Hey guys, to anyone who already started reading this- I deleted it to improve the writing and begin uploading with a more set schedule! For anyone who hasn't read my story before, I hope you like it! - Princess A
Prologue
"Promise me you will keep her safe, Dumbledore," said the blonde witch sitting across Hogwarts current Headmaster. Her typically pin-straight hair was held up in a messy bun, tears were streaming down her face, and in her arms, she held a little pink bundle. "Please, Dumbledore, I beg you. I know Severus came to you and-"
"So this is why you have decided to seek safety in the order, Isobel?" Interrupted the famous Albus Dumbledore, "Because your fellow Death Eater did so? I cannot let every Death Eater who needs protection from the life they signed up for come begging for forgiveness."
"Then don't forgive me!" She half yelled, sparking the interest in a number of the previously sleeping portraits, "Just protect her, make sure he never finds her. Keep her safe."
The headmaster's tone was stern, almost scolding when he said: "I didn't think Severus would forget to mention an important detail such as this one, but the prophecy which he told your Dark Lord of involves a boy born at the end of July, not a girl."
"I know," she sobbed, "I know that. That's not why she needs protection."
This seemed to gain the headmasters full attention, his blue eyes no longer held their famous twinkle, but instead, they looked at her as if looking into her soul. As he stared at her, he seemed to be putting puzzle pieces of the woman's life together.
"Do you mean to tell me that the child in your arms is his?"
The witch could only nod in response. Now, the portraits weren't even pretending not to listen, they all looked at her rather curiously.
"He loved me," she began, as she defended herself to the greatest wizard Britain had ever seen, "Once, he wasn't a monster, he was just a boy roaming the halls of this very school, and that boy loved me. He still loved me when he became a man, and I loved him too. I loved him more than anything, even when the power started getting to his head. Even when he began torturing people mercilessly, or killing muggle-borns for the fun of it, even then I loved him. He was everything to me, he was my best friend, then he became my husband, h-he was the man I would go to to make me feel b-better." her voice cracked at this, but hardened seconds after as she continued speaking, "But he's gone now. He's become a monster. A monster who is willing to kill a child for power. That I can not love. This child, Potter's child" she spit out the name as if it were venom, "-has shown me that my husband is no longer the man I once loved. He's told me that he'll never hurt her, our baby girl, but I can never believe that, not after I've learned of his plans." At this point, the headmaster along with every previous one stared at her. Some of the portraits looked shaken, others looked at her in pity, but the headmaster sitting across from her remained emotionless. Finally, after what seemed like hours of silence, he spoke.
"Who are her rightful guardians if you both are to pass?" Isobel stared right back at the headmaster, wondering how out of everything she had said that night that specific question arose. "The Malfoy's" she responded. "Very well," began Dumbledore as if that settled everything. "I will keep her safe as long as I can, however, seeing as the Malfoys most likely already know that they are her assigned guardians I may only be able to keep her safe until her eleventh birthday, from then on I can not make any guarantees that they won't attempt to claim her. I can, however, offer to continue protecting her to the best of my abilities if that moment is to ever come." Isobel let out a breath she was unconsciously holding in relief, "In return," he continued "I would ask that you, like Severus, act as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix." "I can do that," she said boldly. "How am I to explain our daughter's sudden disappearance to him though?"
"Disappear. Only for a few days, then return to him with a story to cover up your tracks. Tell your husband whatever you must for him to believe you. Trust no one, only Severus and myself."
"Of course, I would never do anything to put her in harm's way. Where are you going to put her to keep her safe?" asked the soon to be childless mother.
"I don't believe I should tell you, out of fear that you will unknowingly lead other Death Eaters to her, or that Lord Voldemort shall find out the truth."
The Dark Lord's wife, or the Dark Lady as many called her, shuddered. "He went by Tom once, do you remember that? Before he became Lord V-V-Voldemort, he was just Tom."
"Yes, many things change over the years. My love for lemon drops, however, remains the same" said the headmaster casually as if talking about the weather.
"It's time for me to hand her over now, isn't it?"
The headmaster just nodded his head, "Well, then" she began, she looked down at the bundle in her arms and began to speak in a slightly higher pitch than a lady would ever use in front of such a powerful wizard, "Mommy will never forget you, my love. I will always love you, and I know it doesn't seem this way right now, but Mommy is doing this to protect you. I love you more than you will ever know, and I do hope one day we can be reunited, my love. Au revoir ma petite rose. Je t'aime." She kissed her daughter on the forehead, and with that Isobel handed over the bundle to the waiting wizard. She began heading towards the fireplace, grabbing some floo powder as she stepped in. "Her name is Scarlett Rose Riddle, she was born July 18th, 1980. Her favorite blanket is wrapped up with her, and she'll only fall asleep if someone, preferably a male, sings to her. Take care of her, please." With that, she dropped the floo powder and was gone.
The headmaster looked down at the child who, sensing that her mother was gone, began to cry. "You're in for an adventure, Miss Riddle, I can tell you that now."