Acceptance

Chapter One

"Weak child. Get up. Try again."

My hands shook, and I grasped my wand more tightly. The woman in front of me was sobbing. Sobbing her eyes out. For me. Because of me. I stood up.

"Avada Kedavra." My voice was weak. My heart wasn't in the words. Nothing happened.

"Stupid girl. You aren't trying. Crucio." He flicked his wand casually in my direction.

Pain. It was all I could feel. Deep, utter pain. It drove into my very soul. My body contorted, my muscles shrieked.

"Stop! Please!" Somehow the words managed to choke out from my chest. "Daddy! Stop!" The pain ceased, and I collapsed on the floor.

"Get up!"

I stood once more, trembling. The woman in front of me was trembling too. She was a Muggle. She had no idea what was about to happen. She only felt it in the air.

"Try again!"

"Daddy I can't...please!" His face was that of a broken man. It was white, and filled with blood lust. It was the face, of a monster.

"Worthless girl! Try again!"

The woman was going to die. There was no escaping that fact. If I didn't do it, he would. I lifted my wand.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Her body fell lifeless to the ground.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

I don't answer. My mind is buried in the past.

"Miss Riddle?"

"Oh. Sorry. Can you repeat the question?"

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

I straighten my shoulders, and hold my head high. "Yes." They didn't know what it was like.

Meeting after meeting, and finally I am here. A cold, dark room. I don't know where here is really, only that I am not alone. Albus Dumbledore sits in front of me.

"We have made our decision Miss Riddle. We have decided to honor your father's request."

They were going to let me attend. After all that. After all the questions, all the stories. The suspicion. The fear. And yet they were still going to let me attend. I have a feeling Dumbledore plays a larger role in this than the others. He has mercy. Compassion. He understands.

The others don't. They don't understand I am not an open book. They don't understand that you have to dig inside of me to find the real me. The me behind the mask. I am not my father's daughter. I never have been.

"Why?"

"Because I think you deserve it. People can't always be judged by their relatives, you know."

"Thank you." It came out barely more than a whisper. I bow my head, and examine my hands.

"I have a few stipulations however, before we can come to an agreement."

"Yes?" I am careful to keep my tone respectful. To keep my voice even. This is something I have learned from a very young age.

"You must change your Sir name, of course. If people learned who you are, it would cause panic."

"And?"

"Your father must agree never to bring you anywhere school related himself. Your transportation will be managed by a third party."

"Very well."

"Thank you Miss Riddle. I am glad you understand. Lemon drop?" I shake my head. "The train leaves from London at 12 'o clock. Platform 9 and 3/4. I will have an Auror meet you at the Leaky Cauldron at eleven thirty. Do you have someone who can take you there, other than your father?"

"Don't worry, sir." I kept my eyes lowered. "My father wouldn't want to waste his time, just to bring me to a train station." I closed my lashes, allowing them to stop the tears before they fell.