Silver Green
Black Mail
Author's Note: As usual, cats... No suing!
Chapter 4: Black Mail
Mail came that morning during breakfast and Harry wasn't all that surprised to see Hedwig, his snow owl, settling herself between his porridge bowl and a milk jug. His friends always sent him letters (Hermione mostly) almost daily. However, he noticed that the envelope wasn't yellow; the usual parchment color. It was obsidian black with his name in perfect penmanship and silver ink. There was no sender on it. He looked around the table, trying to see if he could catch the author's eye. No one looked at him. McGonnagal talked to Flitwick, Longbottom to Hooch and Hagrid, and the rest of the staff concentrated on their breakfast. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher probed the envelope and its contents with his wand to make sure there were no hexes, curses, or poisons in or around it. Blank. Nothing. Harmless. Why did it unsettle him so to stare at such an innocent, beautiful piece of stationary? Obviously it was important-or at least, someone took the effort to catch his attention with such flattery. The latter seemed more likely. He wondered who. Harry picked up the envelope and flipped it over. No wax seal. So it was magically sealed. A wave of his wand and an incantation later, he slid out the unusual black parchment with a spidery-silver scrawl. A silver snake in one corner. Bewildered with curiosity, he began to read as the scent of ivy and dogwood filled his lungs.
Professor Potter,
I formally request that you join me for dinner tonight in my chambers so that perhaps we can talk and settle our differences. I understand your contempt for me, but I inquire for your presence. I want to at least explain myself for the behavior I wielded for the past few years and would wish for you to hear of my reasons. Come to my dungeon chambers at 10:00 this evening for this meeting. Thank you for your consideration.
Professor Malfoy
Speechlessness coated his throat, rereading the message in order to comprehend the implications. The young, dark-haired professor looked down the table. As usual, the tell-tale sign of platinum blond was nowhere in sight. He sighed. It was obvious he'd have to wait until tonight to know what the Potion's master wanted. The day had finally come. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling older beyond his years.
'Well, I'll just see what Malfoy wants later.' He thought to himself as breakfast concluded.
Harry stood from the table, pushed in his chair, and walked his way out of the Great Hall toward his classroom. In the corridor before the main doors, Peeves the Poltergeist sat cross-legged on the wall, dropping chalk and inkwells upon a group of second years and the professor waved his wand, surrounding himself in a bubble to avoid the mess as he made his way to the tapestry at the other end. Pushing it back, he revealed another passage that branched to the Charms classroom and the Astronomy tower. Another passage down from this one would lead him to his classroom. Cutting through a group of Slytherin on their way to Flitwick's, Harry passed through another tapestry depicted of a meadow in full spring and came up in front of his classroom. It was still empty, so he knew that he'd made it there early again.
Author's Note: By now, you should know what to do: R&R like always!