Did any of you guess Severus was Riley's father? I dropped some subtle and not so subtle hints along the way. Thank you to those of you who have gotten this far. This is my first time writing anything so I'm proud of my little baby fic. I am so invested in this world it's kinda crazy. I would love to know what you guys think! - Kj

Riley was running towards the 4th floor corridor off the east wing. If McGonagall wasn't in her office she would be there, in the dorms that are removed from most of the castle. It's where Riley sleeps, three doors down from McGonagall during school break. At first Riley found having the whole Gryffindor common room to herself awesome. It was so peaceful and quiet. Riley never thought she would see the day she begged for annoying chatter and teenagers slung over couches making out but after a couple of days being alone in the common room Riley started to hate being alone. She would ask Winky to visit as much as possible. Eventually McGonagall joined them for game night, asking Riley to move down onto the 4th floor with her while school was on break. Riley would never admit out loud that she had hated the quiet and was thankful McGonagall had asked her to move.

Running towards the corridor now Riley couldn't believe how ridiculous she had acted when she had found out McGonagall knew about her father. Of course she knew, she was headmistress she always knew. Riley imagined Snape being Snape he had probably gotten McGonagall to make an unbreakable vow to never reveal the identity of her father. It made sense, McGonagall had always been open with Riley about everything else.

Riley burst through McGonagall's door a little dramatically. Ready to jump into her apology, Riley stopped. McGonagall wasn't here. Where the bloody hell was she?

Riley slumped back the way she had came. An overwhelming sense of nausea hit Riley like a tonne of bricks.
Riley had two options. Make her way to the closest bathroom or head straight for the hospital wing which was conveniently close.
She decided on the latter. Madame Pomfrey was sure to have something to stop the nausea and have something Riley could throw up into.

As Riley pushed open the doors to the hospital wing the nausea feeling she so heavily felt moments ago lifted from her. A sense of dread loomed in the air so Riley drew her wand.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Riley asked into the darkness.
"I'm afraid the Matron can't assist you right now she's... sleeping." A cold voice came out of the darkness. Riley couldn't see him but she knew by his tone he was smirking.
"Who are you? What have you done to her?" Riley demanded.
"It is not her you need to worry about. She is not a Death Eater like you and your scummy friends." He spat on the ground.
Riley's brain was racing. She couldn't see him but she would swear on her grandmother's grave that this was the boy she had dubbed Teddy's second. Where was Teddy though? She felt him no where. She coukd sense about 5 wizard's around her with their wands raised.. but no Teddy. She could always feel his auror when he walked into a room, even lately. She shut him out but if she wanted too she could sense him. Now he was no where even as her own auror shouted for him.

"Where is he then!? Huh? If he's going to fight me he should be here face to face not hiding behind his friends like a coward!" Riley bellowed.
The boys snickered.
All of a sudden a click sound came and lights flew back to there rightful places.
Riley had been right. It was Teddy's gang, his second in command.
"Immobulus!" Shouted one of the boys behind her. Riley was frozen on the spot. She couldn't move.

"Cow...ards." Riley strained out the corner of her mouth. How dare they jinx her in the back.
"No, we are not cowards. Who knows what evil magic you might posses. We are merely just taking precautions." He smiled at her sinisterly before nodding to a boy on his right.
The boy stood in front of Riley. His wand hand shaking. "Stu...stu..stupefy!" The boy yelled after gaining his courage.
Riley went flying. The boys jinx had undone the freezing charm but Riley wasn't sure how she was going to defeat 6 or so boys even if they were younger. She decided to act as though she was still binded.
"Get her up! That was pathetic Lawrence. She's a dark witch. She would kill us given the chance. She deserves so much more than a mere stunning jinx." The now leader said.
Riley made her body as rigid as possible while they pulled her up.
Her brain still trying to come up with a plan was completely thrown off guard when the leader shouted "CRUCIO!" Straight at her.
Every fibre in Riley's body was screaming fire and pain. There was no fire burning her skin though, it was coming from within trying to scortch it's way out of her body. She had never felt pain like this in her life. She was sure she would pass out in a matter of moments but as quickly as it came it was gone.
"What-" breath "the hell-" breath "is wrong-" breath "with you?" Riley staggered out.
"Your mother liked that one. She used it on almost everyone she came by." The leader sneered down at her.
"You think I don't know that? You think I don't despise her just ask much as you!?" Riley screamed out of breath at the boy.
"No. I think you and your little bitch are following in her footsteps. Trying to bring he who must not be named back. You and the rest of Slytherin!" He spat. "CRUCIO"
Riley wanted nothing more than to scream, to relieve some pain but no sounds left her. She was paralysed. Oh how cruel the universe is, she thought she was paralysed before but now she would beg to feel like that, to be able to at least speak. Her body on the other hand writhed on the floor completely out of her control.
"Murik! Murik stop! She's had enough." The same boy who stupefied her spoke up.
The pain ceased.
"Arlin, Arlin, Arlin." Murik Slapped the other boy, Arlin across the face.
"I'm sorry, Arlin. You're right. She's had enough." Murik clapped his hand on Arlin's back. "Of me. You on the other hand are just getting started with her." He sneered at Arlin.
"What? No I-" Arlin stammered.
"Perform the curse now or you will find yourself in her shoes, traitor." Murik spat.
Arlin's hand shook when he performed the stunning spell, now he was grey in the face and his wand kept slipping from sweat.
"Arlin." Riley croacked out. "You don't have to do this."
He made eye contact with her and she saw something that she couldn't quite recognise. Her gut was telling her to follow her instinct so she did just that.
The boy took a deep breath before saying "Stupefy!"
As Riley yelled
"Protego!" As the spell hit her shield she flicked her wrist sending the curse straight at Murik. It hit him square in the chest, flinging him back. Riley almost hoped Arlin had thrown the cruciatus curse at her to see Murik scream in pain. Murik bounced back too quickly for her liking. He looked straight at Arlin and screamed "CRUCIO" Riley had seen his attack coming and jumped in front blocking the curse with protego but his hatred poured into the spell was too much. It shattered Riley's shield and shot right through her. She screamed this time. She felt the scream form in her core and explode out of her. The pain ripped through her ten times worse than previously. Somewhere deep in the back of her subconscious she heard a man. Telling her to fight. Telling her she was strong enough to block him. She had no idea how it was possible but she knew what it meant, she couldn't lift her wand arm up to deflect but she somehow knew. The voice didn't mean deflection with her wand. Riley shut off her mind. Complete and utter blackness ensnared her. The pain was gone.