Wheeheehee, ever wondered where Aiden got her accent? Here it is!

Chapter 12: The Confrontation

Aiden had been sitting in Dumbledore's office for the past hour and despite her demand to find out about her family's history, she not learned anything of much interest. Not that finding out about her parents wasn't what she wanted, but the blank canvas that was the painting of her life remained a piece of white cloth. Aiden had a feeling that Dumbledore was avoiding the point by laying it on thick and she was growing impatient.

"And then I was born...? Go on. What happened?"

"You were born on January 1, 1981 in Kingsbury Hospital, Surrey, London, England."

There was a pause and Aiden knew that a major breakthrough was coming.

"You were born in England and raised in England."

"Meaning??"

"Meaning, that you grew up in England. You had friends in England. You went to school in England."

"No, no. I went to school in America!"

"Exactly what do you remember about going to school in America?"

"Well, there were the three years of high school before I came here. Before that was two years of junior high and before that was...before junior high was..."

Aiden's voice trailed away. She was drawing a blank. What was before junior high? There was a "face the music" look on Dumbledore's face. He assisted her.

"You went to a private, all girls' school for ten years. From daycare to sixth grade. Where do you think you got that British accent? Obviously, you couldn't have gotten it from your American roots."

Aiden buried her face in her hands and rubbed her face. Suddenly feeling tired, she fought to lose control of her temper. There was a large mirror on Dumbledore's desk and she stared at her aging face. There were dark shadows under her eyes. Her hair was a mess and she realized she had mismatched her buttons. She nothing more than a one man carousal. What's happened to me...?

Ever since that jackass, Potter had landed his father in prison, it was all Draco could do to keep from ripping that Potter's throat out. Draco had frequently gotten letters from his mother telling him that things would be all right. Just as frequently, he had gotten secret letters from his father. Lucius Malfoy was a strong and stubborn man. Emotion rarely overcame him, but Draco could tell his father was miserable. At this point, Draco would be willing to do anything to help his broken family. But Lucius' latest letter sent trepidation through his body. It was like watching his nightmare manifest to life. He read every word with a growing sense of fear:

Dear Draco,

I feel that now that you are seventeen and of age, it is time we discuss your future. Now, I realize that your mother will be attending that conference with your professor in a few months, but this is different.

Draco, now that I am in Azkaban, you are my successor and it is time you took responsibility and carried on the Dark Lord's legacy as his worthy servant. I realize this is a huge responsibility, but I have faith in you son. Serve him well.

Your father

PS Don't send your falcon, the dementors are becoming suspicious. Send your owl instead.

Draco reread the letter over and over again. Memories flooded his mind.

All his life, Draco was taught to be his own person. It was called "tough love." He was given food and shelter. Beyond that and everything was up to him. He had taught himself how to read and write. He had taught himself how to fly a broom. He taught himself all the basics of magic before coming to Hogwarts.

My father is such a hypocrite... Draco thought bitterly. He makes his only son survive on his own and now he decides to make Draco's decisions for him. This didn't mean that Draco didn't want to be a part of the Dark Side.

When he was younger, he was always fed the idea that the Dark Side was the way to go. This confused him as a child. The Dark Side, the Good Side. Not that the Good Side was any better. It was the Good Side that destroyed his family. It was the Good Side that made people like Aiden suffer. Even Potter. He was a slave to his own heroic acts. So, Draco asked himself. Do I want to be a slave to myself or to someone else? At least being a slave to someone else has a little fun to it...

Draco picked up a quill and wrote two simple sentences on the back of his father's letter.

Dear father,

Don't worry about me. I'll gladly take on the challenge.

He folded it up and set off for the owlery.

"Aiden? Aiden, listen to me. We have to finish this. You've come too far to not listen to the rest of it."

"All right. Go on."

"Aiden, there was a memory charm placed on you by your grandfather because when you were eleven, you saw something no person in this universe should have to see. Lucas had never meant for you to see it. As I tell you listen to me tell you this story, please bear in mind that your grandfather loved you more than anything in the world.'

"In other words, you're about to tell me something that's going to make me hate him for life."

"I hope not..." Dumbledore inhaled and exhaled several times, stalling.

"Well, get on with it!"

"One night, when you were eleven, Lucas and Gabriel got into a fight. Lucas was trying to convince Gabriel to help him and Tom kill a group of Muggles. Up until now, Gabriel had no idea what his father was up to. He just assumed it was top secret work for the Ministry. He had no idea how drastic the situation was. Your father had a heart of gold and he refused adamantly. Then Lucas became infuriated and whipped out his wand. I believe that Lucas' intention was to hurt your father, but the spell came out wrong."

He stopped and wiped his eyes as if remembering the tragedy, first hand.

"It pierced your father's heart and he died even before he hit the ground."

Aiden rested her face in her hands again, this time, tears streaming down her face. She looked up and spoke in a shaky voice:

"And I saw all of it...?

"You saw what happened after as well... Your mother was standing behind your father..."

More tears streamed down Aiden's face.

"Killed her too..."

"Your grandmother followed..."

"He killed her too???!!?!?!"

"No, it was shock that killed Aiden Andrews. Aiden knew that Lucas was getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, but she had no idea that he would be willing to kill his own son for it. Your grandmother had a heart attack on the spot.

"Realizing what had happened, your grandfather ran into the house, knowing that he had to flee with you. When he ran to the back door, you were already standing there. So, your grandfather sent you to the United States knowing that there would be people all over the country there to watch you."

"Why?"

"Because your grandparents were godsend. There was no witch or wizard that didn't know them. As far as they knew, your grandfather did not murder your parents and grandmother. He was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Any person of the Wang-Andrews family was worth the protection of the world."

"How could he possibly make me forget so much about myself??"

"If I recall, you used the same spell on your friend, Jared."

"Why would my grandfather do this...?" said Aiden in a barely audible voice.

Dumbledore rubbed is eyes. "Call it an extreme case of peer pressure. Your grandfather was so consumed with hate and loneliness as a child that anyone who became his friend, he was forever indebted to. Tom had him wrapped around his little finger."

There was that name again. Tom. Every time Aiden heard that name, she hated it more and more. At first, that name was a source of happiness for her grandfather. And if he was happy, she was happy. But now, more than ever she wanted to rip his head off. Suddenly, her Dark Mark throbbed painfully and a thought occurred.

"Professor. You said Voldemort was coming after me, right?"

"Ah well, sooner or later, yes."

Aiden smiled and said a vague, "good." Then, she stood up and left abruptly.

Draco was totally out of breath when he finally reached the top of the North Tower. He mumbled to himself.

"This had better be worth walking up a thousand steps..."

Aiden seemed to like coming up here a lot to reflect on things. So, Draco decided to try it. Sitting in the exact spot Aiden always sat, he dangled his feet over the edge. The height was incredible. Draco could see the entire Hogwarts ground. A humorous voice spoke up behind him.

"Hey. You beat me to it. What'd you do? Apparate up here?"

Draco smirked without turning around. Aiden sat down next him.

"What are you doing up here, Draco?"

"Waiting for the stars to come out, so I can have a little cerebration."

"Ah well, I wouldn't suggest it. Looking to the stars only makes you feel small and insignificant."

"What are you doing up here? Having another state of depression?"

"Haha. No. I come here for enlightenment. Have some time to process some new revelations."

"Oh? What new revelations?"

"That revenge is always sweet."

Draco smiled knowingly.

"Funny, that's what I came up here to think about."

Aiden's face suddenly became a little less humorous.

"Uh, Draco. Listen. I wanted to return something to you."

She pulled out the necklace from under her shirt and put it in Draco's hand.

"It's too expensive and I think you should give it to someone more noteworthy." And someone who will live to see her eighteenth birthday..."Like Pansy or someone."

"Pansy...? You're kidding right?"

"No, I'm not! You guys have awesome chemistry! I'm good at playing cupid, you could totally get a chance, just let me talk to her!"

She shot up and began to run to the stairs. Inside, Aiden was dying. But she knew that if she were going to get revenge for her family, she would have to die in the process. So now was her chance to make the people around her happy and at the same time, make people forget about her. But she didn't even reach the staircase when Draco grabbed her wrist. Pulling her so she'd turn around, Draco looked at her with concern.

"I don't understand what's wrong with you, but I will be with you. Not Pansy."

Aiden felt Draco was standing uncomfortably close as he took the necklace and put his arms around her neck to clasp the necklace in place. Then he kissed her full on the lips. When he pulled away, Aiden felt a nasty shock and it showed in her face.

"Uh Aiden? What's wrong? Was that bad?"

"Oh no. That was great... But this is not good..."

End.