Chapter 2 The Devil's Daughter

An: Feedback was pretty good for chapter 1: ) i was actually surprised. Once again writing on a smartphone sucks lmao!

Severus startled at the feel of robes against his leg. Eyes wide, he turned just in time to see the Headmaster sweep down the spiral staircase in a whirl of fuschia robes. Shrugging, he closed his eyes again. If the old coot had wanted him to follow he would have said so. He wasn't the old man's babysitter.

Raised voices woke him. It must have been hours later; the sky had darkened to a twilight blue and the distant sound of thunder hailed a thunderstorm in the making.

"Miss Weber if you would calm-"

"I swear old man, if you tell me to calm down one more fucking time, I'm going to tell you exactly where you can stick those damn lemon drops."

Severus wouldn't admit it even under threat of death, but he sniggered. The woman on the other side of the door sounded like his type of witch. He and McGonagall were the only ones to speak to the Headmaster in such a way.

"Now there's no call for that language-"

"My mother was attacked, probably killed, and I'm not supposed to be pissed about it?"

The door swung open to reveal a moderately tall, curvaceous witch with wild dark curls framing jer angular face. Eyes blazing, she took in the other occupant of the office before deciding the powerful old wizard at her back deserved her attention more.

"What does being pissed have to do with anything?" Snape sneered.

Swinging back around, Katherine glared a moment before her gaze flicked back to Dumbledore.

A wave of his wand closed and locked the door. Rubbing his eyes wearily, Dumbledore ordered tea from a house elf and settled himself behind his desk. Steepling his fingers, he regarded the woman before him with the utmost intensity.

Huffing, Katherine crossed her arms over her ample bosom. "Okay, we're here and in relative privacy. Do you mind explaining what the fuck is going on?"

"Happy to. If you can control that mouth of yours," Snape smirked, tossing his head and dislodging several greasy locks of hair that fell into his face.

Cringing, Katherine took a step back. "Wasn't talking to you," she mumbled.

"Oh yes, because verbally abusing the elderly is so much better," the Potions Master shot back.

A loud CRACK! Interrupted the verbal sparring. A tea tray appeared on the low table in front of the fire. At the Headmaster's behest, Katherine poured herself a cup with lemon and sugar.

"Have a biscuit, it will settle your nerves," Dumbledore encouraged with a forced smile.

Wrinkling her nose, she picked up one of the chocolate variety. "In America, we call them cookies."

"Yes, well, here they are biscuits," Snape responded snidely.

"I'll be sure to remember that," Katherine snorted sarcastically.

Snape opened his mouth to reply but a glance from Dumbledore effectively silenced him.

"Now, if we can keep somewhat civil tongues in our mouths," the Headmaster glared at Snape who feigned an air of ignorance. "The long and short of it is that you, Katherine Weber, are the only known offspring of one Tom Riddle. For reasons unknown to us, your mother removed herself and essentially you from the charged atmosphere of our current and past climate. Why she hid you from your father isn't hard to guess; he is a powerful Dark wizard and not at all the kind of man one wishes for one's children."

Hands spread wide as if that explained everything, Dumbledore looked askance to Snape who shrugged. There was nothing more to add, the details were sketchy at best.

Katherine sat utterly gob-smacked. When she finally thought to reply, she had to clear her throat several times to avoid an embarrassing break in her voice.

"So you're saying that Henry Weber is not my father? That all the baby pictures are a lie? The birth certificate, documented evidence? Everything?!"

Her rage was palpable and evidenced in the blue crackles sparking from her hair and clothing. She just didn't understand, if fact did not believe what she was hearing. And now, now that there was no one to refute their story, these strangers waltz into her life to tell her none of it was real.

It had been nearly a decade since her father had been killed in a Splinching accident, but she still remembered his pride at her graduation. His sadness at realizing that her career was more important to her than family. His acceptance that she just wasn't interested in having children. She had always thought she had gotten her dark hair from him. Now it seemed that the one man she had trusted most, had lied to her her entire life.

And her mother! It just wasn't making any sense! She hadn't realized how upset she was getting until a bucket was thrust into her hands and she vomited. A quick Evanesco cleaned that right up but she still felt sick to her stomach.

She felt numb. The rage had melted away leaving ice in her veins. The bucket disappeared to be replaced with a pristine white handkerchief, indicating that the wetness on her cheeks was real.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there consumed by grief, anger, confusion and God knew how many other jumbled emotions. She came back to herself upon realizing someone was calling her name, repeatedly from the sound of it.

"Huh?" She looked up through wet red-rimmed eyes that blurred her vision.

The witch before her was young, quite young by the look of her eyes. Katherine had learned not to judge age by looks but by experiences which only shone through the eyes. Potions and solutions could easily hide one's true age. Not to mention magical prowess seemed to have a great deal to do with the aging process.

"Professor Weber?"

Apparently she was drifting in her own mind again.

Clearing her throat ineffectually, Katherine acknowledged the woman, child, again.

Rolling her eyes the younger witch held out a hand. "Hermione Granger, ma'am. I'm supposed to take you to our safe house to rest."

Taking the hand offered her, Katherine used the arm of the chair to lever herself up. She still felt weak in the knees and her head was spinning from sitting so long without moving.

Hermione had already given her a soft smile and turned to the fireplace. Following, Katherine looked back once and said, "If I am to remain here for any length of time, I'll need my potions. And various other things from home."

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled madly. "Already done, my dear."

Nodding absently, Katherine paid special attention to the address Miss Granger called out. "The Briny Cottage!"

The last thing Katherine saw was the look of long-suffering on Snape's face and the corresponding glee of the face of the Headmaster. Then everything swirled so badly she had to keep her eyes closed for the remainder of the ride.

An: I debated continuing on into another scene, but i feel i write better a scene at a time otherwise i try to shove too much into a single chapter! Anyway please read and review! I live on your love lmao!