The girls met Max in the Slytherin common room.
"This should be fun." Max said grinning.
"Your thought process eludes me, Max." Riley said shaking her head.
"I realized quickly enough not to try and figure his brain out." Elanora laughed.

As they made their way to the great hall there was a lot of whispering going on, as far as Riley could tell it wasn't about her. Although one conversation intrigued her.
"You don't really believe that do you, Lizzie?" Whispered a second year Ravenclaw.
"Not entirely. It is incredibly weird though, McGonagall taking 100 points from Gryffindor." Lizzie whispered back.
"Yeah but to say she is favouring Slytherin because of that 5th year Gryffindor is crazy talk. I mean first of all she's a Gryffindor. Who cares about her parentage. The sorting hat put her there for a reason. Secondly, McGonagall herself is a Gryffindor! She is usually pretty fair when it comes to points but she would definetly love to see Gryffindor kicks Slytherin's butt in anything. It just makes no sense, I think those young Gryffindor boys are losing it. And to think Teddy Lupin is their ring leader, spreading the lies.. I know he's a Gryffindor but his mother was a famous Hufflepuff, you'd think he'd be a bit more loyal to those who have stood by him." The Ravenclaw accused.

Riley leant back against the wall taking a moment to compose herself.
"What do you think that was all about?" Max asked.
"I have a bad feeling we are about to walk into chaos." Riley sighed.
"The lies they're talking about?" Elanora suggested.
"Yeah, they seemed to think the rumor about my mother is the truth so I'm assuming something else has happened." Riley took a deep breath before pushing off the wall and continuing down the corridor.

The great hall was unnervingly quiet. Riley brought it down to the fact that there was only a handful of Gryffindor's. Minutes after they arrived, like clockwork Teddy and his now goons strode in.
Teddy jumped up on to the Gryffindor's table and started shouting 'The Headmistress stole 100 house points from us this morning! She justified it by saying a drawing on a piece of parchment was a threat! But the truth! Dear friends is that she's turned on us! She's joined that turn coat bitch and is now supporting Slytherin! She's feeding them points while taking ours! And why?! Because she cares more about that bitch Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter than anyone else. She's a hypocrite!" Teddy had completely lost his mind. Riley understood him being angry at her but this? McGonagall didn't deserve this.
Riley stood, she wasn't going to let him talk that way about McGonagall.
Just as she was about to shout back she felt a hand place gently on her shoulder. "He is not worth the effort." McGonagall smiled at Riley.
"YOU SEE! THEY'RE SHOVING IT RIGHT IN OUR FACE NOW! WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!" Teddy yelled. The rest of his goons started yelling along with him.
"He's completely lost his marbles." Max exclaimed.
"He's been shouting this nonsense all day.' McGonagall sighed.
"Professor, where should Riley sleep?" Asked Elanora.
"I will send winky to escort her to her dorm. If there's any trouble I will know about it immediately. We don't want to give them more to talk about by you staying in the Slytherin dorms." McGonagall said rather sadly.

"Sorry you have to chauffeur me around, Winky." Riley apologized.
"Tis no problem friend Riley. I just wish it were under better circumstances." Winky hiccuped.
Riley stopped walking to look at Winky fully. She was afraid her friends hiccup was induced by butterbeer but looking at her she saw tears had caused the sound.
Winky smiled sadly, knowing what the young witch had thought. "I have not had a drink of butterbeer since the morning after the night we first met, during the school break, after your first year." Winky said proudly.
"Oh gosh, don't remind me. I was so sick that morning. I was as much of a lightweight as you were back then." Riley laughed.
"Do you still feel sad like that night?" Winky asked quietly.
Riley smiled a sad smile at Winky. "I miss grandmother everyday. Its gotten easier over time. I don't feel like I'm drowning when I think of her now. But I still feel sad from time to time. About grandmother and other things."
Winky sniffed. "I miss Mr Crouch still too but it also doesn't hurt as much as it once did. Plus, you are my family now friend Riley." Winky smiled up at Riley.
Riley took the elfs hand.
"Always."

When the pair entered the Gryffindor common room there was only a few students left in there. Two were making out and the rest were going over notes. They all smiled small smiles as Riley walked past, except one of the two making out. It was another 5th year, Agertha. She stood up and walked over to her. "Riley.. Look, I just wanted to say that.. well that I don't care if your mother was Bellatrix Lestrange. We don't get to chose our blood but I know you, you're the bravest and kindest person I know." Agertha said proudly.
"Thanks, Ag. It means a lot. Just to set the record straight... She is my mother." Riley sighed.
"Just so you know, most of Gryffindor don't care. With Teddy and his gang of idiots running around yelling it's hard to show we support you, but most of us do. Just try and steer clear of Teddy. He's gone off the deep end." Agertha said sincerely.
Riley gave her a smile and turned to Winky.
"I think I'll be fine from here, thanks Winky. For everything."
"No problem friend Riley. If you need me I'll be here right away." Winky said before dissaparating.

Riley heard heavy steps coming down the stairs.
"Ugh. Sorry, Riley. It would seem he's got minions every where keeping tabs." Agertha rolled her eyes.

"Well well well if it isn't the traitor. Come to set us up to have more points deducted?" Teddy sneered. His goons laughing menacingly behind him.
"No actually. Surprisingly I'm just here to sleep." Agertha tried to cover up her laugh with a cough. "Now if you don't mind, Agertha and I are heading up to do just that." Riley announced while pushing past the boys.
"Agertha can go, we are not finished talking yet, traitor." Said Teddy.
"I'm not leaving without her." Agertha crossed her arms.
Riley sighed. "It's fine. I'll be up in a minute." She looked pointedly at Agertha telling her to go. Riley watched Agertha walk away with a pained look on her face, clearly not wanting to leave Riley.
"If you want to talk I suggest you send them away." Riley pointed to his goons.
Teddy turned around, whispered something in one of the boys ears who retreated laughing with the rest of them. Riley assumed he was Teddy's second.

"What are you doing?" Riley started.
Teddy stared at her for a moment. He looked years older than when she saw him the last time this close up.
"Why are you here? Surely you would rather be with the Slytherin's in the dungeons? Where you belong." Teddy smirked.
"I'm sorry I kept it from you. I was afraid that this would happen. That you would hate me. You became too important for me to risk telling you. I'm sorry for being selfish. I loved you too much-" Riley tried to explain for a second time.
"HA!" Teddy laughed coldly. "What would you know of love? No one loves you. Your mother was the epitome of evil! Your father clearly didn't love you! He didn't even want to know you!" Teddy laughed with a glint of insanity reaching his eyes.
"Teddy-" Riley tried to speak.
"Teddy! Teddy! Don't leave me Teddy! You're pathetic!" Teddy spat. "You are nothing to me! Do you honestly think I could ever love someone with such disgusting blood!? I don't love you! Nobody loves you!" Teddy screamed at her. Riley felt numb. She could feel the tears running down her face but she couldn't stop them. She heard Teddy's goons laughing on the stairs. Riley couldn't think of anything but too run.