CHAPTER 8

"Ready for memory 2?" Peter asks, as we grip hands and sail into memory two.

A young pretty girl, about my age enters the room we were occupying only this morning in Dumbledore's house, with a letter, clearly addressed from St. Mungo's, in hand. "Oh no, oh no, oh no. Oh my god, daddy! What are you doing here?"

A younger Dumbledore stepped up to his daughter and embraced her in a tight hug, "Just wondering how you're doing. Obviously very little NEWTS study I see", he smiled disapprovingly, "Just because you and Riddle are the only Sorcerers in the school, does not mean that you are allowed to skive off okay? I suggested this very proposal to him this morning and he stared at me coldly", Dumbledore sighed, "There is something wrong with that kid, he seems too perfect for his own good."

"I know", the girl muttered dreamily into space.

"I'll leave you alone then Sarah," Dumbledore said, "Just remember, if you get anything below O, you break a tradition of centuries of sorcerer's passing their exams with over 100"

"I know Dad", she replied, "There are just some things that are more important you know", and with that, he left the room.

As soon as he had departed, the young girl put her head in her hands and sobbed, "Oh god", she gasped, "What's Tom gonna say"

"What do you mean, what's Tom gonna say?" a dark handsome voice came from the window. Sarah ran over to him and embraced him passionately. Violet started in alarm. As they broke apart, she looked at the figure; tall, dark and Handsome, exactly like Peter, who was paling as he sat, curled in the corner. Obviously his father.

"What's wrong?" he questioned, stroking her thick bushy hair tenderly. The girl took a while to reply, and disentangled herself from him, as she stood up and began to pace.

"I hear they're calling you by a new name now", she smirked, "Personally I like Tom Riddle better than Lord Voldemort if you ask me"

I gasped. Peter saw the look on my face and turned away with shame. I now knew why Snape had stared at him with terror. I felt a pang of sympathy for him and stroked his hand gently, "It's alright", I told him, "I don't judge you based on what he did." He smiled at me and kissed me and we finally drew our attention back to the conversation taking place.

They had now progressed to death eaters, and I noticed with horror, that Sarah was taking a deep interest, "Maybe I can help you out in some way Tom", she said, "There's gotta be something I can do." Tom thought for a while, and leaned forward, "I have an idea for you", he muttered, "I want you to spy on your father for me. He's always watching me and it creeps me out. You'd think that being the boyfriend of his only daughter; he'd give me a break."

The girl seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, then resigned herself to the worst, "O.k." she decided, "I'll do it. Just don't make me hurt him or my family"

"Of course not Sez", he said silkily, "Look, I've gotta go, I'm meeting some of the Slytherins at the leaky cauldron to do a bit of planning o.k.?" She smiled and let her arms fall around him, pulling him into a deep embrace. Finally Riddle turned away, and reached for the edge of the window, "You really should have been in Slytherin", he complemented proudly and with that he was gone. The girl sighed and turned back to her letter. How was she going to tell him; "We would like to inform you that your pregnancy test results are positive"

The memory was over and once again, the swirling sensation brought them back to Dumbledore's office. Peter stood up and paced about the room, smashing all of the things in his path, "He could have told me", he roared, spit flying across the room in all directions, "The idiot. He was my grandfather. Why me. Damn you Vi," he said slamming his fist down, "Why couldn't I have had a family that cared about me like yours." Snape was watching this intently and I could see he understood exactly what was going on. Timidly I went up to him and said, "If you want, we don't have to see the rest of the memories. If it hurts you too much."

His eyes softened, "No Vi", he replied, "It can't possibly get any worse, can it?" He looked to Snape for an answer and seeing his reply, swore loudly and dragged me over to the pensieve.