A/N: It's been a while since I have tried my hand at a fan-fiction and this is my first Harry Potter story. I know the first chapter is short but that is because it is an introduction to my OC (who by the way will not be the main character). Usually my chapters are around eleven pages or more. Well enjoy…

Disclamer: I do not own any of the characters from the Harry Potter series. I do however own the plot to his story so don't steal it.

A Hero's Tale

By Yurushi-chan

Prologue: Answers

'This is ridiculous!' A small black haired, ten year old girl stomped into the small back yard of the apartment she lived in. She practically shook with anger and frustration for once again her father had avoided all questions she asked about his past.

"You wouldn't understand Lilly, It's not safe to speak of Lilly." She mimicked her parent in a squeaky voice as she plopped herself to the floor, her back to the fence. "Well of course I wouldn't understand, you won't bloody explain anything to me." She growled under her breath. She knew very little about the man who raised her, and as far as she knew she hadn't had a female parental figure in her life since she was three, and her father wouldn't even talk about her! Her eye twitched as she remembered what had happened only moments ago.

She had just come down to the kitchen for breakfast when she had spotted her dad with an odd looking envelope in his hand at the table. He didn't say anything he just stared at it with a sort of shocked look on his face. When she asked about it he had ignored her question which could only mean one thing, it concerned his past. She knew this because he always ignored questions about his past. Fed up she had snapped at him for ignoring her, his response was that it didn't concern her and to keep her nose out of it. Eventually Lilly gave up and stomped out.

She let her eyes wander about the back yard and they settled on a few wild daisies just in front of her. She sank lower until her stomach was on the floor and her face was level with the flowers. At least it was summer. That meant no school, no home work, and no annoying teachers to bother her. Lilly had just reached out a hand to pick one of the flowers when a movement in the grass caught her eye. She blinked a few times then tried to get a better look.

"Oh!" she gasped lightly, it was a snake, a little green garden snake. "Hello there…" she muttered absent mindedly as she rose to her knees and crawled closer. Lilly glanced over her shoulder to make sure her father wasn't around, though he had denied it when asked, she was sure he hated snakes. He always kept her away from the reptile house when ever they went to the zoo and he had forbade her from having a pet snake no matter how much she begged.

"What are you doing back here?" she muttered, cautiously reaching out to pet it

"Ssssoaking up warmth, sssstupid human." hissed a voice. Lilly froze, her hand inches away from the snakes scaly tail.

"What?" she choked out eyes wide.

"You undersssstand?" It was the snake, and it seemed just as shocked as her.

"I-I-I guess." Lilly said falling back to her bottom. She must have snapped, when her dad wouldn't answer her, why else would she be talking to a snake?

"Lilly?" called a voice, pulling her from her musings. She snapped her head to look and saw her father standing there looking upset. Her shock must have shone on her face because his emerald eyes narrowed in concern. "Who are you talking t…" he trailed off when he saw the snake. For a split second she swore she saw her fathers face contort into a look of horror, only for it to change to one of remorseful acceptance.

"I think…we have to talk…" he said his voice thick and slightly hoarse. Lilly knew she was going to get her answers now. The question at this point however was…did she want them anymore? She wasn't sure.