Chapter 2

Voices drifted into my unconsciousness. It first sounded far away. Like a whisper. But slowly I could make out the words. Slowly everything started to drift back to me.

"...Albus, is it really her?"

"I'm afraid so, Poppy. It pains my heart to see it happen like this."

There was a slight pause followed by a long sigh.

"I must admit it's quite a familiar sight to see her like this."

"It is." There was yet another pause when I could hear the voice being directed straight to me. "Morning, Ms Aeron. How are you feeling?"

I slowly opened my eyes and I could feel a frown making its way to my face.

I laid in a bed with dark blue sheets and identical beds were lined up in this big room. The walls went up into a high ceiling and the floor was white marble. The room was fairly empty with just me and the two other people who were sitting next to my bed.

I slowly sat up, making no reply at the old wizard's question. It was quiet as I studied the witch and wizard next to my bed. The wizard was obviously Albus Dumbledore. His face were posted in every Daily Prophet and his long glistening beard, twinkling eyes and half-moon glasses were a dead giveaway.

The witch was a stern looking woman with brown hair and you could see her hair turning slightly grey. Her brown eyes held concern as she looked at me and her skin was really pale.

The silence droned on as I just glared at them, not trusting my voice very much. There was a hole in my chest that was burning through my heart and I couldn't even risk voicing my pain, afraid that I would burst out in tears.

The witch cleared her throat and stood up. "I'll go get your potions, dear."

As the medi-witch closed the door behind her Dumbledore straightened in his chair and looked at me over his half-moon glasses.

I only frowned and looked down. Suddenly my eye caught something gleaming on my left thumb and that's when I remembered the golden ring. Previously it was big but now it perfectly molded around my thumb and fit perfectly.

"I'm quite interested in how you managed to portkey into Hogwarts, not to mention, into my office," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, looking at me. His piercing blue eyes were examining me and it felt like he was looking past me and right into my sole... Where have I felt that before?

"I..." I cleared my throat to steady my voice. "I think it's something to do with this ring." I held out my hand to Dumbledore to see.

"Ah, I see. The Gryffindor ring," Dumbledore studied the ring with much interest.

I frowned looking down at the ring. "You mean one of the founder of Hogwarts?"

"Don't you know your family's history?" Dumbledore asked with slight disbelieve in his twinkling eyes.

"No, my... Mum never talked about our family. She always said that we were the only ones left and that it isn't good to dwell on the past," I said and I could feel the tears burning in my eyes.

I'm all that's left. My only family was taken from me and I'm what remains. A orphan teenager is all the remains of the Aeron family.

"I agree and in any case, that story would be a matter for another time." Dumbledore said, shifting in his seat and folding his hands on his lap. "The pressing matter that's upon us now is what happen last night. A terrible loss."

"I just don't understand why us?" I could feel anger building up in me again. "Why would Death Eaters be sent to our house? And I know it wasn't some random attack, because that arse knew my mum's name and I could see she knew him too."

"You're quite right. It was no coincidence, I believe your father has some unfinished business with Violet." Dumbledore was still examining my reaction.

"What are you talking about? My father is dead," I said. Everything were starting to get ripped apart in my life and now this old bloke is trying to confuse me even more.

"I'm truly sorry that you have to find out like this. I thought Violet would have told you by now," Dumbledore really looked trouble by this and I could see the sadness in his eyes. "You are adopted, dear one. Your biological mother died while giving birth to you and Violet took you in as an infant."

Silence followed as I looked at him, trying to see if he was joking. To my displeasure I couldn't see anything but sincerity in his eyes.

"No," I started to shake my head with disbelieve. I climbed out of the Infirmary bed and started to pace. "No, you're lying. My Mum would have told me!"

"I wish I was. You can't believe how it pains me to be the one to tell you all this." Dumbledore said as he stood up. He moved to stand in front of me as I just paced from side to side at the length of my bed.

"When Violet adopted you she gave me the honor of being your godfather, but I never thought this would happen to her," Dumbledore said and I could hear the sadness in his voice. I looked up to see a single tear trailing down his face.

"N-no..." I started in a whisper, but then I found my voice. "No! It's not true! What are you going to lie about next?! Are you going to say that my father send the Death Eaters and with that implying that Voldemort himself was my dear old dad."

I could feel anger starting to make a fire inside me. Not as much angry at Dumbledore, but at my mum for leaving me and mostly at myself for not being able to keep her with me.

The tears were running freely now and through all the blurring of my eyes I looked up to see Dumbledore's reply. His face held pain and I realized that he was actually implying that... That monster of a sole-less psycho is my father.

"Are you mad?" I asked in a much louder voice than I intended, but it just added to the seriousness of my question. "I'll be more than glad to call St. Mungo's for you. I know they have an excellent Mental Wing."

"Even tough it's a common believe, I'm not mentally ill. If it could change this situation I wish I was, but think about it. You're silky black hair and royal blue eyes didn't come from your mother."

"And it can't possibly come from Voldemort! He's bold with red eyes from the stories I heard,"

"He wasn't always Voldemort. Once he was a charming young lad being the smartest of his age. He was once known as Tom Marvolo Riddle. He had silky black hair and royal blue eyes just as yours, but all the Dark Magic mutilated his sole and the Voldemort you know now is the result of it." Dumbledore explained, taking his seat again.

"How do I know you're telling the truth? There are lots of blokes out there that could be my dad with black hair and blue eyes." I wasn't ready to give in. If I do it would all break apart. All I knew and all that I am would be a lie.

"That may be, but do other blokes have the ability to speak Parseltoung?" Dumbledore asked and he knew he threw that right through the hoop.

Suddenly everything he said started to explain the things that happened in my life that I didn't understand. First thing being a Parselmouth and having a lovely pet snake, King. Also why Mum never told me about my family and why she never wanted to talk about my dad...

I was ripped out of my depressing thoughts when the doors suddenly burst open.

I wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks on me or that they have found me even in Hogwarts, but strolling into the room was the exact black eyes that I saw before.

"Dumbledore. He's... He's one of the Death Eaters," I was able to make out as I started to search for my wand. Realizing that I don't even have my own clothes on anymore and that I'm wearing some sort hospital pajamas, that moment I realized that I was screwed.

"So this is where the little annoyance disappeared to," the Death Eater said and I looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"It's quite alright, Ms Aeron. Severus is one of the professors here at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said calmly.

I took a step back, baffled to hear such an absurd thing. "Oh, that makes everything okay. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, open for all. It doesn't matter if you're a bit different. No! You'll just fit right in with our mentally ill Headmaster and Death Eater Professors." I said, feeling oddly as if I'm going to go mad.

The buzzing in my ears were interrupted by a cheerful chuckle and as I looked up I saw Dumbledore laughing with much amusement. "Don't you think she's a delight?"

The professor snarled, "Are you sure it is necessary to protect her, sir?"

"Oh come on, even you can't be that heartless, Severus," Dumbledore said with a wide smile on his face.

"I have quite the reputation that confirms that I can be..." The Death Eater started but I cut them off before they went onto chatting about how their day was and when the next shopping day would be.

"I thought The Great Albus Dumbledore is against all Dark Wizards and with The Chosen One, they would save the day." I said.

"That's right, dear. Severus is a spy for The Order of the Phoenix and he supplies us with very valuable information," Dumbledore said and I could see some of the amusement was gone from his face.

I glanced at this 'Severus' and noticed with pride that his right eye was black and swollen from my nice punch. "I wouldn't thrust him."

The 'him' I was talking about looked at me with sheer hatred, "If I remember correctly, it was I who saved your life."

"I could have handled that big oaf Avery and need I remind you, you were apart of the threat against me. AND you did nothing to help my MUM!" I shouted, feeling grieve building up in my chest. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes again and I had to stop myself before my bottom lip would start to shake.

Severus was just about to scream some of his own when the door opened again. But this time it was a more welcomed person. The medi-witch took just a second to take in her surroundings when she started to shoo Severus and Dumbledore out of the room. Giving Dumbledore just enough time to tell me that we would continue the conversation when I feel a bit better.

"Tsk, tsk, I told him no excitement for you, young lady. So return to your bed right this instance," the medi-witch said sternly.

I quickly climbed back into the bed, sensing that the woman would allow no argument.

"Now, drink up," she gave me two vials op potions. One I recognized as a Pain Reducing Potion and I quickly swallowed it, but the other one I haven't see before.

"It helps for the aftermath of the Cruciatus Curse," she added when she saw my hesitation.

I quickly drank that one too, tasting the bitter taste of the potion.

"Where's my clothes?" I asked, feeling my cheeks lightening a bit at the idea of being undressed in my unconscious state. I was also worried about King still being in my pocket.

"We send it off to the elves for cleaning. You'll have it back in no time," She said, taking the empty vials from me.

I jerked up, "Wait, my pet..."

"No need to worry about your pet snake. It is safely sleeping in the Headmaster's office with your backpacks."

"Thanks, I guess... And it's a he" I said, moving down into my bed, making ready to sleep again.

"Excuse me?"

"My pet snake, it's a he. His name is actually King Erichthonius from Greek Mythology," I said, smiling slightly as I thought back to the first time I found him as an abandoned little egg.

"Alright... You, missy, need to get some sleep," she said, pulling the blanket over me.

"Thank you, Madam..." I traded off, hoping she would fill in the blank.

"Pomfrey. I'm the medi-witch here in Hogwarts," she said with a small smile before she turned and walked to her office.

Ah, Madam Pomfrey... Well, this is going to be interesting.

Now, how am I going to escape...