Chapter 2: A Mystery Unfolds
Harry, Hermione, and Ron left the room quickly. They stopped right outside the classroom and waited for their classmates to depart.
"She did not say what I think she said, did she?" Hermione questioned the other two.
"She couldn't have," muttered Ron shakily.
With that Harry dashed off towards Headmaster Dumbledore's office, Ron and Hermione right on his tail. He stopped at the stone gargoyle, with the others panting behind him.
I need the password! Harry thought.
"Chocolate Frogs!" Nothing happened.
"Cockroach Cluster. Pear Drop. Sherbet lemon. Fizzing Wizbees. Bertie Bott's Every Flavered Beans…" and with that the gargoyle jumped aside. "… No way!"
The trio ran up the stairs but stopped short when they heard a familiar voice yelling.
"He was scared Albus! Scared! Of me! This could not possibly be how Lily and James had wanted it!" It was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, the three were sure about that.
"They had not wanted a lot of things to happen, yet they happened." Harry had heard Dumbledore happy, sad, regretful, even angry, but now he sounded different. He was resigned, not normal for him.
"Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley are waiting outside for you, Sir," they heard the teacher announce before the door opened.
Harry took one apprehensive glance toward Professor Riddle before sitting down. Ron and Hermione followed his lead.
"Harry," Dumbledore started, "there is much you do not understand."
Harry felt his face heat up. More than anything else, he hated to be treated like a child. Before he could answer, Riddle spoke.
"Maybe we should tell him! He is, after all, not a child anymore Dumbledork!"
"Kimberly! Show some respect please!" voiced Dumbledore.
"Tell me what?" Harry couldn't help but request.
"No! Kimberly you may NOT tell him! For his own safety please don't!
He will attack!"
"Who! Voldemort?" Harry could not help feeling like he was being left in the dark.
"NO! Never that name! His name is Tom Riddle not that! But, sadly, yes. He will attack if I tell you. But I must, if you want me to Harry."
"Yes," was the immediate response, "I want to know."
"I grew up with my mother, brother, and my step-father. My mother's name was Marian and my brother's James. My brother was a year older than me, but always there if I needed him. My step-dad, Joseph, was kind, unlike my real father. When our mum re-married, we took Joseph's last name, Potter. I came to Hogwarts the same year James did, skipping a grade with Dumbledore's help. My best friends, Lily Evens, Marlene McKinnon, and Alice Greens were always by my side. Alice went off and married Frank Longbottom last I had checked. Marlene had not married.
Lily, Lily was a piece of work. For years, Harry, years I was trying to set her up with James. Marlene was bound to go off with Remus Lupin, so that left Lily. Remus was nice and he got along well with Marlene. Finally, Lily went out with James. Last time I saw them alive, it was right before they died. It was to be my wedding the next day; I was supposed to marry Sirius Black. Oh my God, I loved him. That night I had kissed him goodnight, as I was staying with your parents, when it happened. James told Lily and I to take you and run. We heard Tom kill James and Lily told me to keep going with you. I argued, she was your mother, I was stronger, and I was willing to fight. She won, so I ran with you. I heard my father coming, so I transferred all of my inner magic to you. That is why you survived. Weak from my sudden loss of power, I could not fight. I transformed into my natural Animagus form, a wolf, and was knocked unconscious by my father. Last I remember is hoping beyond hope that Sirius would understand and you would survive." With that Kimberly Riddle put her head in her hands and cried for the first time in a while.