You have to learn to learn from your mistakes.
You can afford to lose a little face.
The things you break,
Some can't be replaced.
A simple rule: every day be sure you wake.
September 11th 10AM Sunday
The boat slowly rocked from side to side as it crossed the water toward Azkaban. I could see the prison off in the distance and it appeared just as I had imagined it. It was a tall gray building with crumbling stone walls and high fences surrounding each side.
"I wonder," Severus grumbled quietly, "What you expect to achieve with all of this running around."
Severus had not been happy when it had been decided that he would accompany me to visit my aunt. Khalida couldn't go for obvious reasons and Wilkes was a muggle which left only Severus or Draco. At the last minute I chose Severus, much to Draco's disappointment. Severus understood why I chose the way I did. I knew I couldn't put Draco through this.
"Do you know what a Rubik's cube is, Severus?" I asked and he shook his head. "It's a muggle toy," I explained as I held up my hands to show him what the cube looks like.
"I gathered that it must be square in shape," he snapped, "but what does a muggle toy have to do with anything?"
"Well," I said slowly, "it's a cube made up of different colored squares. The purpose is to move the different sections of the cube until all of the sides are a solid color. So one side would be all white, while another would be orange, and so on." Severus nodded in understanding.
"When you start the colored squares are all jumbled up and it's almost impossible to line them all up," I continued, "But there is an easy way to do it and even though it takes some time, it's still quicker then sitting for hours and moving the sections."
"And what is the trick?" Severus asked and I could see he was actually interested.
"Taking a screwdriver and prying the squares apart," I stated, "and then put the cube back together."
"Isn't that cheating?" Severus questioned, his brow lifting in surprise. "Doesn't cheating to win the game defeat the purpose?" I nodded.
"But I never played to win," I explained, "I only wanted all of the colored squares to line up."
Severus' brow furrowed in concentration as he thought about my explanation. A moment later the boat came to a stop. We stepped out of the boat and onto the dock, slowly making our way to toward the front gates of Azkaban.
"There aren't any Dementors here anymore, right?" I asked nervously as we waited to enter the prison.
"They joined Voldemort and then disappeared after he died," he explained, "No one saw them after that and they never returned here. On occasion one will still be sighted roaming the countryside but none of the sightings has been validated."
"Why doesn't the Ministry go after them?"
"You can't kill a Dementor," he scoffed, "and Merlin knows we tried."
The aurors guarding the prison ushered us inside and I shivered slightly as the gates closed behind us. We were led to a small wooden door and nearly pushed through the doorway. Another auror took our wands and motioned for us to follow him.
"You have fifteen minutes," he stated as we followed him down a long corridor, "She is magically secured but if you run into trouble there will be an auror posted outside the cell." He finally stopped in front of a thick metal door.
"I have to warn you," he said in a low whisper, "She's not quite right in the head and the years haven't been kind to her." I watched him walk back down the corridor before motioning to the auror standing guard to open the cell door. Severus and I stepped inside and the door slowly closed behind us.
The room was dark and damp. A small barred window was near the ceiling and a rusty old cot sat on the right side of the room. On the left was a toilet and sink. There was a soft rustling sound coming from the far wall of the cell and I stepped closer to get a better look. Severus grabbed my arm to hold me back but I swatted his hand away.
To say the years hadn't been kind to Adrienne Jordane was a huge understatement. Taking in her appearance I could say that the years had swallowed her, chewed her thoroughly and spit her out. Her long hair was ratty and covered with so much dirt that instead of the beautiful brown color shown in the painting, it was completely black. Soft hazel eyes were now hard, gray pools.
"Who are you?" she growled. I stopped walking toward her and stared down at her from the middle of the room.
"Jenny Riddle," I stated, "and I believe you knew my mother, Oriel Elita Riddle."
Adrienne hissed at me and lunged in my direction. Severus was quickly by my side but his help was not needed. The magical bonds that were holding the Death Eater only allowed her to move a few inches from the wall.
"She was your sister, wasn't she?" I asked softly.
"I have no sister," she snapped. She began to pace back and forth along the wall, casting me wary looks every few seconds.
"I know she was your sister," I stated, "I found a painting of the two of you, and a baby boy."
"No, no, no, no," she began mumbling to herself as she pulled at her hair. "I have no sister."
"You did," I said angrily, "she was my mother and she was married to Harry Potter."
"You are his spawn," she said while smiling evilly, "I smelled it on you when you walked in. His clone, his copy, his heir, his seed…" Adrienne's voice trailed off into incoherent babbling and I could feel Severus lay a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"What did you smell?" I asked but the woman could not hear me, she seemed to be off in her own world.
"You said she was your mother," she questioned and I nodded my head. Adrienne seemed to think about this for a moment before her grin returned. "She is dead then," she laughed, "She died, died, died…"
"SHUT UP!" I yelled loudly and she cowered in front of me.
"You wish to know then," she whispered, "You wish to know why?"
"Yes," I replied, even though I didn't quite understand what I was agreeing to.
"She did it," she cackled, "She could do anything. Turned their heads, that's what she did. She sucked them dry, that's what she did. Changed them, molded them, created them, destroyed them!"
"Who did she destroy?" I asked in confusion.
"All of them," she explained wildly, "and both of them. Brought them together to tear them apart. But now she is dead and the connection is gone. She is gone and he will return."
"Who?" I questioned loudly, "Who will return?"
"He will return," she stated ominously, "My master will return and he will come for me."
Severus tensed up beside me and began to step back. Instead of following his lead, I moved toward Adrienne and knelt down in front of her. Our eyes met and we stared at each other. Suddenly I felt as if I was drowning.
"Voldemort," I whispered which caused an immediate reaction in the woman.
"Don't say his name!" she wailed, "How dare you say his name! You are not fit to say his name!" She sobbed quietly for a few minutes before her expression became blank and her eyes misted over.
"Who was Thomas Gautier?" I asked softly and her eyes seemed to light up.
"You speak of the contract," she said, an expression of awe on her face.
"What contract?" I asked in confusion.
"The contract," she growled, "the contract that was broken…broken…so broken…"
"Who broke the contract?"
"She did of course," she stated angrily as she lunged at me once more. I scooted away from her and fell to the floor. I pushed myself off the floor, rubbing my lower back as I stood. "She breaks everything," she hissed, "Ruins everything… lies… traitor…" Her voice trailed off once more and there was a soft tapping on the cell door.
"Times up Miss Riddle," the auror called out loudly.
Neither Severus nor I spoke until we were back on the boat heading away from Azkaban. Severus was having trouble keeping his cold and expressionless mask in place. I could see the fear and panic slipping through.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" I asked nonchalantly and Severus gave me a confused look.
"The truth about what?"
"About Voldemort," I explained. "She said he was still alive, do you think it could be true?" There was silence as Severus thought about my question.
"I truly believe Potter killed him in that final battle," he stated.
"How did he kill him though? No one's really explained that to me."
"That is because no one truly knows," Severus replied with a frown, "The final battle took place at Riddle Mansion and the only ones present were Potter and the Dark Lord. When the ministry aurors arrived along with members of the Order they found Harry and the Dark Lord's body."
"Potter never explained what happened," he continued, "He simply stated that he had done what he was meant to do. Dumbledore proclaimed that he could no longer feel the Dark Lord's magical signature. Besides that, the Dark Mark had all but disappeared."
"What's left of it?" I asked curiously and Severus slowly rolled up his sleeve to reveal a pale outline of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. "I can still see the outline," I stated as I traced it with my finger. Severus shivered at my touch and quickly pushed his sleeve back down.
"That is merely a scar," he explained quietly and I nodded in understanding.
"So my father really did save the world then," I mumbled thoughtfully. "If Superman was real and his daughter found out who he was, I wonder if this is how she would feel."
"Potter was no super man," Severus scoffed. "He may have saved the world but there was nothing super about him."
"Superman is a muggle comic book character," I explained while rolling my eyes. "Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound," I recited and Severus couldn't help but laugh.
"I don't think that would describe Potter very well," he replied lightly, "Perhaps it should be…"
"Don't even say it," I interrupted, "Show some respect to a dead man."
"But he's not dead," Severus snorted. The boat shook slightly as we neared the shore.
"Fine then," I sighed. "Faster then a speeding snitch. More powerful than a basilisk. Able to take out an angry potions master with a simple Expelliarmus."
"Who told you about that?" Severus snapped as I grinned wickedly.
"I may have read about it somewhere," I replied innocently. He grumbled to himself as he stepped onto the dock and stalked away.
"What's the matter Severus?" I called out after him, "Aren't I disarming enough for you?"
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had some extra time on my hands so I decided to write the next chapter since I won't get the chance to update again until at least Monday night or maybe Sunday.
NEXT CHAPTER: It's Monday, time for Severus and Draco to return to their day jobs. But Jenny will be tagging along of course. She's got a bone to pick with Dumbledore and it's not going to be pretty. Also...where is Harry's body??
HAVE A VERY HARRY CHRISTMAS!