A/N: I know this has been done before by a few people, but not enough in my opinion. So here is my version. Oh, and as a note, there will be a sequel entitled, 'Riddle Me That'.
"I present to you, the dark lord of the wizarding world, Lord Voldemort,"
Gracefully descending the stairs, and air of importance surrounding him, was a man once known as Tom Riddle. He was clothed in robes of ebony and had a look of superiority on his pale face. A twisted smile was set in place and carefully hidden in his robes, unknown by everyone else in the room, was his wand. Surrounding him at the bottom of the stairs were many people dressed in black, all men, while the women donned dress robes of alternating colours. These were his followers, his minions, his slaves, his Death Eaters. They were the scourge of the wizarding world, the thorn in its side, the devil to its underworld.
The year was 1980, the date unknown, and each face in the crowd has since been imprisoned, put on trial or killed in some form or another. However, at present this was a grand ball, an introduction ball to be more precise. This was the introduction of someone very close to the dark lord, who knew every part of him down to the last hair on his head. This was a person privy to the deepest regions of his past, at least the past he had decided to divulge. There was so much more he should have told, so much more he should have confided, but he wasn't the type of person to just say anything to anyone, no matter how close to them he was.
"Loyal followers! You stand before me now in the prime of your servitude. We have practically defeated the fools in the Ministry of Magic and with their downfall there will be a great uprising. The uprising of a new age, the age of magic! An age when purebloods will dominate over all life in both worlds. Where muggles, unworthy to walk this earth will be obliterated from all existence to make way for those who deserve to live. For us!"
This speech was met with a roar of applause from the rapt audience and Tom Riddle basked in the glow of power. He was in full control of these people. He held their lives in the palm of his hand and with that he controlled their will and their minds. He made sure double-crossers were punished publicly so as to assure that others will not follow that example. They were ruthless and stonehearted. They were fierce and devious. They were his.
"Now, now, this is not a time to be discussing...business," he said with a smile, listening to the light laughter from his audience. "This is a time for me to introduce someone very close to me. She will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, as she deserves it all. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, my wife, the dark lady, Annelise Riddle!"
From atop the stairs, there came a woman. She walked with a light and dignified step, the step of a queen, and held her head high. She wore a dress of blue satin and diamonds around her long neck. Her long ebony locks were pinned at the top of her head and small diamonds rested in the nest of curls. She was fair of face and as pale as newly fallen snow. Little had been done to accentuate her already astonishing beauty, but there was a glow about her. A glow that only few could recognize properly, but of course, this wasn't the only thing odd about her. Her gown, while slim and delicate, was larger than previously mentioned. As she came to stand beside her husband, she rested one hand in his and the other on the sizeable mound that was her stomach. She rubbed her hand over the bump, along her navel, and finally came to rest near the base of her belly.
"As you can plainly see, my lovely wife and I are expecting. This is to ensure that everything will go as planned if I am somehow disposed of," Tom Riddle smiled at his wife, and she smiled back without so much as a pause. "Now before the festivities begin, I would like to congratulate Lucius Malfoy on his own heir. Little Draco, as I've been informed, is doing quite well. Let the party begin!"
Music began to play from an unknown source and the guests began to mingle. Annelise bowed to her husband and walked away into the crowed to enjoy the ball. Many wondered how a woman like Annelise could love a man like Tom Riddle. How she could love someone so cruel and set in his ways of hate and destruction? The answer was simple; she knew not Lord Voldemort, but Tom Marvolo Riddle. She knew the boy and the man he was inside, the one he was with her. He was far older than she, but it mattered little. Ever since she looked upon him she knew she was destined to love him. From their first kiss to the conception of their child she knew that he and only he was told hold her heart.
It was true, she didn't agree with his ways. She was loyal to love which meant she was loyal to him and his cause. Of course, she was not the only member of her family who was loyal to him. Her elder brother, second born in their family, Severus, was among the throng of people dancing and talking to each other. Yes, she was Annelise Snape-Riddle, first-born daughter of the Snape family.
The Snapes were neutral in matters of war. In a way they were like Switzerland. The elder Snapes, her parents, neither agreed nor disagreed with Tom Riddle's ways. Her elder brother Salazar was neutral as well, whilst Severus was wholly on the side of the dark. However, Annelise could see that his loyalty was wavering. He was beginning to doubt what he was doing and why. She would not tell her husband, but Severus may turn over to the side of light if not proven otherwise. The youngest in the Snape family, Lenore, was undecided in her loyalties. She already had two siblings on the side of dark, but what about the side of light, the side of goodness and virtue. What about the people she could be helping by pledging her life and knowledge to Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. The young woman was still in the process of building a life of neutrality, so naturally she would be uncertain.
She moved through the crowed, tilting her head to the faces she knew and the ones she knew held great power, until she came to a face she knew all too well. He was standing at the back of the room, a half-empty champagne flute in his hand. He was withdrawn from the other guests, black robes held close to him, but when their eyes met, black on black, a smile graced the normally solemn face.
"Severus, why so glum?" she asked, smiling at her elder brother.
"You know very well Annelise that I detest parties of any sort. Even if they are surrounded around you," Severus said, looking around the room.
"Severus you are a dull man at times. Now, how are you and the rest of the family? I haven't spoken to you in ages and I want to do some catching up." Annelise said, standing close to her brother, smile still on her lips.
"Normal, as usual. Salazar is currently fretting over Stephano no matter how many times Amelia tells him not to and mother and father are fine as well. Lenore is expecting, apparently only two months along," her drawled. "But you know the comings and goings of our family. The real question is how you are, darling sister. Last time I saw you, you were a size six, now you are twice that."
"We are perfectly fine," said Annelise, gesturing to herself and her belly. "She kicks something awful though. Always at the most in-opportune times as well."
"She?"
"Well I'm not going to go around referring to the baby as 'it' now am I? I just, chose she," Annelise explained, somewhat bashfully.
"Do you know the sex of the baby yet?" asked Severus.
"No, not yet,"
"What will you do if it's a girl? What will he do if it's a girl?" he stressed.
"I don't know. I'm sure Tom will be happy whatever the sex is, but I can't help but think..." she trailed off, casting her eyes downward.
"That he will want to get rid of it if it's a girl? That he won't want a daughter at all? You know that the Dark Lord thinks that a suitable male heir is best as a starting point. The question is, what would happen if your first-born is female," said Severus in a serious manner.
"Severus, I don't know what would happen. I guess we will just have to keep trying until we have a son, if this child is a girl. She...just won't inherit everything I guess," By now Annelise was very nervous about the tone of the conversation. This was not the way to start the evening.
"Annelise, Anna, please," said Severus, lifting her chin up so that their eyes met. "Let's just forget I even said anything, alright? Let's just forget about it."
Annelise nodded and kissed her brothers hand. Once again she resumed her smile so no one around them would suspect that anything was wrong. However, against her better judgement, the conversation went to more nerve-wracking topics than it had previously.
"Have you decided, Severus? Have you spoken to him?"
Severus sighed. He hated discussing this, especially in a setting such as this. Even his parents were wondering which side he would chose, enough with the mindless flip-flopping. He needed to make a decision, and soon.
"Um, yes, I have spoken to him," he mumbled so that only Annelise heard.
"Well, what did he say?" Annelise was eager to hear about her brother's talk with Headmaster Dumbledore.
"He said that I could join him if I was absolutely sure it was what I wanted, but I'm not so sure. I mean, I've seen what Voldemort does to traitors and backstabbers and I never wanted to be them. I still don't." Severus' tone had turned softer, unsure; a tone reserved only for the one's he cared about.
"Severus, you are favoured by Tom, I'm sure if you made one simple mistake he would forgive you." At time's Annelise could be so naive.
"Annelise, it matters not how favoured you are or how well you serve him, if you turn your back on Voldemort he will punish you with the utmost severity. I've seen it done. He cares little to the plea's of betrayers," said Severus, his voice low and cold.
"Severus, how can you say that?" Annelise asked, outraged.
"Annelise, look around you! Everyone here is afraid of him, even those most loyal to him. Even if you betrayed him he would not think twice." Severus hissed.
"You're wrong. He would never turn his back on me. You're just making him out to be cruel and monstrous because you don't want me to be with him." Annelise was now backing away from her brother, step by step.
"Annelise, don't you see, he is a monster!" Severus almost screamed.
"Now I see where your loyalties lie, but you're wrong. You're wrong,"
Annelise had now backed far away from him, turned on her heel and walked swiftly away. Instead of heading back upstairs to her rooms or towards her husband who was talking to a dark man by the name of Nott, she walked to the gardens. In the early evening, the garden was cool and calm. The pale white roses were almost translucent in the light from the ballroom, the intoxicating smell of the lilacs filled her senses with its sweet fragrance. Annelise came here every afternoon for some air, as was prescribed by her doctor. She would walk for hours around the perfectly cultivated gardens, around the borders of ferns and herbs and the blooming forsythia that lied in each bed. Flowers held nothing towards her or her choices in life and never judged her for whom she was and whom she was associated with. They never told her that she was merely a trophy in the eyes of others, that her only function in Tom Riddle's life was to breed a suitable heir. They never told her that she had made a mistake that would cost her everything she held dear. They never scolded or warned or past judgement. They were just flowers; beautiful to look at and delicate to the touch, just like her.
*
Tom Riddle, months after the ball that had announced Annelise as his wife and queen, was pacing about a long hall in a frantic fashion. Around him were Severus Snape, the Malfoy's and their two-month-old son Draco and a few others that he even forgot were present. At the moment Annelise was located behind the gilded doors that led to her room, sitting on her bed writhing in pain. She had been in that room since early morning and had yet to come out. The mid-wife had made a brief appearance, only to say that the process of labour would be long and tiresome. Since then the only sound they had heard was the cries of pain every-so-often when a contraction was particularly painful. Tom Riddle's patience was running thin.
"My lord, I tell you she will not be much longer," said Lucius, one arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders. "Draco's birth was not much longer than this. I assure you,"
Narcissa, wife of Lucius, made a small sniff as if to say that it may have been short to him as all he did during the long hours was pace back and forth and answer owls.
"Lucius is right my lord. Annelise will not take much longer," said Severus, as anxious to know the condition of his sister, as Tom Riddle was to know the sex of his heir.
As if she had been listening at the door the mid-wife, a short, plump woman came through the doors and hesitantly smiled at the dark lord. Slowly, as if testing her tongue, she spoke to the crowed of worried people.
"Congratulations my lord, you have a healthy daughter," she bowed and walked back into the room, leaving the doors ajar, unaware of the effect her words had had on Tom Riddle.
No one moved, no one spoke, nothing made a sound. Everyone was glued steadfast in their chairs and Tom Riddle was as still as a statue. His heir, the one he had made such large plans for over the months of it's gestation, was a girl. It was a she. He had a daughter, not the son he had hoped for. Yes, it was true he had wanted a son. He had wanted someone to follow in his footsteps, to take his place and rule when he no longer could, to mould in his own image. Now, located in that room only feet away from where he stood, lied his daughter, a daughter who had no place in his plans.
"M-my lord," said Severus, worried about the reaction this had had on Tom Riddle. After all, he had just predicted that the dark lord had wanted a son, now it seemed to be true.
Shrugging off Severus' worry, Tom Riddle strode into the room and shut the door behind him. He walked over, in agitated and somewhat angry strides, to Annelise's bedside. However, instead of sitting on the bed next to her, marvelling at the little wonder they had created, he stood, rigid, a foot away from the bed. Annelise, however, was smiling. Her forehead glistened with sweat and she was exhausted from the rigours of labour, but she was happy. She had her child, wrapped in a cotton blanket, resting in her arms. When she saw the face of her husband, his stance and the aura in which he presented himself, her smile fell.
"Is that her?" asked Ton Riddle, pointing at the baby with his index finger.
"Yes, isn't she beautiful?" said Annelise, cooing at the baby lovingly. "Tom, come here, come and see your daughter."
Tom resisted. He stood where he was, unmoving. He didn't want that child, he had never wanted that child and he would never want that child as long as it was female. It could be the most powerful child in the world and he wouldn't give a damn.
"Tom," said Annelise, wondering why he wasn't walking over to her, why he stood so far away as if she carried the plague.
"Did you know she was female?" he asked.
"No, I told you. I never knew," Annelise answered.
"Do you swear, on your life, on the life of that child that you never knew it was a girl until you gave it birth!" he cried, livid.
"Tom, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?"
"That thing has no place in this house! No place carrying my name as long as it is of the female sex! It should have been male, to carry out the plans I had set down for it! That child should not exist!" Tom Riddle was furious with his wife, although she had no control over weather or not the baby was a boy or girl.
"How can you say that? How can you say that this child means nothing to you when it is of your own flesh and blood?" Annelise cried, tears forming in her eyes.
"You knew from the day she was conceived that it was to be a boy, that we were to have a son and not a daughter. You knew since before that day of what I requested and you disobeyed me."
"Tom I have no control on the sex of the baby and I cannot change it at will. Why are you saying these things? I never thought you could love your child any less if it was a girl."
"I do. I do and I want it done away with. I want that child out of my sight and I want it done now. Now!" With that Tom Riddle whirled around and fled the room. Once out he fled to his own chambers to mull things over, to wonder what had happened.
Inside the bedroom, red in the face with tears streaming down her cheeks, sat Annelise. Her daughter was in her arms, sleeping soundly, and the only thought in her mind was that she was to get rid of it. Her husband, whom she thought loved her no matter what, ordered their daughter dead before he had even held her. Already, within minutes of its birth, Annelise had known that she had loved the child since before she had seen it. She didn't care that it was a girl, she didn't care that all her husbands plans had been ruined by the mid-wife's simple words, all that mattered was that she had her baby. However, inside she was breaking.
"It's alright Anna. It's all right. Everything will turn out alright in the end, you'll see." Severus was slowly stroking her hair, kissing her head affectionately.
"He wants her killed, his own daughter. He wants to kill her before she has any chance." Annelise was sobbing uncontrollably now, hugging her baby close.
"I know, I heard. Don't you worry, Voldemort will sort some things out and then he'll come around. Just give him an hour or two," said Severus, rocking her back and forth as she cried, just as he had done when they were small.
"Oh Severus,"
Annelise was breaking. Her heart, her soul, her very being was shattering and the shards were being strewn about for all to see. She was in a pain that ran right through her and broke every fibre and no one was there to help her. After many minutes, however, she had calmed and Severus smiled at her and looked down and the now waking child.
"Now, let's see here. Who might this be?" Severus said playfully.
"This is-oh my I haven't even thought of a name," said Annelise with worry.
"Well, what did you have in mind?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. I thought I would know when I saw her but nothing comes to mind," said Annelise. "Wait, I know. Hermione. Hermione Prudence Riddle."
"Hermione, I love it," whispered Severus, kissing his sister's forehead and rubbing his niece's cheek with his finger. The small child yawned and settled back down into her mother's breast where she drifted off to sleep once more.
*
Indeed, as Severus had predicted, Tom Riddle had come around. It had taken weeks for him to except that he had a daughter, weeks to rearrange his plans, but in the end he had come to accept the fact that he had a baby girl. He had apologised profusely, an occurrence that only happened to Annelise, but even though she had forgiven him, let it slide as shock, she was still unsure of his real feelings. He was still slightly tense in the presence of Hermione, never really showed that he truly cared for the child, but in the end, after months of adjusting, he had come around. Annelise never did know what plans he had had for their son, or what he had for Hermione, but she remained as neutral to the comings and goings that went on in the manor as possible. As the months past and the visits between Lucius, Severus and Tom Riddle became more frequent Annelise did begin to worry. She knew they were planning something, something that her brother was not privy to tell her. After Hermione's first birthday, however, she found out what it was.
"Anna you need to go, you need to leave now," said Severus in a frantic tone on October thirty-first, 1981. It was evening, a dark and starless night, and Severus had apparated over late that evening, to instruct his sister on how to get out of the manor.
"Why?" she asked.
"Annelise, listen to me, it is no longer safe for you or Hermione to be here. You must leave and get as far away from here as possible. You are no longer a Riddle, you must leave this life behind." Severus instructed.
"Severus, what has happened? What's going on? I will not leave until you tell me exactly why I should do so," said Annelise, standing firm in the middle of her bedroom.
"Annelise, hours ago, your husband left this house on what he called 'business'. You, as always, didn't question him. This 'business' that he was to do, was to kill the young Potter child, a child by the name of Harry. In his attempt, he was killed. The child however survived. Aurors are coming here even as we speak. You must leave for your own safety before you are locked in Azkaban until a trial you might not come out of in good grace." Severus was stern but gentle as he spoke to his sister and never once raised his voice.
"D-dead? Tom is dead?" Annelise slowly backed towards the bed, stumbling as the back of her legs hit the side.
"Anna, sit down love," said Severus, helping her to take a seat on the edge of the bed.
"H-how could this have happened? You say it was by a mere child, one with no extraordinary magical gifts. H-how could he have defeated T-tom? H-how?" by this time, Annelise was slightly hysterical, silent tears running down her cheeks.
"It's okay Anna. Everything will be fine," Severus rubbed her back in circular motions with one arm, the other wrapped around her shoulders.
"How? How is everything going to be all right? How will everything go back to the way it always was when my husband is no longer on this earth? Tell me Severus, tell me!" cried Annelise.
"Anna, I do not know how things will return to the way they were. I know you loved him, and I know he loved you as well, but at present you must get yourself out of here. You must leave. Understood?"
Annelise nodded, whipping her eyes. As Severus was leaving, after some of her things were packed and shrunk to fit in her pocket, Annelise asked one question. After all, there was no telling how long it would be until they saw each other once more.
"Sev, who's side are you on?"
Severus smiled, "I'm on both sides. I'm a spy, but that's not something we can discuss now."
"Severus, wait," once again, he paused and Annelise rushed forward and hugged him, arms wrapped around his neck. "I love you."
"I love you too, now go,"
Severus left, running down the massive hallway and down the flight of stairs so as to avoid being captured. Annelise through on a hooded cloak, picked up her daughter, and left in the opposite direction. She ran for quite some time, through the manor and out onto the grounds, through a field and over a hill. When she was far enough away to not be spotted, she looked back at what had once been her home. There she saw the light of thrown spells and heard the distant cry of both Death Eaters and Aurors. She only looked but once, so as to remember it always, and then she left for the road.
"Excuse me, do you need a lift?"
A/N: I know, wonderful ending eh? Lol. Anyway, this is the prologue in the first part of this two part series. I know that I already have two other stories up right now, and a couple that need an update desperately, but I got into this. I foresee good things for this fic.
Also, never fear, CFFG will be done with at least fifteen or so chapters in the fic, ESLO will be following LOTR: TTT and ROTK so it will be more. I'm still working on it though. So, in conclusion, I hope you like this and will review! The first part in the Riddle Series has arrived!
"I present to you, the dark lord of the wizarding world, Lord Voldemort,"
Gracefully descending the stairs, and air of importance surrounding him, was a man once known as Tom Riddle. He was clothed in robes of ebony and had a look of superiority on his pale face. A twisted smile was set in place and carefully hidden in his robes, unknown by everyone else in the room, was his wand. Surrounding him at the bottom of the stairs were many people dressed in black, all men, while the women donned dress robes of alternating colours. These were his followers, his minions, his slaves, his Death Eaters. They were the scourge of the wizarding world, the thorn in its side, the devil to its underworld.
The year was 1980, the date unknown, and each face in the crowd has since been imprisoned, put on trial or killed in some form or another. However, at present this was a grand ball, an introduction ball to be more precise. This was the introduction of someone very close to the dark lord, who knew every part of him down to the last hair on his head. This was a person privy to the deepest regions of his past, at least the past he had decided to divulge. There was so much more he should have told, so much more he should have confided, but he wasn't the type of person to just say anything to anyone, no matter how close to them he was.
"Loyal followers! You stand before me now in the prime of your servitude. We have practically defeated the fools in the Ministry of Magic and with their downfall there will be a great uprising. The uprising of a new age, the age of magic! An age when purebloods will dominate over all life in both worlds. Where muggles, unworthy to walk this earth will be obliterated from all existence to make way for those who deserve to live. For us!"
This speech was met with a roar of applause from the rapt audience and Tom Riddle basked in the glow of power. He was in full control of these people. He held their lives in the palm of his hand and with that he controlled their will and their minds. He made sure double-crossers were punished publicly so as to assure that others will not follow that example. They were ruthless and stonehearted. They were fierce and devious. They were his.
"Now, now, this is not a time to be discussing...business," he said with a smile, listening to the light laughter from his audience. "This is a time for me to introduce someone very close to me. She will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, as she deserves it all. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, my wife, the dark lady, Annelise Riddle!"
From atop the stairs, there came a woman. She walked with a light and dignified step, the step of a queen, and held her head high. She wore a dress of blue satin and diamonds around her long neck. Her long ebony locks were pinned at the top of her head and small diamonds rested in the nest of curls. She was fair of face and as pale as newly fallen snow. Little had been done to accentuate her already astonishing beauty, but there was a glow about her. A glow that only few could recognize properly, but of course, this wasn't the only thing odd about her. Her gown, while slim and delicate, was larger than previously mentioned. As she came to stand beside her husband, she rested one hand in his and the other on the sizeable mound that was her stomach. She rubbed her hand over the bump, along her navel, and finally came to rest near the base of her belly.
"As you can plainly see, my lovely wife and I are expecting. This is to ensure that everything will go as planned if I am somehow disposed of," Tom Riddle smiled at his wife, and she smiled back without so much as a pause. "Now before the festivities begin, I would like to congratulate Lucius Malfoy on his own heir. Little Draco, as I've been informed, is doing quite well. Let the party begin!"
Music began to play from an unknown source and the guests began to mingle. Annelise bowed to her husband and walked away into the crowed to enjoy the ball. Many wondered how a woman like Annelise could love a man like Tom Riddle. How she could love someone so cruel and set in his ways of hate and destruction? The answer was simple; she knew not Lord Voldemort, but Tom Marvolo Riddle. She knew the boy and the man he was inside, the one he was with her. He was far older than she, but it mattered little. Ever since she looked upon him she knew she was destined to love him. From their first kiss to the conception of their child she knew that he and only he was told hold her heart.
It was true, she didn't agree with his ways. She was loyal to love which meant she was loyal to him and his cause. Of course, she was not the only member of her family who was loyal to him. Her elder brother, second born in their family, Severus, was among the throng of people dancing and talking to each other. Yes, she was Annelise Snape-Riddle, first-born daughter of the Snape family.
The Snapes were neutral in matters of war. In a way they were like Switzerland. The elder Snapes, her parents, neither agreed nor disagreed with Tom Riddle's ways. Her elder brother Salazar was neutral as well, whilst Severus was wholly on the side of the dark. However, Annelise could see that his loyalty was wavering. He was beginning to doubt what he was doing and why. She would not tell her husband, but Severus may turn over to the side of light if not proven otherwise. The youngest in the Snape family, Lenore, was undecided in her loyalties. She already had two siblings on the side of dark, but what about the side of light, the side of goodness and virtue. What about the people she could be helping by pledging her life and knowledge to Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. The young woman was still in the process of building a life of neutrality, so naturally she would be uncertain.
She moved through the crowed, tilting her head to the faces she knew and the ones she knew held great power, until she came to a face she knew all too well. He was standing at the back of the room, a half-empty champagne flute in his hand. He was withdrawn from the other guests, black robes held close to him, but when their eyes met, black on black, a smile graced the normally solemn face.
"Severus, why so glum?" she asked, smiling at her elder brother.
"You know very well Annelise that I detest parties of any sort. Even if they are surrounded around you," Severus said, looking around the room.
"Severus you are a dull man at times. Now, how are you and the rest of the family? I haven't spoken to you in ages and I want to do some catching up." Annelise said, standing close to her brother, smile still on her lips.
"Normal, as usual. Salazar is currently fretting over Stephano no matter how many times Amelia tells him not to and mother and father are fine as well. Lenore is expecting, apparently only two months along," her drawled. "But you know the comings and goings of our family. The real question is how you are, darling sister. Last time I saw you, you were a size six, now you are twice that."
"We are perfectly fine," said Annelise, gesturing to herself and her belly. "She kicks something awful though. Always at the most in-opportune times as well."
"She?"
"Well I'm not going to go around referring to the baby as 'it' now am I? I just, chose she," Annelise explained, somewhat bashfully.
"Do you know the sex of the baby yet?" asked Severus.
"No, not yet,"
"What will you do if it's a girl? What will he do if it's a girl?" he stressed.
"I don't know. I'm sure Tom will be happy whatever the sex is, but I can't help but think..." she trailed off, casting her eyes downward.
"That he will want to get rid of it if it's a girl? That he won't want a daughter at all? You know that the Dark Lord thinks that a suitable male heir is best as a starting point. The question is, what would happen if your first-born is female," said Severus in a serious manner.
"Severus, I don't know what would happen. I guess we will just have to keep trying until we have a son, if this child is a girl. She...just won't inherit everything I guess," By now Annelise was very nervous about the tone of the conversation. This was not the way to start the evening.
"Annelise, Anna, please," said Severus, lifting her chin up so that their eyes met. "Let's just forget I even said anything, alright? Let's just forget about it."
Annelise nodded and kissed her brothers hand. Once again she resumed her smile so no one around them would suspect that anything was wrong. However, against her better judgement, the conversation went to more nerve-wracking topics than it had previously.
"Have you decided, Severus? Have you spoken to him?"
Severus sighed. He hated discussing this, especially in a setting such as this. Even his parents were wondering which side he would chose, enough with the mindless flip-flopping. He needed to make a decision, and soon.
"Um, yes, I have spoken to him," he mumbled so that only Annelise heard.
"Well, what did he say?" Annelise was eager to hear about her brother's talk with Headmaster Dumbledore.
"He said that I could join him if I was absolutely sure it was what I wanted, but I'm not so sure. I mean, I've seen what Voldemort does to traitors and backstabbers and I never wanted to be them. I still don't." Severus' tone had turned softer, unsure; a tone reserved only for the one's he cared about.
"Severus, you are favoured by Tom, I'm sure if you made one simple mistake he would forgive you." At time's Annelise could be so naive.
"Annelise, it matters not how favoured you are or how well you serve him, if you turn your back on Voldemort he will punish you with the utmost severity. I've seen it done. He cares little to the plea's of betrayers," said Severus, his voice low and cold.
"Severus, how can you say that?" Annelise asked, outraged.
"Annelise, look around you! Everyone here is afraid of him, even those most loyal to him. Even if you betrayed him he would not think twice." Severus hissed.
"You're wrong. He would never turn his back on me. You're just making him out to be cruel and monstrous because you don't want me to be with him." Annelise was now backing away from her brother, step by step.
"Annelise, don't you see, he is a monster!" Severus almost screamed.
"Now I see where your loyalties lie, but you're wrong. You're wrong,"
Annelise had now backed far away from him, turned on her heel and walked swiftly away. Instead of heading back upstairs to her rooms or towards her husband who was talking to a dark man by the name of Nott, she walked to the gardens. In the early evening, the garden was cool and calm. The pale white roses were almost translucent in the light from the ballroom, the intoxicating smell of the lilacs filled her senses with its sweet fragrance. Annelise came here every afternoon for some air, as was prescribed by her doctor. She would walk for hours around the perfectly cultivated gardens, around the borders of ferns and herbs and the blooming forsythia that lied in each bed. Flowers held nothing towards her or her choices in life and never judged her for whom she was and whom she was associated with. They never told her that she was merely a trophy in the eyes of others, that her only function in Tom Riddle's life was to breed a suitable heir. They never told her that she had made a mistake that would cost her everything she held dear. They never scolded or warned or past judgement. They were just flowers; beautiful to look at and delicate to the touch, just like her.
*
Tom Riddle, months after the ball that had announced Annelise as his wife and queen, was pacing about a long hall in a frantic fashion. Around him were Severus Snape, the Malfoy's and their two-month-old son Draco and a few others that he even forgot were present. At the moment Annelise was located behind the gilded doors that led to her room, sitting on her bed writhing in pain. She had been in that room since early morning and had yet to come out. The mid-wife had made a brief appearance, only to say that the process of labour would be long and tiresome. Since then the only sound they had heard was the cries of pain every-so-often when a contraction was particularly painful. Tom Riddle's patience was running thin.
"My lord, I tell you she will not be much longer," said Lucius, one arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders. "Draco's birth was not much longer than this. I assure you,"
Narcissa, wife of Lucius, made a small sniff as if to say that it may have been short to him as all he did during the long hours was pace back and forth and answer owls.
"Lucius is right my lord. Annelise will not take much longer," said Severus, as anxious to know the condition of his sister, as Tom Riddle was to know the sex of his heir.
As if she had been listening at the door the mid-wife, a short, plump woman came through the doors and hesitantly smiled at the dark lord. Slowly, as if testing her tongue, she spoke to the crowed of worried people.
"Congratulations my lord, you have a healthy daughter," she bowed and walked back into the room, leaving the doors ajar, unaware of the effect her words had had on Tom Riddle.
No one moved, no one spoke, nothing made a sound. Everyone was glued steadfast in their chairs and Tom Riddle was as still as a statue. His heir, the one he had made such large plans for over the months of it's gestation, was a girl. It was a she. He had a daughter, not the son he had hoped for. Yes, it was true he had wanted a son. He had wanted someone to follow in his footsteps, to take his place and rule when he no longer could, to mould in his own image. Now, located in that room only feet away from where he stood, lied his daughter, a daughter who had no place in his plans.
"M-my lord," said Severus, worried about the reaction this had had on Tom Riddle. After all, he had just predicted that the dark lord had wanted a son, now it seemed to be true.
Shrugging off Severus' worry, Tom Riddle strode into the room and shut the door behind him. He walked over, in agitated and somewhat angry strides, to Annelise's bedside. However, instead of sitting on the bed next to her, marvelling at the little wonder they had created, he stood, rigid, a foot away from the bed. Annelise, however, was smiling. Her forehead glistened with sweat and she was exhausted from the rigours of labour, but she was happy. She had her child, wrapped in a cotton blanket, resting in her arms. When she saw the face of her husband, his stance and the aura in which he presented himself, her smile fell.
"Is that her?" asked Ton Riddle, pointing at the baby with his index finger.
"Yes, isn't she beautiful?" said Annelise, cooing at the baby lovingly. "Tom, come here, come and see your daughter."
Tom resisted. He stood where he was, unmoving. He didn't want that child, he had never wanted that child and he would never want that child as long as it was female. It could be the most powerful child in the world and he wouldn't give a damn.
"Tom," said Annelise, wondering why he wasn't walking over to her, why he stood so far away as if she carried the plague.
"Did you know she was female?" he asked.
"No, I told you. I never knew," Annelise answered.
"Do you swear, on your life, on the life of that child that you never knew it was a girl until you gave it birth!" he cried, livid.
"Tom, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?"
"That thing has no place in this house! No place carrying my name as long as it is of the female sex! It should have been male, to carry out the plans I had set down for it! That child should not exist!" Tom Riddle was furious with his wife, although she had no control over weather or not the baby was a boy or girl.
"How can you say that? How can you say that this child means nothing to you when it is of your own flesh and blood?" Annelise cried, tears forming in her eyes.
"You knew from the day she was conceived that it was to be a boy, that we were to have a son and not a daughter. You knew since before that day of what I requested and you disobeyed me."
"Tom I have no control on the sex of the baby and I cannot change it at will. Why are you saying these things? I never thought you could love your child any less if it was a girl."
"I do. I do and I want it done away with. I want that child out of my sight and I want it done now. Now!" With that Tom Riddle whirled around and fled the room. Once out he fled to his own chambers to mull things over, to wonder what had happened.
Inside the bedroom, red in the face with tears streaming down her cheeks, sat Annelise. Her daughter was in her arms, sleeping soundly, and the only thought in her mind was that she was to get rid of it. Her husband, whom she thought loved her no matter what, ordered their daughter dead before he had even held her. Already, within minutes of its birth, Annelise had known that she had loved the child since before she had seen it. She didn't care that it was a girl, she didn't care that all her husbands plans had been ruined by the mid-wife's simple words, all that mattered was that she had her baby. However, inside she was breaking.
"It's alright Anna. It's all right. Everything will turn out alright in the end, you'll see." Severus was slowly stroking her hair, kissing her head affectionately.
"He wants her killed, his own daughter. He wants to kill her before she has any chance." Annelise was sobbing uncontrollably now, hugging her baby close.
"I know, I heard. Don't you worry, Voldemort will sort some things out and then he'll come around. Just give him an hour or two," said Severus, rocking her back and forth as she cried, just as he had done when they were small.
"Oh Severus,"
Annelise was breaking. Her heart, her soul, her very being was shattering and the shards were being strewn about for all to see. She was in a pain that ran right through her and broke every fibre and no one was there to help her. After many minutes, however, she had calmed and Severus smiled at her and looked down and the now waking child.
"Now, let's see here. Who might this be?" Severus said playfully.
"This is-oh my I haven't even thought of a name," said Annelise with worry.
"Well, what did you have in mind?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. I thought I would know when I saw her but nothing comes to mind," said Annelise. "Wait, I know. Hermione. Hermione Prudence Riddle."
"Hermione, I love it," whispered Severus, kissing his sister's forehead and rubbing his niece's cheek with his finger. The small child yawned and settled back down into her mother's breast where she drifted off to sleep once more.
*
Indeed, as Severus had predicted, Tom Riddle had come around. It had taken weeks for him to except that he had a daughter, weeks to rearrange his plans, but in the end he had come to accept the fact that he had a baby girl. He had apologised profusely, an occurrence that only happened to Annelise, but even though she had forgiven him, let it slide as shock, she was still unsure of his real feelings. He was still slightly tense in the presence of Hermione, never really showed that he truly cared for the child, but in the end, after months of adjusting, he had come around. Annelise never did know what plans he had had for their son, or what he had for Hermione, but she remained as neutral to the comings and goings that went on in the manor as possible. As the months past and the visits between Lucius, Severus and Tom Riddle became more frequent Annelise did begin to worry. She knew they were planning something, something that her brother was not privy to tell her. After Hermione's first birthday, however, she found out what it was.
"Anna you need to go, you need to leave now," said Severus in a frantic tone on October thirty-first, 1981. It was evening, a dark and starless night, and Severus had apparated over late that evening, to instruct his sister on how to get out of the manor.
"Why?" she asked.
"Annelise, listen to me, it is no longer safe for you or Hermione to be here. You must leave and get as far away from here as possible. You are no longer a Riddle, you must leave this life behind." Severus instructed.
"Severus, what has happened? What's going on? I will not leave until you tell me exactly why I should do so," said Annelise, standing firm in the middle of her bedroom.
"Annelise, hours ago, your husband left this house on what he called 'business'. You, as always, didn't question him. This 'business' that he was to do, was to kill the young Potter child, a child by the name of Harry. In his attempt, he was killed. The child however survived. Aurors are coming here even as we speak. You must leave for your own safety before you are locked in Azkaban until a trial you might not come out of in good grace." Severus was stern but gentle as he spoke to his sister and never once raised his voice.
"D-dead? Tom is dead?" Annelise slowly backed towards the bed, stumbling as the back of her legs hit the side.
"Anna, sit down love," said Severus, helping her to take a seat on the edge of the bed.
"H-how could this have happened? You say it was by a mere child, one with no extraordinary magical gifts. H-how could he have defeated T-tom? H-how?" by this time, Annelise was slightly hysterical, silent tears running down her cheeks.
"It's okay Anna. Everything will be fine," Severus rubbed her back in circular motions with one arm, the other wrapped around her shoulders.
"How? How is everything going to be all right? How will everything go back to the way it always was when my husband is no longer on this earth? Tell me Severus, tell me!" cried Annelise.
"Anna, I do not know how things will return to the way they were. I know you loved him, and I know he loved you as well, but at present you must get yourself out of here. You must leave. Understood?"
Annelise nodded, whipping her eyes. As Severus was leaving, after some of her things were packed and shrunk to fit in her pocket, Annelise asked one question. After all, there was no telling how long it would be until they saw each other once more.
"Sev, who's side are you on?"
Severus smiled, "I'm on both sides. I'm a spy, but that's not something we can discuss now."
"Severus, wait," once again, he paused and Annelise rushed forward and hugged him, arms wrapped around his neck. "I love you."
"I love you too, now go,"
Severus left, running down the massive hallway and down the flight of stairs so as to avoid being captured. Annelise through on a hooded cloak, picked up her daughter, and left in the opposite direction. She ran for quite some time, through the manor and out onto the grounds, through a field and over a hill. When she was far enough away to not be spotted, she looked back at what had once been her home. There she saw the light of thrown spells and heard the distant cry of both Death Eaters and Aurors. She only looked but once, so as to remember it always, and then she left for the road.
"Excuse me, do you need a lift?"
A/N: I know, wonderful ending eh? Lol. Anyway, this is the prologue in the first part of this two part series. I know that I already have two other stories up right now, and a couple that need an update desperately, but I got into this. I foresee good things for this fic.
Also, never fear, CFFG will be done with at least fifteen or so chapters in the fic, ESLO will be following LOTR: TTT and ROTK so it will be more. I'm still working on it though. So, in conclusion, I hope you like this and will review! The first part in the Riddle Series has arrived!
