Archive of Our Own ^beta

October 31st 1991

“Troll! Troll in the Dungeon!” Quirinus Quirrell burst into the great hall and made an utter spectacle. "Thought you ought to know," He pretended to faint as panic cast over the students.

Liar, that's where you left it, but it's not there anymore.

Eyes narrowed in annoyance as a dark cloak swooped around a nearby chair and slipped through the teacher's exit of the great hall without anyone noticing.

Quell the students and leave the prefects to direct them to their houses. The troll is in the corridors leading to the ground floor lavatories. Keep them silent as they pass. It’s a ploy, Albus.

Heels clicked subtly against the worn flagstone as she marched towards the third corridor, but they were too light for an adult man. Each step had a feminine sway. Flowing robes covered the form-fitting inner coat with buttons extending its length.

Mimic.
Yes?
If Miss Snape gets a single scratch or injury while trying to fight that troll, kill it.
What of the corpse?
Leave it. I will let you consume it later.

She felt bodiless companion spirit away to protect its charge.

Long waist-length black hair framed her ghostly pale face and black eyes pierced her captivatingly beautiful features as she calculatingly watched the moving staircases. I'll just apparate. She moved to the side and closed her eyes, willing herself into the third floor corridor. She spun in place and landed gingerly in a darkened corridor. A single flame burst to life in the nearest sconce. She waved her hand and stifled it with magic, plunging the area into complete darkness. Last time, I stopped him before he reached the door… let's see how far he gets without intervention. She pointed her wand at the lock and entered with a clang, alerting the three-headed dog inside.

“Hello, Fluffy.” The side of her mouth twitched the slightest she would allow it as all three heads trained their eyes on her, each still laying on the floor. The one farthest on her left whined and then barked—a thunderous boom that resonated in the small room like a shock cannon, though it was only small by Fluffy’s standards. The dog started to stand and she used her magic to keep it seated.

“No, Fluffy. Sit!”

It obeyed excitedly sniffing the air for a treat and lowering its head for praise.

“Stay.”

It whined in protest.

“Shush. Be a good boy.” She tensed as her eyes hardened, sensing the magical sconces outside igniting as someone walked through the hallway towards them.

She cast a disillusionment charm on herself and Fluffy made a noise of confusion as she disappeared from view and merged with the darkness of the room. She waited, still and patient.

First the door lock lifting.

Then the heavy wooden door creaked open, as a man donning long professor's robes and a purple tunic walked in.

At first, he seemed surprised by the three-headed dog, before withdrawing his wand and pointing it at the growling magical beast with determination.

“Avada—”

“Quirinus.” She spoke up loud enough to startle the man as she suddenly appeared out from under the disillusionment and into view. He yelped rather comically as his body stiffening like a trained duelist, turning to face her before his face melted into false cowardice.

“P-p-prof-fessor La Faye! W-What are y-you doing here?”

“Finding people where they should not be… obviously.” Her face twitched, barely hinting at the distrust her eyes radiated. “What was that spell you were about to cast? It sounded quite familiar… though I believe that spell is frowned upon even to use against magical beasts…If it really was that spell, the protections on the beast would have notified Professor Dumbledore immediately of its death.

“It–It was m-m-merely a lighting ch-charm. It’s so dark in here, I didn’t even see you. I c-came to assure the p-p-protections we p-placed are still active.”

“Strange that I would not know of such a charm.”

“I picked it up on my travels.” He lied, his voice shaking in fear as she prowled, slowly corralling him back through the door.

“Is that so? It's around time for Hagrid’s hound to be fed, imagine how unlucky you would have been, had you stumbled in on him hungry this evening. I hear bites from three-headed dogs can’t be healed through magical means and must heal naturally and their jaws are strong enough to break a femur in two especially if they don't like you. So get lost Quirrell.”

She stiffened as one of the Fluffy’s heads licked from the middle of her back up to the back of her head, fluffing her hair into a large cowlick, but continued to menacingly stare down Quirinus Quirrell. Fluffy’s nails gouged into the flagstone as it shoved its paw through the open doorway, whining for attention.

“I’m on to you, Quirinus. You may have Dumbledore fooled, but I believe none of your lies.” She hissed with finality.

“W-well g-g-good n-ight, Professor.”

She didn’t respond as she watched the coward flee down the corridor and disappear into the distance. Professor La Faye turned back to the doorway to find the three-headed dog had shoved one of its wet noses through.

“You act like such a baby. Move back.” She ordered exasperated as she pushed its snout back into the room. “ He just tried to kill you, but as soon as I’m in your sight, that doesn’t matter and you just want attention. Is that it?” She frowned and dodged the excited licks of all three heads. “No, don’t do that, bad boy. Your breath stinks and you put slobber in my hair already.”

She pet two of the heads before switching to the third rubbing her hands through the coarse hair on its faces. Fluffy dropped onto its side and rolled onto its back, exposing its belly while whacking its heavy clipped tail against the wall.

“I swear if you weren’t giant-sized, no one would fear you. You act like such a bad guard dog in my presence.” A smile crept onto her face as the dog remained oblivious to her words, blinded by the excitement of being pet as she rubbed its chest down to its stomach.

“Merlin, you need a bath… and a good teeth cleaning. Giant three-headed dogs like you need a good cleaning every two days or so. How about when you return to the forbidden woods, I come and give you a bath. How does that sound?” She stepped away, vanishing the dirt from her hands as the dog prepared to bark happily in response.”

“Ahh ah ah! No. No barking.” It drooped its ears and lowered its head looking at her hopeful and submissive.

She sighed. “How did Severus even get bit by you in the first place? You’re so easy to tame, it's borderline useless.” Her eyes became somber. “Well he never did like dogs, he was tolerant of cats, but he could always find some reason to declare them annoying. She sighed and headed towards the door, “Alright I have to become the evil professor now. Be a good scary boy. And actually guard that trap door. Okay?”