The Reason
Chapter 2: Sparks
Elizabeth Riddle sat in the dark kitchen of her New England home. It was just after four in the morning and she hadn't been able to get back to sleep after being woken by her birth mark several hours before. Her thoughts were racing from one thing to another, not being able to stay on one subject for long.
"Liz, what are you doing up?" Mrs. Riddle yawned as she came into the kitchen.
"Couldn't sleep. Dad's up to no good again."
"Oh dear," Mrs. Riddle groaned. "You felt it, didn't you?"
"Mom, why are you attracted to him in the first place? He's everything you're not: evil, dark... Ok, basically evil, but still," Liz asked, smiling at the end.
"Lizzy, darling, your father is my soul mate, even if he is considered to be the "Dark Lord." You have to understand, when I met him, I was young, and he was trying, well, not trying per say, but he couldn't act badly around me. You've seen him when he's around here, he changes."
"Mom, he left when I was a baby. And then he shows up again, 13 years later, and you just accept him again. I don't care if he's your "soul mate" or just some guy you happened to fall in love with as a naïve young woman. Look, Mom, you're a medicine woman, a healer, a shaman to a freaking tribe. People respect you, they look to you for advice, and you give amazing advice. But while you try to save lives, he kills. He kills without even thinking about it. So fine, you had a kid with him, personally I'm glad you did, but then he left. He LEFT you to raise a baby alone. Now he comes back and is involving me in his evil deeds. You raised me not to use my magic for evil. You're my mother, do something, protect me, because I have no qualms with hurting him before he hurts me," Liz's green eyes reflected in the moonlight streaming through the window, reminding Mrs. Riddle of her husband's eyes when she had met him. "Look, Mom," Liz said, her voice softening, "please, just don't let him use me."
Mrs. Riddle sat there for a moment thinking. Around his family, Tom Riddle went back to being Tom Riddle, and not the sadistic Lord Voldemort. He had never been anything but kind to her, but with or without the intention to do so, he had passed on strong magic to his daughter. Magic that was strong enough that at the age of fifteen, she had not only completed any training that an elite group of witches, wizards, shamans, medicine women, and other magical people had issued, but she had also learnt how to counteract many dark magics, as well as do them when necessary. Mrs. Riddle could only assume that this information had been passed down from Liz's father, as she knew no one had taught her. She wouldn't need to go to a wizarding school, but that was where she had to go.
"Alright. There's one wizard Tom wouldn't dare mess with. He won't be happy that I'm sending you to him, but if it's what you want."
"Mom, who is this guy?"
"Albus Dumbeldore," and with that Mrs. Riddle turned on her heal and walked out of the room.
That had been two weeks ago. Now, after one long airplane ride across the Atlantic Ocean, and a cab ride through Muggle London, Elizabeth Adeline Riddle was walking through Diagon Alley, headed towards Ollivander's to get a new wand. The last one she had had was her Grandmother's, and had never worked completely right for her. When Dumbledore had agreed to let her come, Mrs. Riddle had decided that Liz needed a new wand.
"Good morning, how may I-"a cheery old man started when she walked into the shop. "Ah, yes, Ms. Riddle. What a surprise. I hope you find us in, how would you put it, good spirits."
"Um, yes, I'm fine. I'm looking for a wand though. You're worried that I'm like my father," Liz stated, noticing how the man had quickly become a bit fleety.
"No, no... Yes. However, children are often nothing like their parents. Your grandmother came in here, oh, about 70 years ago. She turned into an extremely friendly person; I was very upset to see her go. Let's see, she had 13 inch mahogany vela hair core. A very fine wand, one of the first my son put together. If I'm correct you've been using it up until late?" when he saw her nod, he continued, "However that doesn't seem like the right type of wand for you. Let's see try this, 11 inch mahogany with three mermaid scales."
"Mermaid scales?" Liz asked. Seeing him nod, she prayed it was none of the mermaids she knew (some of her teachers,) and flicked the wand. Despite the fact that she had said no charm, the glass on the window broke.
"Well, I see not. Now, let's see... Ah yes, perhaps, 10 inch mahogany with a unicorn hair."
"Just flick it? What if another window breaks?" Liz questioned. She hadn't been this apprehensive of magic in years. Seeing him shrug however, she flicked the wand and the cash register flew open, all of the money flying out. "Oops!" Liz quickly muttered a charm without the wand, something much harder to do, and all the money returned itself to the register.
"Well, now, that is something, isn't it? Recently, a certain phoenix gave another feather, just the third it has ever given. Your father has one of the wands, and he showed extreme promise. Perhaps... 15 inch walnut with a phoenix core."
No sooner had Liz taken the wand then the air around her filled with butterflies, all streaming out of the tip of the wand in her hand. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
"Well then. I think we've found the perfect wand. I swear, that is peculiar."
"What's peculiar, Mr. Alivander?"
"Oh, nothing dear. Do me a favor though. Don't get in as much trouble as your father; we don't need another one of him on the loose."
"No, we most certainly don't. So how much?"
Her new wand in her pocket, Liz set off to go pick up all of the books and other random items she may need for her next year. As she was walking, her eyes caught hold of a teenager, his black hair mussed. Despite the fact that he seemed to be occupied talking to some friends, he looked up, his green eyes catching on hers. Not able to stop herself, she stood still, her eyes locked with his, until something the brown haired girl next to him said ripped his eyes away. She had a strange feeling of familiarity she felt with the boy, and yet she didn't even know his name.
A small hissing sound caught her attention though, and she quickly looked down. "Is it safe to come out yet?" Locke hissed from his hiding place, his head lightly peaking out of her bag.
"Locke," she hissed back. "I thought I left you back in the hotel room!" Liz Riddle was a parsel mouth, something that only her mother knew. She had inherited the ability from her father and because of this had kept snakes since she was a little girl.
Locke was a small boom slang snake, an extremely poisonous snake that Liz had found when he was a baby. His mother and all his hatch-mates had been recently killed when she wandered across the destroyed nest. They had made fast friends and Liz had named him after the philosopher she was studying in 6th grade government. Despite the fact that his poison could easily kill a human, Locke was too fond of them, and preferred to see them alive.
"It was boring. You're more fun to be around then a mirror that just screams when it sees a snake."
"Fine, you can stay, but hide. Most people don't like the sight of snakes."
"They're wizards. They don't care."
"Hide," she hissed back at him as she smiled sweetly at the owner of the book store and looked around for the books she needed.
Ron and Hermione had been arguing about where to go for lunch when the strange girl caught Harry's eye. Not able to help himself, he stared back into her eyes, finding her strangely familiar. He knew he had never met her before, or even seen her, but there was something hauntingly familiar about her, something he couldn't shake, and the few seconds he spent looking into her eyes were bliss, and seemed to last an eternity.
"Harry, Harry! Are you feeling okay?" Hermione asked, forcing him to pull his eyes away from the mystery girl.
"Yeah, I'm feeling fine, why do ask?" Harry responded, looking back towards where the girl had been.
"You just looked really dazed," Ron said, looking from Harry to where he was staring and back to Harry again. "What were you looking at?"
"Just some girl. What did you want?" Harry questioned, regaining his focus.
"Ice cream ok for lunch?" Hermione asked.
"Sure."
Ok, so that is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Next chapter people actually meet, and we find out what Liz is doing at Hogwarts, since she already has a full education. I must say, that's been the hardest thing to skirt around. As with any fic: Read and Review.
Elizabeth Riddle sat in the dark kitchen of her New England home. It was just after four in the morning and she hadn't been able to get back to sleep after being woken by her birth mark several hours before. Her thoughts were racing from one thing to another, not being able to stay on one subject for long.
"Liz, what are you doing up?" Mrs. Riddle yawned as she came into the kitchen.
"Couldn't sleep. Dad's up to no good again."
"Oh dear," Mrs. Riddle groaned. "You felt it, didn't you?"
"Mom, why are you attracted to him in the first place? He's everything you're not: evil, dark... Ok, basically evil, but still," Liz asked, smiling at the end.
"Lizzy, darling, your father is my soul mate, even if he is considered to be the "Dark Lord." You have to understand, when I met him, I was young, and he was trying, well, not trying per say, but he couldn't act badly around me. You've seen him when he's around here, he changes."
"Mom, he left when I was a baby. And then he shows up again, 13 years later, and you just accept him again. I don't care if he's your "soul mate" or just some guy you happened to fall in love with as a naïve young woman. Look, Mom, you're a medicine woman, a healer, a shaman to a freaking tribe. People respect you, they look to you for advice, and you give amazing advice. But while you try to save lives, he kills. He kills without even thinking about it. So fine, you had a kid with him, personally I'm glad you did, but then he left. He LEFT you to raise a baby alone. Now he comes back and is involving me in his evil deeds. You raised me not to use my magic for evil. You're my mother, do something, protect me, because I have no qualms with hurting him before he hurts me," Liz's green eyes reflected in the moonlight streaming through the window, reminding Mrs. Riddle of her husband's eyes when she had met him. "Look, Mom," Liz said, her voice softening, "please, just don't let him use me."
Mrs. Riddle sat there for a moment thinking. Around his family, Tom Riddle went back to being Tom Riddle, and not the sadistic Lord Voldemort. He had never been anything but kind to her, but with or without the intention to do so, he had passed on strong magic to his daughter. Magic that was strong enough that at the age of fifteen, she had not only completed any training that an elite group of witches, wizards, shamans, medicine women, and other magical people had issued, but she had also learnt how to counteract many dark magics, as well as do them when necessary. Mrs. Riddle could only assume that this information had been passed down from Liz's father, as she knew no one had taught her. She wouldn't need to go to a wizarding school, but that was where she had to go.
"Alright. There's one wizard Tom wouldn't dare mess with. He won't be happy that I'm sending you to him, but if it's what you want."
"Mom, who is this guy?"
"Albus Dumbeldore," and with that Mrs. Riddle turned on her heal and walked out of the room.
That had been two weeks ago. Now, after one long airplane ride across the Atlantic Ocean, and a cab ride through Muggle London, Elizabeth Adeline Riddle was walking through Diagon Alley, headed towards Ollivander's to get a new wand. The last one she had had was her Grandmother's, and had never worked completely right for her. When Dumbledore had agreed to let her come, Mrs. Riddle had decided that Liz needed a new wand.
"Good morning, how may I-"a cheery old man started when she walked into the shop. "Ah, yes, Ms. Riddle. What a surprise. I hope you find us in, how would you put it, good spirits."
"Um, yes, I'm fine. I'm looking for a wand though. You're worried that I'm like my father," Liz stated, noticing how the man had quickly become a bit fleety.
"No, no... Yes. However, children are often nothing like their parents. Your grandmother came in here, oh, about 70 years ago. She turned into an extremely friendly person; I was very upset to see her go. Let's see, she had 13 inch mahogany vela hair core. A very fine wand, one of the first my son put together. If I'm correct you've been using it up until late?" when he saw her nod, he continued, "However that doesn't seem like the right type of wand for you. Let's see try this, 11 inch mahogany with three mermaid scales."
"Mermaid scales?" Liz asked. Seeing him nod, she prayed it was none of the mermaids she knew (some of her teachers,) and flicked the wand. Despite the fact that she had said no charm, the glass on the window broke.
"Well, I see not. Now, let's see... Ah yes, perhaps, 10 inch mahogany with a unicorn hair."
"Just flick it? What if another window breaks?" Liz questioned. She hadn't been this apprehensive of magic in years. Seeing him shrug however, she flicked the wand and the cash register flew open, all of the money flying out. "Oops!" Liz quickly muttered a charm without the wand, something much harder to do, and all the money returned itself to the register.
"Well, now, that is something, isn't it? Recently, a certain phoenix gave another feather, just the third it has ever given. Your father has one of the wands, and he showed extreme promise. Perhaps... 15 inch walnut with a phoenix core."
No sooner had Liz taken the wand then the air around her filled with butterflies, all streaming out of the tip of the wand in her hand. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
"Well then. I think we've found the perfect wand. I swear, that is peculiar."
"What's peculiar, Mr. Alivander?"
"Oh, nothing dear. Do me a favor though. Don't get in as much trouble as your father; we don't need another one of him on the loose."
"No, we most certainly don't. So how much?"
Her new wand in her pocket, Liz set off to go pick up all of the books and other random items she may need for her next year. As she was walking, her eyes caught hold of a teenager, his black hair mussed. Despite the fact that he seemed to be occupied talking to some friends, he looked up, his green eyes catching on hers. Not able to stop herself, she stood still, her eyes locked with his, until something the brown haired girl next to him said ripped his eyes away. She had a strange feeling of familiarity she felt with the boy, and yet she didn't even know his name.
A small hissing sound caught her attention though, and she quickly looked down. "Is it safe to come out yet?" Locke hissed from his hiding place, his head lightly peaking out of her bag.
"Locke," she hissed back. "I thought I left you back in the hotel room!" Liz Riddle was a parsel mouth, something that only her mother knew. She had inherited the ability from her father and because of this had kept snakes since she was a little girl.
Locke was a small boom slang snake, an extremely poisonous snake that Liz had found when he was a baby. His mother and all his hatch-mates had been recently killed when she wandered across the destroyed nest. They had made fast friends and Liz had named him after the philosopher she was studying in 6th grade government. Despite the fact that his poison could easily kill a human, Locke was too fond of them, and preferred to see them alive.
"It was boring. You're more fun to be around then a mirror that just screams when it sees a snake."
"Fine, you can stay, but hide. Most people don't like the sight of snakes."
"They're wizards. They don't care."
"Hide," she hissed back at him as she smiled sweetly at the owner of the book store and looked around for the books she needed.
Ron and Hermione had been arguing about where to go for lunch when the strange girl caught Harry's eye. Not able to help himself, he stared back into her eyes, finding her strangely familiar. He knew he had never met her before, or even seen her, but there was something hauntingly familiar about her, something he couldn't shake, and the few seconds he spent looking into her eyes were bliss, and seemed to last an eternity.
"Harry, Harry! Are you feeling okay?" Hermione asked, forcing him to pull his eyes away from the mystery girl.
"Yeah, I'm feeling fine, why do ask?" Harry responded, looking back towards where the girl had been.
"You just looked really dazed," Ron said, looking from Harry to where he was staring and back to Harry again. "What were you looking at?"
"Just some girl. What did you want?" Harry questioned, regaining his focus.
"Ice cream ok for lunch?" Hermione asked.
"Sure."
Ok, so that is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Next chapter people actually meet, and we find out what Liz is doing at Hogwarts, since she already has a full education. I must say, that's been the hardest thing to skirt around. As with any fic: Read and Review.