Black Riddle
I do not own Harry Potter =) But I do own Alleria Riddle Please tell me what you think. Enjoy
Chapter 7- Bruises
10 years old; August 11, 1936
"Alleria I want you ready in ten minutes, young lady, or so help me! That professor is coming today!" The voice of a disgruntled Mrs. Huffman called through the closed bathroom. Alleria Riddle murmured ascent from her crouched position against it. Her breathing was shallow as she cradled her stomach, feeling the constricting throbs of pain. Maybe she shouldn't have asked what kind of professor was coming, or at least not so close to when he would be there. It took a great deal of will power to force herself to crawl to the cupboard beneath the sink and withdrawal from her plethora of filched medical supplies.
With the ease of years of practice, Alleria slipped off her dress, before winding gauze tightly around her bruised ribs. Once that was done, though it did not help much, Alleria was able to stand. Numbly, she dressed in a long periwinkle blue dress of velvet, it craftily hid the bruises on her arms and legs. Perhaps, it was her sadness that had provoked Norman this time? Ever since Minerva had told her of leaving to a school that she couldn't go to, Alleria had slid into a funk that even her best acting could not hide.
Now she had to go meet some professor that wanted to take her to a boarding school that she didn't even know where it was! Well, perhaps, it would be worth it to be rid of the Huffman's…but what about Tom? With a sigh she brushed her hair straight before she left the safety of the bathroom and headed down the hall. She stopped when she could hear voices coming from the parlor.
"We are so pleased to meet you Mr. Dumbledore…Where exactly did you say you're a professor at again?" Mrs. Huffman simpered.
"Hogwarts Madame." a gentle wizened voice said.
"How strange. What, pray tell, kind of person does this school…specialize in. Our little Lleria must be kept up with her studies…and, of course, her little extras must be refined as well." Mrs. Huffman said, after an awkward pause and a grunt from her grey hair husband. Alleria stepped a little closer down the hall moving so the voices were louder, but that she was not yet visible.
"It is very exclusive…very private. We tend to keep them close to home, and outside interaction is almost nonexistent except for letters and holidays. Our students are typically bright, you might even say they work magic every day, in their studies. As to Alleria's extra workings, I would see to it myself she would have every opportunity." Dumbledore said, a muted amusement in his voice.
"That sounds wonderful, but oh, I don't know…so far away from home with all those strangers about it will be very hard on the little thing. What do you think Robert?" Mrs. Huffman said, as if worried. Everyone in the room including the one being told this knew that it was for show. Her husband remain silent. Alleria crept to the doorway straining to hear more.
"If it is any consolation Madame, an alumni lives just behind you, a Mr. and Mrs. McGonagall. Their daughter, Minerva, is to attend this coming September as well."
"Mini?" Alleria cried quickly moving into the room her eyes hopeful. However, once she saw the expression on the Huffman's faces she cringed and hugged her waist, her eyes downcast.
"Alleria Merope, apologize to our guest this minute!" Mr. Huffman thundered. Alleria flinched before lowering her head.
"I'm sorry, sir, forgive me, I forgot myself. It's only that I got excited at hearing Mini's name."
"It is quite alright child." Dumbledore said, with a gentle kindness that reassured Alleria. For whatever reason she knew she would be okay. Mrs. Huffman motioned for Alleria to sit in between her and Mr. Huffman in a single straight backed chair and Alleria complied without comment her face flushed.
"Is it true then? Minerva McGonagall is going to this school?" Mrs. Huffman said with a sniff and a gleam of triumph in her eyes. She had been in a tiff ever since hearing that the girl was going to some elite school which hadn't asked Alleria. Take that Olga McGonagall. It was well known within the neighborhood that the two high society women hated each other. It had been a thorn in Mrs. Huffman's backside that Alleria had not been up to Minerva's standard where the boarding school was in question. Now she had nothing to worry about.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Well, if that's the case, I see no need to object! When does term start Mr. Dumbledore? "
"September 1st. Personnel from the school will come to escort her to gather supplies which you might find difficult to…acquire. But, excuse me, if I am too bold, would it be possible if I could speak to your daughter in private? There are things she must know if she is to go to Hogwarts." Alleria was surprised when Mr. Huffman who had been about to decline shook his head as if confused and nodded before leaving the room muttering about arrangements that needed to be made. Mrs. Huffman seemed put out and sent a warning glare to her adopted daughter before fleeing the room after her husband to see if he was quite firmly in his right mind. Alleria stared at her hands which were shaking in her lap.
"Miss Riddle, are you alright?" Alleria flicked her gaze upwards at her real last name which almost no one used. It was always that little thing, or the Huffman girl, not Riddle as she would always be beneath the Huffman's gilt paint. Alleria wrapped her arms around her middle though minding her injuries.
"Yes sir." She answered softly. She didn't see Dumbledore's eyes which were burning angrily. If she had she might wonder if he knew the real state of her body, or why he would care. Years later she would know it was certain he had. Albus Dumbledore always knew things he often shouldn't, and he had a tendency to care about any and all people that stepped in his path.
"You are very different, but at the same time similar to your brother." Dumbledore commented almost to himself. Alleria's head jerked upwards her eyes wide.
"Tom! You've seen Tom?" Dumbledore nodded, his face not giving anything away, though his eyes seemed to be mulling things over in his head.
"He is also attending Hogwarts." There was an immediate change in Alleria. While her brother had been lightly hopeful and pleased when he had heard of his sister accompanying him Alleria glowed. Her cheeks flushed and a light began to beam brightly from her warm eyes as though the sun had taken residence there. She sat straighter and her hands moved to her lap gripping the fabric of her dress.
"Really?" Alleria asked, as if she thought it all to be a dream. Minerva and Tom with her? Away from the Huffman's? It was a miracle!
"Yes, it is a school people like us attend."
"Like us?" Alleria asked confused, but an image flashed across her inner eye and was gone quicker than it had come. She had become use to the daily intrusions and it hardly fazed her any longer. She caught a glimpse of a street. However, it wasn't any ordinary street. It had been filled with odd things, things a girl Alleria's age would never hope to imagine, and in that moment she saw two black haired children with their hands interlaced walking down it together.
"Have you ever done something, something you cannot explain? Something that happened as if by magic?" Dumbledore asked his blue eyes sparkling madly. Alleria's own eyes widened, but she nodded still gripping her dress in her hands.
"I…I heal quicker than I should, um, things appear when I need them to sometimes…and there's the snakes….and the visions of course." Dumbledore's eyes widened a fraction, but he kept his face business like.
"Tom mentioned the snakes as well, do they find you and …whisper things?" Dumbledore ventured. Alleria grimaced with a shudder.
"Not all the time, but sometimes a garden snake gets in the yard and comes up to chat. They always try to talk to me even when there are other people are…it drives me mad! Other than the harmless ones I've only ever seen one poisonous one…he didn't like me much. Luckily Tom came round."
"What of your…visions?" Dumbledore asked with an eye crinkling smile, he seemed truly enthusiastic about the concept.
"Well, I've had them so long…the ones that are close in the future have all come true, but most of them seem a long way away and I hope they never do. They haunt my nightmares." Alleria muttered in a whisper her shoulders slumping. "I'm mad aren't I?"
"No more than I, and I am not mad…a little dodgy at times, but not mad. You are, however, a witch, and from the sound of it, if these visions are visions, a true seer with some talent I'd wager." Dumbledore said kindly reaching a spindly hand over Alleria's softening her tight grip.
"A witch…that means Minerva is too? And Tom… he's a wizard, right?" Alleria questioned her eyes alight with excitement. Dumbledore simply nodded.
"And a seer? What is that exactly, is that common?" Alleria seemed cautious, but just looking at her face caused an eye crinkling smile on Dumbledore's. Uncharacteristic when on an errand for the school. Strange how one twin put him uncharacteristically tense, while the other made him relax.
"A seer is a witch or wizard who can foresee the future. There are nuances that escape me I'm afraid. Divination is not with-in my skill set. True seers are a rarity." Dumbledore explained.
"Truly?" Alleria questioned her face still glowing.
"You will learn many things of the like at school. A divination course is not available until the third year of schooling, it does not often appear before then, yet, if you have already been foretelling for some time I will speak to the headmaster to see if something could be done for you." Alleria looked dazed and leaned forward, as if to grasp Dumbledore's arms, when she took a sharp intake of breath. Her ribs protested loudly at the sudden movement and restriction. Tears formed in her eyes. At the sharp jolt of pain she remembered the Huffman's. Dumbledore grasped her arms looking concerned, helping her lean back into the chair.
"Will I have to tell the Huffman's about all this." She whispered, as Dumbledore leaned toward her lolling head.
"They are not blood relations, therefore, you are not required to share this with them if that is not your wish. Now, if you would drink this I imagine you might feel a spot better." Dumbledore withdrew a vial with a light colored blue solution in it. Alleria took it and with a glance at his face drank it.
"Oh." Alleria said her eyes widening. It felt as though bubbles tickled themselves down her blood stream, giving her energy and dulling the pain of her injuries. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yes, I always keep it with me. A mild pick-me-up potion always does the trick with a little bed rest." Dumbledore sat down without mentioning why a child of ten almost eleven would need a pick-me-up potion. Alleria was grateful for it, and the rest of the half-hour they were allowed alone together was spent questioning about the magical world. When Mr. Huffman interrupted, Alleria had to hide the pout on her face. She really enjoyed the wise man's company, he knew how to make her smile, something she rarely did with anyone, except Minerva or on rare occasions with Tom. She escorted the man out of the house, and before he left he handed her a letter discreetly before leaving with the message he would come again in a week to take her shopping.
Alleria thought it odd when the Huffman's opened their mouths to protest that they could do it, but instead nodded enthusiastically. Dumbledore winked at her before he walked away to be swallowed by the night. That night she went to bed with a smile on her face, her thoughts consumed with the world she really belonged to. It would be only after the glow of the visit had worn out that Alleria had froze. If she was a true seer…did that mean that Voldemort was real? If not now, but later. She dearly hoped not.
The re-writes continue! Edited as of 3/19/15 will continue re-writing at a later date and then move on with the story from there. Thank you for reading and please review if you have the time! Much love my ducklings!
