March 30, 1997

Alaina's P.O.V

Sitting in Potions class hearing Slughorn drag on and on about the 'importance of stirring a potion the correct number of times' was getting to be very boring very quickly. I mean, at least when Snape taught us, he kept us awake with nagging and criticism. Which, by the way, was very rude, but anything is better than this.

Letting myself fall deeper and deeper into unconsciousness, Sluggy's old light voice became nothing but a blur, along with everything else in the room.

As I was about to let the blackness take over, a loud knocking sound came from Slughorn's thick, old, mahogany door causing my head to shoot up so fast I got dizzy.

He walked to the door, his plump figure making it take longer than a normal person, and, finally, he opened it.

"Oh Minerva! How delightful it is too see you! Have you stopped for a quick chat or a biscuit?" Slughorn's enthusiastic voice rang out, making many of us students flinch. You see, being the new teacher of the year and teaching in the dungeons, Ole' Sluggy didn't get many visitors.

"Not today, Horace. Professor Dumbledore asked me to deliver one of your students to him." Her voice was hard, but you could tell that she was just as tired of everything as everyone else. The war had taken its toll on all of us, whether you are a Muggle, Muggle-born, like me, Half-blood, or Pure-blood. Voldemort's return changed everything. I know from first-hand experience.

During the summer after fourth year, the year of Voldemort's return, I had went to spend time with my Pure-blood friend, Kinsley, and her twin brother, Christopher. When I had returned home, I walked in on a terrible sight. My mother, father, sister, and brother were dead. They were muggles. They had no way to defend themselves against Voldemort and his crew of cowards. They didn't attack when a I was there because, and I promise this, I may have gone down, but I would've taken more than a few with me.

"He needs Alaina Evans." McGonagall's voice rang, loud and clear. My head snapped up. Looking around, I realized everyone was staring at me.

I quickly got up from my seat, threw my books, ink, and quills in my bag, and made my way to the door as fast as possible.

As I walked into the hallway, the thick door slammed shut, making my jump. I wondered why Professor Dumbledore wants to see me. Professor McGonagall looked at me, for once letting her tough exterior fade.

"Ms. Evans, I am sure you know where Professor Dumbledore's room is. Also, he is having a fascination with the Muggle candy Airheads." She smiled kindly at me and walked away.

I knew what that meant. It was code for his password.

Walking down the ancient looking hallways, I took notice of how beautiful everything was. I remember the first time I came to this castle. Being eleven years old and raised in a family without magic, at the time, I thought I was in a fairytale! I didn't realize until later that every good thing has a dark side.

As I walked past the hallway where everyone first discovered Mrs. Norris, I remembered the horror I was put through that year. Every Slytherin I passed would whisper, "You're next, Mudblood filth!"

It was shocking to me then that people would torment you and kill you over something you couldn't control. I didn't realize until later how much more there was to it. Apparently, those certain wizards and witches wanted to "purify" the magical world.

Not looking where I was going, I bumped into a hard chest and fell flat on my bum.

"Watch where you are going you filthy little Mudblood!" Draco exclaimed.

"I'd rather be a Mudblood than a puppet for a psychotic murdering asshole!" I was tired of shit from these stuck-up, ignorant, must-have-a-stick-shoved-up-their-ass, Pure-bloods.

Draco looked at me for a minute in shock and suddenly he looked guilty. He quickly turned away and ran off to where the Room of Requirement was.

What the hell is up with him?

Usually he would yell back and insult me until I cried. This time, he looked like he was the one about to cry…

I busted out laughing. He didn't know hardship or suffering! The most he has probably ever had to suffer was probably choosing which Muggle family to kill. No matter what it is he is upset about, I don't think I could ever feel sorry for him. He, like his whole family, is a monster.

Seeing Dumbledore's Phoenix entrance, I made my way to it and said "Airhead".

The Phoenix began spinning until it revealed a staircase. I hopped on one of steps and let it take me down to his office.

"Professor Dumbledore…?" I called out in his big office.

"Ah yes, Alaina. How good it is to see you. You may have wondered why I summoned you here. Am I correct?" He asked, looking at my through his half-moon glasses. His eyes sparkling, literally.

"Yes, Professor I was." I answered truthfully.

"Well, Ms. Alaina, you have to promise that whatever is about to be said in this room will never leave this room. I have no doubt that you will not tell, but this is just a precaution."

I have only ever seen Dumbledore so serious once, and that was when he had come to my house to help me.

"I...I promise." I stuttered quickly but surely.

"Good, now I am about to tell you something only two people, Professor Snape and myself, know. As I'm sure you know, Draco Malfoy's father is a Death Eater who now resides in Azkaban Prison." I nod.

"Well, and do not blame young Draco for this, his son is also a Death Eater. He was initiated into it this summer. Voldemort saw his family as a "disappointment" because of all the things Lucius had failed to do." Dumbledore's looked sorrowful when he was speaking about Draco's predicament, but I had already guessed it. I knew he was gonna be just like his father… daddy's boy.

"Well, Voldemort gave Draco a mission to do. This mission was going to be the hardest mission they had to complete so far. They had to infiltrate Hogwarts."

"Why would they have to infiltrate Hogwarts?" I asked, but then it clicked. "They sent Draco to kill you, didn't they?"

Dumbledore nodded in sadness. I rose from my seat about to go curse that boy into oblivion. I couldn't lose the only parental figure I had left. Then I stopped.

"Why aren't you expelling him or sending him to Azkaban?! He deserves it!" I exclaimed.

"Sit down, Ms. Evans, and I will explain why." I did as I was told. "I already dieing. Now, what I am about to tell is very difficult to understand, but you must try to. There are very dark objects of magic called Horcruxes. This object is what one would do if one wanted immortality."

"Like Voldemort, sir." I asked. He nodded.

"This is when one splits the soul, and hides it in an everyday object, such as a book," He held up a black leather diary that looked as though something had burst out of it. "Or a ring." He showed me a creepy looking ring on his hand, which had turned black and deathly looking.

"Professor… your hand, why is it black?" I was stunned.

"It's a curse Lord Voldemort put on this ring to stop anyone from wearing it. And before you say anything, taking it off won't help. I am going to die, Alaina." By then, tears were streaming down my face. I didn't want to lose him.

"Professor… You're all I have left. How can I stop this?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

"I will explain that in one moment, but let me tell you how Professor Snape is involved in this." I nodded.

"This is a bit complicated. Professor Snape is a bit complicated. From a very young age, Severus was very good friends with Lily Evans, Harry Potter's mother. While she was sorted into Gryffindor, he was sorted into Slytherin. Severus ended up falling in love with Lily, while Lily later on fell in love with James. Severus, being in Slytherin, fell in with the wrong crowd, Death Eaters. When Severus found out that Lily was to be killed, he begged Voldemort to not kill her, and Voldemort obliged with one condition. She must not try to save Harry, but she did. When she threw herself in-between the curse and Harry, it rebounded and Voldemort created an unknown Horcrux- Harry himself. Severus earlier had come to.me to try and save her, and, as you know, Peter Pettigrew sold them out to Voldemort. Anyways, to protect Harry, Severus became a double agent for me. I needed him to infiltrate Voldemort's army, and he did as told. I knew, though, the only way Voldemort would really trust him was if he killed me. I made him promise that, if Draco is unable to kill me himself, which I know he will be, then Severus will do it."

I nodded, very upset about all of this but not wanting to show it. "Why are you telling me all of this, Professor?"

"Because I have a mission I want you to go on. Like you may think, Tom Riddle was unloved as a child. He had no one. Tom grew up in a Muggle orphanage constantly hated because he was different. When he came to Hogwarts, he found a sense of belonging. He was sorted into Slytherin, being that he is the descendent of Salazar Slytherin, it was only natural. Tom quickly made a group of "friends" or followers, if you will. They listened to his every order, and that is how the Death Eaters were made. Back then they were called the Knights of Walpurgis. Tom was very calm, collected, and cautious. No one, not even myself, knew what he was capable of."

"I am so sorry sir, but if you don't mind me asking, why are you telling me all this?" I interrupted him.

"I am telling you this Ms. Alaina, because my mission for you is to stop this. If you do what I am asking you to, everything will be different. There will be no war. You, Harry and everyone else who has lost someone because of Voldemort will not have. Nothing will be the same." He said in a very serious manner.

"Anything, Professor!", I nodded anxiously. I could stop my family's death! I could stop this war! But how?

Professor Dumbledore pulled something tiny out of his pocket, and held it out to show me.

A time turner?

Then it hit me. He wanted me to go back in time!

Heyyyyyyy everyone! Ok so this is my first book ever published! I want all of you to know that I am only 16, so not everything will be perfect. I also want you to know that I did this without a Beta reader. I am looking for one. If you are interested, then message me. I will appreciate it thoroughly!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of "Saving Riddle"!!!