Disclaimer: All characters and everything associated with Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

Recap: Draco is once again saved from a near death by the American girl. Surprised that she stopped the killing curse, something never before witnessed with the exception of Harry Potter, the crowd of death eaters are stunned into silence . All except Bellatrix Lestrange who just has to open her mouth. However, the young girl reveals her less than enthused feelings towards her and puts her in her place, along with the rest of the death eaters and even manages to instill fear in Voldemort. This next chapter should be much longer than the recent chapters, and chapters from now on should be longer. Please r & r if you like.

Chapter 4 Skyler Riddle

"Bloody hell!"

"Shit!"

The obscenities were exclaimed simultaneously as Draco and his mysterious savior and companion landed a bit harder than expected after apparating away from the threat of Voldemort. A feat that Draco was absolutely certain was not possible considering there were anti apparation wards up. But here they were. And no death eaters in sight.

Draco looked around from the ground he had landed on. It was dark out, since it was night, and even though the moon was luminous, the trees of the forest around them seemed to block out a lot of the light it gave off.

' Good for cover' he thought to himself.

He started to drag himself to his feet, the leaves and twigs beneath his feet crunching and making noise as he did so. He turned to find the girl already on her feet as well and facing the opposite way. He followed her line of sight and saw the outline of Hogwarts in the slight moonlight. The girl looked to him and then away again and started up the path to the school gates. They made their way quickly and quietly, and remained silent and alert. He didn't know how they were to get through the main gates, but so far this girl didn't seem to have any problems with the impossible and figured he would take his cues from her. For now anyways.

He side glanced at as they got closer to the gates. She looked very attentive, and he noticed it was eerily quiet . Her eyes darted around, not as if she was afraid, but more like she expected something, was waiting for something. As they reached the gates, Draco watched as she leaned with her back against them. Her eyes still searching , for what he did not know. Draco stood facing her, but a little to the side so as not to be in her way. Finally, when he could not the silence anymore, he spoke.

" Well, are you going to tell me what we are waiting for or are you just going to leave it to me to figure out how to get in?" His tone was biting, he knew, but it could not be helped. Years of being a Malfoy could not be crumbled in a few hours. However, he felt a slight pang of guilt inside at the realization that he was being rude to the girl who had saved his life tonight and could, by the things he had witnessed tonight, kill him on the spot. He just became more frustrated with himself at the thought of feeling guilty. Malfoys did not feel guilt. He didn't ask her to save him, and though he was grateful, he didn't owe her anything.

The girl snorted at his attempt to strike up conversation, but seemed to pity on him seeing as he had been though a lot.

" Well, you certainly are a bright little ray of light aren't you? " she said sarcastically, though her tone was light with amusement. He glared at her.

" Well I'm so sorry if I'm a bit short tempered, almost being killed seems to affect my mood somewhat." He snapped at her.

Her eyes narrowed on him and she pulled herself away from the gate and stepped towards him deliberately.

" You know, you're not the only one who has had a rough night. I don't find being kidnapped, attacked, fighting off death eaters and Voldemort and saving ungrateful assholes like you exactly my idea of fun. But in the off chance that you'll quit your bitching and self- pity party, we are waiting for your professor to get back from the meeting so that he let us through the gates and also check on your health. "

Draco was furious! How dare she talk to him like that! Yes she had saved him and got him away, and yes he was intrigued by her, but she had no right to treat him as she was. He was a Malfoy! Did she not understand what that meant? His glaring silver eyes narrowed as she smirked at him. A smirk that put his own to shame. And he found he wanted to knock it right off her face. He was inwardly shocked at the violent reaction that one action of hers had in him. He briefly wondered how the Dark Lord felt when she was smirking at him. And the smirk continued to play on her lips, he felt a fire burn deep in his stomach that he didn't understand and felt certain he didn't want to.

" You must not have paid attention back there. If you had, you would find I could care less about your name. I have nothing to prove to you, and from what I have witnessed and can see, you don't deserve any form of respect from me, Malfoy." His name was spat from her mouth and her violet eyes burned him .

Draco , eyes still narrowed, did not back away, even though her tone was venom from the deadliest snake. He had heard his name in that tone from only one person before, and if this girl was anything like said person, he was in trouble this year. This train of thought brought on a whole new set of questions. The first one, he knew should have been the most obvious.

" Who are you?"

Before she could reply, another voice cut her off. And this was a voice that Draco recognized.

" Yes, that seems to be the question of the night. Congratulations Draco, you've been gone an entire 30 minutes and have yet to succeed in getting any kind of worthy information."

Yes, Draco would know that sarcastic and snarky voice anywhere.

"Thanks a lot Sev." He snipped back at him.

Severus was happy that his godson seemed to be ok, but he needed to check him over and also figure out what the hell was going on. Therefore, he didn't waste anymore time stating the obvious. He would get his answers as soon as they were in the castle and they were somewhat comfortable. He looked beyond Draco to the girl.

" Well, I know Draco has undoubtedly expressed his thanks to you, but as his godfather I must express mine as well." He told her stiffly, his obsidian eyes glinting in the moonlight .

There was a few moments of silence, and then Severus saw it dawn on the girl. She realized that that was him expressing his thanks. She looked at him and her eyes softened and she smiled.

" Your welcome. It's always been my forte to help a person in need. " Then she glared back at Draco. " Although, someone is making it very hard not regret my actions tonight."

Draco turned back to her and hissed though his clenched teeth, "Listen you pathetic witch! I did not ask you to save me and as such I do not owe.." He was cut off by the girl.

" You are without a doubt the most rude and ungrateful person I have ever met. Yes, I suppose I ruined your life by saving you from being tortured to death. You definitely had it all under control. I am so very sorry for saving your worthless ass!" she hissed back .

Severus saw Draco open his mouth to retort and intervened before their incessant bickering gave him more of a headache than he already had.

" Enough!" he glared at both of them. " We have more important things to discuss and answers to get. Lets get to the castle." And with that he swept past them and through the gates.

She glared at Draco as the professor walked past them, and then after a few more moments, she whipped around and followed him. The sight of the castle as they came into close proximity of it was both a beautiful and glorifying sight. She had seen pictures of it in books ofcourse, but seeing it in real life, in the moonlight, was more than words could describe. The lake on the right and the Quidditch pit to the far left, surrounded by the tress and sounds of the forest. The grounds were huge and in the dark of night, they seemed to stretch beyond what the eye could see. Various windows in the castle spilled out light, and she could practically touch the magic pulsing from the castle, it was so strong. She had always appreciated magic, since the first day she realized it was real, and this castle, in all its glory, brought back every innocent, pure, and raw feeling she had ever had about magic.

She caught up to the professor and puller her hood up, casting her face in shadow as they entered through the doors of the castle. She looked around entrance hall, but never faulted in her stride as she continued to follow the man before her down various hallways. She felt it getting colder and knew they were heading lower into the castle. Finally, they came to hallway occupied by only a portrait of a tall man with dark hair and honey eyes who had a black viper wrapped around his feet at the bottom of the portrait. The professor mumbled something and the man in the portrait gave a curt nod and the portrait swung open. The professor stood to the side and motioned for her to go first.

She found herself in what she would only describe as an office. There were more portraits on the walls, but their characters seemed to be sleeping. She smirked as one of the portraits inhabitants peeked and quickly shut his eyes as he saw he had been caught. To her right was a desk with a couple of comfortable looking chairs in front of it and a rather straight backed chair sitting behind it. Looking at the man who led her to this room, it seemed to fit somehow. She also noticed straight ahead of her was a couple of small couches sitting in front of a very elegant looking fireplace. Looking to her left, she spotted bookcases in the back of the room, looking very much like a small library. She looked to her companions who looked the worse for wear. The professor looked at her, his face emotionless, and raised a single eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and made her way to the couches by the fireplace. If he insisted on talking down here, then she might as well be warm and comfortable.

She noticed Draco followed her to the couches, and despite the argument earlier, he sat down on the same couch. She side glance at him curiously, and he gave her a look of indifference. The professor walked to the fireplace and rested his left arm on the mantle. Facing them, his face was still emotionless, and then he looked directly at her, and she knew the time for answers had finally come.

" I don't know who you are, but I am sure I will be learning that soon. I am professor Severus Snape. I am the potions master here. Though something tells me you already knew that, seeing as you knew who Bellatrix was and who Draco is. I can tell from your accent you're not from around here, but I cant help but think you look strangely familiar. So why don't we start from the beginning, and beginning with your name." He spoke in a no-nonsense voice and so she sat back into the couch, getting more comfortable. If he wanted the whole story, than they would be there for a while. She removed her hood, and her violet eyes strayed from the table in front of her, to the man who was now staring intently at her. She knew she could trust him, and she knew telling her story would probably gain the trust of the boy next to her. But even the strongest have limits. And she wasn't yet sure if this would be testing them. She knew this would be the first of a few times she would have to relive her past, and it wasn't something she looked forward to. She needed her grips about her, so she decided to stall.

" Maybe you check him over before we start. I'm sure I healed him well enough, but I would feel better to make sure he's ok. And if you don't mind, I am kinda hungry." She figured appealing to the welfare of his godson would be her best bet. He looked back at her and sighed, though she sensed he was slightly amused and she knew that he knew she was stalling. However, he seemed prepared to to allow her a grace period, for he called for a house-elf and asked it to bring some tea and muffins and then proceeded to check over Draco. He glared the whole time, and she assumed that was his way of letting her know he did not appreciate her stalling. When the house-elf had left them again, he declared the boy fine and seated himself on the couch opposite them. He served them all tea and she munched on a muffin. When she felt their eyes expectantly on her, she let her eyes meet inquisitive black ones. She bit on her bottom lip in a rare moment of insecurity.

" Well, I guess I should start with my name then. It might help you understand a little more from the beginning. " After receiving a nod from both, she closed her eyes and continued.

" My name is Skyler. Skyler Riddle."

Severus felt his eyes widen a fraction from the shock of that statement. After a few moments, the initial shock left him and his mind started putting the puzzle pieces together. She looked familiar, and now he knew why. He had known the Dark Lord in his younger days, and the girl was his daughter. She resembled him. Her power. He posture. The way she commanded attention. And while that made sense to him, nothing else did. Why had he not known about her? Who was her mother? Why would she even tell him the truth in the first place? And on top of all the questions regarding the girl, he couldn't help but look at her with a newfound respect. She obviously knew more than anyone could expect her to. He realized now that if she was willing to tell him anything, then she must know what side he was really on, and oddly, he didn't doubt that she did. Severus Snape found himself, for once, in a predicament where all his sneers and threats would do no good. For he had already witnessed the girl blatantly disregard the Dark Lord. He had already witnessed the fact that she had no fear. If she didn't fear the Dark Lord, she certainly would not fear him. And strangely, he did not want her to. Just as he did not want Draco to.

He looked at Draco who looked as if he was still putting it all together. Severus sighed and leaned back. It was going to be a long night.

Riddle? Riddle. It sounded so familiar to him, if he could only remember…TOM RIDDLE!

Draco's eyes widened and he his head turned to the girl sitting next to him, her eyes closed, and he couldn't believe it. How could no one have known? How did she stay hidden from the Dark Lord for so long? But first he had to be sure. He turned to his godfather, eyes still wide, and questioned.

" Wasn't the Dark Lord's name Tom Riddle?" Severus nodded, eyes on the girl before him. Draco continued. " Is Riddle a common muggle last name?" His godfather looked at him incredulously, but the answer came from the girl.

" I'm not sure. I've never met anyone else with the same last name, unless you count Voldemort. And in case you need help drawing conclusions, he is my father."

" Impossible!" Severus sneered at the girl. She opened her eyes slowly and looked over at him warily.

" I assure you it's not. If it were, I obviously would not be here. " Her tone was devoid of emotion. Draco couldn't help but feel as if it was an injustice for her tone to be so emotionless. He looked between her and Severus, then finally asked the question that was suddenly on the tip of his tongue.

" But… how?"

" That's fairly obvious. He impregnated my mother, and she gave birth to me. Its not a hard concept to grasp." She retorted mockingly, bringing her shinning purple eyes to rest on his. Silver eyes narrowed at the dancing merriment he saw there.

" That's not what I meant and you know it!" He snarled at her, fed up with her sarcastic and mocking teasing. He barely realized that he treated people that way all the time, and did not like to be on the receiving end. He watched as she rolled her eyes at him and sat forward , her eyes now on the fire.

" He raped her." Her voice was a low murmur. Draco watched Severus look at the girl intently, his dark eyes reflecting the fire. He decided to let him take over the questioning.

"Who?" Severus asked, and it was a tone Draco had rarely heard from him, even as his godson. It was soft and non-threatening. Draco felt jealous that something he rarely got was being given to a complete stranger. The girl let out a snort of amusement, and Draco was sure she knew how he was feeling about it.

"Voldemort. He raped my mother. That's how he didn't know about me right away. He thought she was a muggle. She was dressed as one, and had changed her appearance. She was an unspeakable, and she was doing work for the ministry when she was caught by him. He raped her and left her for dead in an alley. Luckily, she had an emergency portkey and used it to get home. Her husband made sure she was alright and took care of her. It was a few weeks later she found she was pregnant.

"Her and her husband already had a son, and her husband wasn't too keen on the idea of her keeping me, given who my father was. But my mother couldn't abort me. Her husband came around, and they fully intended on keeping me. But then Voldemort became more dangerous, especially to them. They were already in hiding, but knew there were spies and informants everywhere, especially in the ministry where they both worked. So they decided for my own safety that as soon as I was born they would send me far away. Voldemort was after them, and they realized that should he find me and realize who I was, I would be raised as his heir. They couldn't imagine the things I would go through and be forced and taught to do if that happened.

"So when I was born, in April, almost a year after my half brother, they dressed as muggles and I was sent to an orphanage in the United States. In California to be exact. Voldemort did catch them eventually, and he killed them. " She paused , Draco guessed to let the information sink in. Then he looked at her suspiciously and asked her skeptically, "If they are dead, then how could you know all this? And how could you know for sure that Voldemort was the one who killed them? I mean, it probably was because of him, but how do you know it was really him, himself that killed them?" Hey eyes were immediately on his, and he felt that she would explode from the emotion swimming in her eyes, and he was afraid she might cry. But to his surprise, her violet eyes were showing more love in them than he could ever remember feeling, suddenly he felt ashamed for doubting her and tore his eyes away before she make him feel any more foreign emotions. Instead, his eyes landed on his godfather, who he was surprised to see was looking even more intently at the girl. His balck eyes seemed to be searching for something in her. And as Draco's eyes shifted between the two, the girl bite on her bottom lip under the intense scrutiny, and his godfather's eyes widened as he seemed to have whatever he was looking for.

" Wh-Who was your mother?" He asked her, his voice hoarse with more emotion than Draco ever remembered hearing in it, unless you counted anger. The girl was still biting her lip, her eyes on Severus, and she looked even more wary than before. Finally she answered.

"Lily Potter."

Severus stared at the girl who had shocked him more in the matter of a couple of hours than anyone had in his entire life. And even as he wanted to deny it, he couldn't. He could see remnants of the woman who had once been his best friend in the girl before him. Hey eyes, while not the same color, were just as bright as Lily's had been. The girl no doubt got her fearlessness from Lily as well. Her need to and want to help those in trouble. Her long wavy hair and perfect nose. The way she bit her bottom lip in stressful situations where she was feeling insecure or unsure. But most importantly, it was how her magic was so familiar to him, so pure and bright, that it was the undoing to his doubt.

To say Draco was shocked was an understatement. She couldn't be. He refused to believe this girl, this amazingly sarcastic, witty, powerful and beautiful girl was related to Potter.

'Wait! Beautiful? Where did that come from?'

He shook his head to cleat it and though about all the facts. She was powerful. The Dark Lord was definitely powerful, and Lily Potter had to be if she was an unspeakable. Everything fit with what she said was true. Not to mention the fact that she could get under his skin faster than even Potter could, and that was saying something. He looked to her, and while he couldn't see much resemblance to Potter in her, looking in her eyes there was something there. Draco gasped upon his realization.

They were just like Potters! Not the same color obviously, but the expressiveness, the emotion, the brightness.

'Unbelievable'

Was all Draco could really think.

Skyler huffed irritably at the two goggling at her as if she had just confessed she was in love with the Dark Lord, although she did realize it must be a very big bomb shell to drop on them. She wondered how they would react to the plans she had made, and the other information she had.

She looked to the professor, who still seemed to be coming to terms with what he had been told. She felt for the man before her, for while she didn't spend everyday around him, she did know him. She knew how trapped he was, what with his life being run by two manipulators battling for power, and him being smack in the middle of it. She also knew the guilt he felt over the death of her mother . He did so much and risked what little life he had to try to bring justice, to have even one person look upon him as more than what they had thought him to be. As more than just a Slytherin with the dark mark who is destined to murder and torture. It pained her to know this, but drove her with determination to fix it.

Then there was Draco Malfoy. Gorgeous, rich, snobby ,sarcastic, and Slytherin. As Skyler turned her eyes to him, his shock was palpable. She laughed on the inside. His fights with her brother were famous. It must be hard to take in the fact that there were two of them now.

'I wonder how he'll take it when I get sorted into Slytherin?'

It really shouldn't be a surprise when she did, being the heir of Salazar himself, but Draco looked as if he had so many shocks in one night that his brain could barely get past what he was being told in the here and now. Looking him over, she knew he would be a powerful ally. She would need him, as much as she needed her brother. She felt a connection to Draco, though she hardly knew why. She felt that underneath all of his masks and Malfoy pride was someone like her. Someone who just wanted to be free and wild, spontaneous and carefree. But he was a Malfoy, as he had already proven barely an hour after she had saved his life.

She rolled her eyes at the thought of the nonsense that came from his mouth. How he could be proud of his parents was anyones guess, but Skyler had a feeling that it hadn't really sunk in that they could no longer harm him, and that in no small terms, he had been set free. Him and the rest of the death eater children.

'So much to talk about, so much to do.'

She looked at Draco again, his blonde hair like a halo around his head.

'Almost like an ang..'

She snorted at even the thought. Draco would not be easy to get along with. She had to get through years of Malfoy pride and walls. It would be quite a challenge. At this point, she was just glad she was just as Slytherin, if not more so, than the rest of them.

Skyler's lips once again curled into a smirk at that thought, her violet eyes bright with mischief. Draco glared at the smirk that out-shone his own, and upon seeing the silver eyes glare at her, as she sat in this office, knowing it was only the beginning of a very long conversation and plans, only one thought wound through her mind.

'And what a challenge it'll be'