Chapter 3

They had been sitting silence for the rest of the evening, unsure what to say to eachother. Not even years being brought up by her made Charlie comfortable around her stepmother. And she was too nervous, waiting in fear for her dad to arrive. More than fear, she was terrified, she couldn't trust him, who was she to know he wouldn't kill her?

"Don't be frightened, he won't like it." Callie said, frowning.

"Will he…hurt me?" Charlie croaked, expecting reassurance.

"Who's to say?" Callie replied, casually. Charlie looked at her incredulously, more frightened than ever. Callie, who was picking at her nails, looked up.

"Oh I'll stop him if he gets angry, just try not to give him a reason to hurt you. For example, if he asks, you're in Slytherin, and you hate Harry Potter." She smiled, dryly.

"Actually, he's alright, he picked up my bag once when I-" Callie stood abruptly.

"Do you not understand? Are you trying t get yourself killed?" she took a few deep breaths, then sat back down. "We'll have no more of that. You're here because he asked for you, which means he needs you for something, and I wouldn't be surprised if it involved your little school friend." she looked really sad for a moment, something Charlie had never seen before, but in a moment it was gone.

"He's not a friend exactly, he just-"

"Charlotte, you had better shut up or it won't be your father hurting you. I'd advise you to do just as he says, you're certainly not strong willed enough to fight him."

Charlie looked down, subdued. She had never been able to get close to Callie, even though she'd been the closest thing to a parent, she'd always liked to keep Charlie at arm's length.

Suddenly, there was a sound of someone Apparating in the next room. Callie stood up again, nervous, but not in the same way as Charlie. This was the first time she had seen her husband in seventeen years, she had received her orders from a messenger.

The Dark Lord Voldemort glided into the room.

He stood tall in swirling black robes that swept the ground as he moved. His slitty red eyes and remains of a nose sent shivers through Charlie's body. She became out of breath, and opened her mouth slightly as she took in long gasps of breath. How could he be her father?

He looked her up and down, then his face twisted into a smile as he spoke.

"She has my eyes."