crackled with frost as the spells streaked through the night, forcing Lockhart to shift from his defensive stance. Despite his attempts to deflect, he found himself engaged in a dance of avoidance.

Vanessa closed the distance between them, her wand movements becoming a blur. She unleashed a series of rapid-fire ice spears, each one escalating in speed. Lockhart, still maintaining his theatrical composure, struggled to keep up. The forest around them bore the brunt of Vanessa’s unleashed power, as trees splintered and foliage froze over under the onslaught.

The more Lockhart evaded, the more Vanessa intensified her assault. She could sense his frustration growing beneath the facade of arrogance. The duel had shifted in her favor, and Vanessa reveled in the exhilaration of the challenge. This was the moment she had been waiting for— a chance to expose the true nature of her opponent and unveil the cracks in his carefully constructed facade.

Wait for it… She thought as she witnessed him parry five spells in quick succession before stepping to the left, exposing himself to a follow-up attack.

Now!

As she seized what appeared to be an opening, his seemingly feeble defense transformed into a cunning trap. The moment she lunged forward, Lockhart unleashed a simple Bludgeoning spell, catching her off guard.

Somehow, she managed to dodge it, but a moment later, she felt herself blasted away by a Banishing Charm.

The impact was devastating. Vanessa was sent flying, her body crashing into the unforgiving trees. The sickening crack of breaking bone echoed through the forest as her leg took the brunt of the force. Pain shot through her, and the breath was forced out of her lungs upon collision with the forest floor.

Lockhart’s plan had worked flawlessly, and Vanessa found herself immobilized and vulnerable. As she lay there, pain coursing through her broken leg, she struggled to catch her breath. The forest, once a battlefield, now seemed like a prison of agony.

Through the haze of pain, Vanessa realized the gravity of her mistake. Lockhart’s flamboyant demeanor had concealed a strategic mind, and she had fallen right into his carefully laid trap.

“My, my.” Lockhart’s amused voice held a tone of sadism as he took a few unhurried steps forward, making sure to keep from dirtying his clothes. “That looked like it hurt.”

Vanessa clenched her teeth, fighting through the pain that radiated from her broken leg. Lockhart’s sadistic tone only fueled her determination to turn the tables, but her more realistic side knew that this fight was lost.

She took a deep breath, drawing upon her resilience and the wellspring of magical energy within her. With her leg in the state that it was and throbbing with pain, Vanessa knew she had to make a swift escape.

In a desperate move, she created a quick smokescreen, summoned the transformative magic within her and took on her Animagus form, shifting into a ferret despite every instinct telling her to stand and fight. The excruciating pain intensified as her body contorted and reshaped, the broken leg sending waves of agony through her.

Despite the pain, Vanessa’s determination overpowered the physical torment. The change completed, and she found herself on all fours, a small, furry creature capable of rapid movements. The forest floor seemed vast and treacherous from her new perspective, but the cover provided by the underbrush would be invaluable for her escape.

As a ferret, Vanessa began to limp away, her movements awkward and pained. The broken leg, though now transformed, still carried the echoes of agony.

The once graceful and agile witch now moved with a hobble, relying on instinct and sheer willpower to put distance between herself and the flamboyant Lockhart. The forest embraced her, providing a natural camouflage for her diminutive form as she navigated the dense vegetation, doing her best to get away.

Vanessa, taking a moment to rest and gather her energy in face of the ever-present onslaught of pain, observed from her concealed position as Lockhart regained his sight. She listened as he commented on her escape, his arrogant tone unmistakable.

“Scurried off like a rat, have we?” He said, though he looked around the forest in distaste. “I suppose I’ve had my fill of fun.”

Vanessa couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be more to his sudden decision to halt the pursuit. As Lockhart turned and started to walk away, she hesitated, still on guard.

What’s his game? Is he really giving up?

Lockhart’s smug demeanor grated on her, but she focused on her escape plan, determined not to fall victim to any potential traps. With a slight limp from her injured leg, Vanessa, in ferret form, cautiously moved through the foliage.

Nursing her injured leg, she watched with a seething anger as Lockhart disappeared from view.

And why was she feeling this way? Her mission was a resounding success; all she had to do now was get back to Phoenix’ Roost and present the Mirror to Grindelwald.

By all accounts, she should be pleased, and yet she only felt a burning anger at the man who so easily bested her.  As she limped away, disappearing into the depths of the forest, her mind was already set on settling the score with the arrogant wizard who had humiliated her.

Gilderoy Lockhart… Her thoughts smoldered. You will not be so fortunate, the next time we meet.