"She will be the perfect addition to our plan. Now take her away!"
"But My lord, what shall I do with her?"
"She's yours isn't she? You raise her. I have more important things to spend my time on. I'm entrusting you, Bellatrix to create my perfect weapon."
"But my Lord..."
There was a surprise meeting in the Great Hall. The buzz in the hallways was that Sirius Black had managed to enter the castle and, as always, Harry Potter had put them all in danger. However, the students were almost as surprised as the professors when, once they were all brought o order; Albus Dumbledore stood in front of them and gave them the real reason for this assembly.
"We have... a first, as far as I am aware of, for Hogwarts. I would like you all to meet Verity Riddle." He beckoned to a pretty blonde girl of about 16. She timidly joined him in front of the entire student body. "Verity here is a new student. She was, let us say, homeschooled and, based on testing, she will be joining us as a 5th year student. There is but one small detail to be addressed: Miss Riddle does not yet belong to a house. Severus, if you please?"
Professor Snape walked over to her carrying a ratty old hat. It was heavy and uncomfortable. It was bad enough that everybody was staring at her in the first place but now this hat was talking to her.
"I see who you truly are... yessss... much different from your family. Yes, very much so." Then the monstrosity yelled out the worst thing that Verity had ever heard. "GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a loud cheer from the Gryffindors as Verity was directed towards them. If her father, where ever he may be, found out he would have her killed. But as she made her way to her housemates, she did notice some cute boys. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as she thought. The assembly was dismissed and she as left at the mercy of these strangers. She had never liked strangers, or any people for that matter, except for her friend Draco. He was different than the rest. She was trying to find him in the crowd, but was interrupted by one, or was it two boys?
"Hey there pretty lady!" She was surrounded by red hair.
"You're going to need a tour,"
"And we're your boys."
"Nobody knows this school quite like us."
"And who exactly are you?" Verity asked, but she was pretty sure that she had been warned about these two.
"Oh, of course. How rude of us. I'm George." The quieter one introduced himself by kissing her hand. She felt herself blush a little.
"And I, my darling, am the man of your dreams." The other twin grabbed her and kissed her right on the lips. Her wand was at his throat without a second thought. How dare he?
"Whoa there Fred! I think you may have frightened her." George pulled his brother away from what may have been his early death.
"Sorry Verity. I just wanted to make a good first impression." He winked at her as he slowly backed away.
"Well I certainly won't be forgetting you anytime soon." She said begrudgingly.
"Mission accomplished. So what does your schedule look like? Maybe George and I can show you where your classes are."
"Let's see here...I've got Defence Against the Dark Arts-that sounds like a silly class, potions, care of magical creatures, divination, and transfiguration."
"Looks like we have some classes together. So you won't be too alone." George really was the more approachable twin. Verity would mind spending a little more time with him; however it looked like Fred wasn't going anywhere.
The twins showed her around the castle, pointing out each one of her classrooms and other various points of interest. Verity paid close attention to George, because she didn't want the embarrassment of getting lost. She had a feeling that Fred would steer her in the wrong direction.
Verity had to share a room with two other fifth year girls: Alicia Spinnett and Angelina Johnson. They were nice enough, but she really have much in common with them. They were both on the Quidditch team and Verity had never even been allowed on a broom. That night as they were getting ready for bed, the girls got to gossiping as girls usually do.
"So Verity, I saw you with Fred and George earlier..." Angelina was obviously digging for some sort of story. Verity had decided that she didn't know the girls well enough to make up some grand ridiculous tale, so she stuck with the truth.
"Oh yeah, they were just showing me around a little. What's up with them anyway? Are they always so..."
"Flirty?"
"Ridiculous?"
"Adorable?"
"Well, I was going for friendly actually."
"Oh that? Yeah they're great guys." Alicia was smiling at her, leaving Verity wondering if these girls were dating the twins... from the way they talked about them, if they weren't they should be. "But you gotta watch your back around them."
"What do you mean?" where Verity came from 'watch your back' mean certain death.
"Just never eat anything they give you alright?" Angelina laughed and turned out the light.
Today was Verity's first day of classes and she was fairly nervous. It was bad enough that she had tested a year lower than she should have. What if she didn't understand her lessons? At least George would be in a few of her classes, even though she wasn't sure which ones.
Her first class was Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin. The name sounded familiar. Maybe Sev had talked about him in passing... Verity wasn't very good at keeping all of his stories straight. Oh well. Perhaps he could explain to her what the hell dark arts were anyway.
She found the classroom that the twins had shown her yesterday and was about to go in when she was a friendly face. She decided to wait to talk to him; maybe he'd be in this class.
"Hey Draco!" Verity bounced with excitement, waving down the glowing blond from across the hallway.
"Verity? Hi." He approached her slowly, making sure that nobody was watching. "How are the Gryffindors treating you? You don't belong with those people Ver. You're better than that."
"I know... I mean, no. They seem really nice."
"So far sure, but they're the enemy. If they found out who you are, they'd- well, they'd probably kill you. That's what Gryffindors do. They kill people Verity."
"Oh shut you're mouth Draco, they do not. I'll be fine." She was laughing, but what if he was right?
"I hope so Ver. Look, I got go- can't be seen with you for to long. You understand."
"Sure." She turned and opened the door to the classroom. Once again, out of nowhere, she was surrounded by red hair.
"You know him? Never heard Malfoy so-"
"Friendly?"
"That's the word, thanks George."
"You were listening? Fred! You are the nastiest, rudest-!"
"Calm down there gorgeous! We were just looking out for you. That boy is nasty to say the least." Fred actually looked serious for once.
"He's my friend."
"Well, you don't need him now" George put his arm around her, "you've got us."
"Great." She said sarcastically as she slumped down into a seat in the back of the classroom.
"Good Morning class. I realize that it's early, but would you pleas try to stay awake Fred? Thank you. – Miss Riddle, as it is your first day in my class, I feel I should ask if you have any questions about the subject."
"Actually Professor, I do. What exactly are the Dark Arts, and why do we need to learn to defend ourselves? I mean, we're teenagers, we shouldn't need to fight anything."
There was s murmur from the class and George turned around and winked, mouthing 'nice one' to her.
"Settle down class, that is a very legitimate question. I'm very glad, although also quite surprised, that you asked. The Dark Arts are the use of magic for evil. Not all witches and wizards are good, and there are spells that the bad ones use to get what they want. These spells can hurt- or kill- the ones that they are used on."
As he talked, Verity's entire life's training came to mind. He went on for the rest of class and Verity finally understood why she was forbidden to speak of home while she was here. It was her family that they were learning to defend themselves against. It suddenly clicked that her life wasn't normal. Most people didn't have prisoners in their basements, and dead bodies on their lawn. Her books had been right, there were good people out there- and her mother killed them. She ran out of class, sick to her stomach when she realized that she had no idea where the lavatory was.
Fred was behind her and grabbed her shoulders as she was about to puke.
"Eat this- it'll help."
She shook her head, holding her mouth closed out of fear of eating the thing, and of puking on Fred.
"Just trust me Verity."
She couldn't hold it much longer and she took the candy Fred was offering her. She figured she'd be sick either way; at least he might leave her alone. But she was wrong; as soon as she put it in her mouth the sickness in her stomach was gone. Fred actually helped her.
"Now, are you alright? I know Lupin can get a little graphic, but he means well." Fred led her to a bench and sat her down.
"No, you don't understand." She started sobbing uncontrollably and Fred wrapped himself around her, trying to hold her still.
"Yes I do. It's scary because everything he said is true, and then some. But you listen to me Verity, I won't let anything happen to you."
So, the pompous twin was really a sweetheart too. He could never fully understand because now the problem was, could she keep anything from happening to him? She had to be the protector because she knew the enemy.
Fred walked her to potions, but he couldn't stay. He had to be off to herbology. She had to promise that she'd be alright before he'd let her go into the dark room that reminded her of home. What a relief to see this professor!
"Sev! We've got a problem!" She walked towards her best friend quickly, eager to tell him what she had just learned.
"I am Professor Snape to you, and if there is a problem, you may see me after class- in detention tonight."
The class laughed as she dejectedly looked for a seat. There was one left in the back next to Alicia. At least roommates were good for something. She drowned out the entire lesson. Sev- er- professor Snape had been tutoring her for years, this stuff was simple.
Verity coasted through the rest of her classes and didn't speak to anybody. Not even the twins who wouldn't leave her alone during Divination. She spent the day pondering her family and herself. She was different from her family for a reason. She was a Gryffindor, one of the good guys. The average person would not easily forsake her family, but it wasn't as if she had loved them. All Professor Lupin did was to confirm her suspicions.
Detention time had come and she made her way back down to the dungeons and the potions room to see Snape. She creaked open the heavy black door and saw him sitting at his desk, writing in his journal.
"Umm... Professor Snape?" She said, it was so hard for her to call him that.
"Verity" He stood, and walked towards her with open arms, but she shoved his hug off. He didn't deserve one after the way he had embarrassed her earlier today. "I'm sorry Verity. Really. But we have to maintain certain boundaries in class. I have a reputation to uphold and I don't want students thinking that they can just talk to me. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"I hadn't thought of it that way. It's just hard for me to control myself sometimes. You know that."
"Yes. Yes I do." He managed to hug her after all. "Now what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Did you know we're the bad guys? We're not normal Sev, and kids are learning to defend themselves against us?"
"I see you've met Professor Lupin. Yes Verity, I've tried to keep it from you, but it was only a matter of time. You and I are not the bad ones, but the rest of your family is. You know we're different. I've just been... lying."
"How do you do it?"
"It's hard, but it keeps me alive. It gives me a purpose." He stopped to think for a moment. "Verity, do you remember me telling you about Lily?"
"Yes." He had told her that his girlfriend died many years ago, and that's why he was always sad. Verity, even when she was a child tried her hardest to make him happy again.
"Well, it was only sort of true. You see, she wasn't my girlfriend, but she was my only friend. I loved her, but she did not love me. She loved James Potter."
"Potter? No, not the brat's dad?"
"Yes, my Lily Evans is Harry Potter's mother..."
"Which means- my dad killed- Oh Sev! I'm sorry!" Verity lunged another hug at him, which he accepted, he was crying, but she pretended not to notice. "I have to be like you. I have to fight for good."
"It's not easy Ver. But I will help you if you need me."
She kissed his cheek and left for her common room. She would start tonight. Defending her new friends, and lying to her family. But she also vowed to forever hate Harry Potter for how his father had taken her Sev's Lily away. She sat down and composed her first letter home.
Madame LeStrange,
It is with deepest regret that I inform you that I have been sorted into Gryffindor. However, I believe that this will give me better position for spying on Harry Potter. Due to the strain of my first full day of school, I hope you will be able to forgive me. I have not yet been able to locate the boy. I will be sure to inform you the moment I do.
Respectfully,
Verity Gwyddon
She went up to the owlery to meet her owl Snivvy, and sent the letter away. It had all ben a lie, but that was nothing new.