A/N:
Quick announcement. I made a mistake, thinking there were only six years in Hogwarts, so please excuse the errors.
I thought about a bunch of possibilities through out the course of that night. Studying forgone, I couldn't help in think of Myrtle Warren. I knew that if I interfered I would be killed by the Basilisk, that, alone, shook me to my core. I couldn't let that happen to her. It was our fifth year here. One more year to complete everything. I knew of Tom's plan, I'd seen it before, I knew he was about to get Hagrid framed, he would open the Chamber of Secrets in a fortnight, he would give into the bitterness and hatred that began to make roots in his heart. I was sacred beyond belief for him, for little Harry who had yet to be born, and for everyone who lived and would live in the wizarding world.
When I got back to the dormitories I sat there on my bed concentrating on the future- any possible future, trying to shift it if even a little, to a different course. Nothing, so far had been changed, no matter how hard I concentrated on the future, everything was still the same. I was still seeing Myrtle's death in that girls' bathroom on the second floor, still seeing a snake-like featured Tom kill Lily Evans and James Potter, and his dying attempt to kill their baby boy, Harry, who would be born two years from now, no matter what happened or who it bothered.
If anything, I would try to save Myrtle Warren, even if it was the last thing I did.
The future of the Potters would survive if I it was the last thing I did, their son deserved to grow up in a happy home not a life of misery with those bitter muggles that are known as the Dursleys. I knew parseltongue wasn't common, I also knew that Tom spoke it as perfectly, as did I. I tried it once on a snake at the zoo, a year before Dumbledore came to inform me that I was indeed a witch.
I met Tom on the train, he sat by himself, seeing as the other compartments were full I asked him if it would be alright to sit with him, him promptly nodding only once in response. He barely acknowledged me until I tripped when the train unexpectedly jolted, and practically fell on his lap, bumping our heads together. We laughed about it and then sobered up, and had become inseparable since then.
We became instant friends after that, even after we were placed in different houses. Though I could have been on any of the houses, seeing as I possessed all the characteristics of each house, mainly Slytherin and Gryffindor were what the sorting hat advised me to pick. I could have been in either but something told me I'd be happier in Gryffindor. I was heartbroken, to say the least. I knew then that our friendship would change, I had seen it. Tom and I spoke, we hung out even if our houses didn't understand why we did it. Lily and Severus Snape had been close friends too but they had seemed to drift apart, being in different house was difficult, I knew and understood. Still our friendship seemed to become something more, I knew this, I had seen it long ago.
I had only agreed to go out with Sirius when Tom decided he wanted to go out with different girls, preferably girls from the Slytherin house even if it was just to mess around with them, that is how he ended up with a girl named Jane Sivorski, a tiny pixie like girl, with a point nose and angular face, a year or two older than us.
I was already heartbroken from that, and only ended up hurt from the situation when I realized I wanted to know what having a boyfriend was. Wrong person, bad experience, not enough time to regret it. It was only twelve at midnight, I got in around nine forty-five. I had already managed to think up of three different scenarios to stop from two things happening.
One, I was going to befriend Myrtle Warren, If I could help it, and I can, I would be the person the bathroom instead of her.
Two, the attacks in muggleborns and half-bloods were going on as it was, I had to find a way to stop him. The heir of Slytherin himself had to be stopped, I honestly don't know how it would stop with him being a half-blood himself.
I was scared for everyone here, even the purebloods, monsters could be controlled so much. That's what worried me, it worried me more than anything else.
Salazar Slytherin had to be the most sinister to think that by manufacturing a basilisk and hiding it within the castle. For obvious reasons, nobody has been able to find the entrance. I however, saw where it was when Tom discovered it.
I had been so focused on planning that I didn't realize I had fallen asleep. By the time I woke up it was six in the morning, I rushed to shower quickly, ringed the water from my hair and put it into a fishtail braid, changing into my uniform and robe quickly; making sure I didn't forget my wand or any of my books, and the report I needed to turn in today, so that I wouldn't forget to do so two weeks from now.
It was six thirty by the time I was done. I felt like new by the time I made my way to the Great Hall for breakfast. I sat down waiting for everyone to begin coming down.
Breakfast flew by. I only remember serving myself a couple of waffles, only finishing half of it before I began eating a small fruit salad. I avoided Tom and any of the Slytherin students for the rest of the day, all except Narcissa and Lucius, who approached me in between defense against the dark arts and potions class.
"Is there something wrong with you a-and...and Riddle?" Narcissa asked, a worried expression on her face.
"No, we had a small discussion, there are things we both need to think about. He needs to think about thoroughly before we decide anything." I said, smiling at them, before walking into the DADA class, I realized that that class was a mixture of Gryffindor and Slytherin students and my seat happened to be next to Tom's.
I got to class earlier than usual and switched seats with the person next to Remus. Looking ahead, avoiding all the stares I got. Including Tom's, Lily's and Alice's questioning glances. As soon as the class finished I rushed to my next class not bothering with anyone else.
I had managed to avoid anyone and everyone; unfortunately, everyone had already noticed something was off. I had also noticed that everyone including the teachers began questioning my weird behavior.
It was after seventh period when Professor Dumbledore cornered me after Transfigurations class. I was just about to leave when a vision hit me; strong, fast and hard:
Vision:
Five students had been petrified, and the Beast that lived in the mythical Chamber of Secrets would be killing soon. Something dark and horrible is lurking and will soon arise.
I felt myself stiffen. Tom, no!
"Is there something you would like... to tell me, Annamarie?" Professor Dumbledore asked me, peaking at me through the top of his half-moon spectacles.
I felt myself start to sway on my feet, and my eyes roll to the back of my head. Before I could even respond I felt myself plummeting to the ground and land on a heap on the cold hard ground. I heard moving as I felt myself being pulled deeper into the darkness. The entire time that I was under I saw things that were going to happen soon. From the looks of it Tom had made his decision. Good or bad, I had to see what would happen to my Tom.
I then began to see how the future shifted based on that little decision. Wars that were supposed to have happened years from now no longer existed. Families that were torn apart, bloodline shot dead would continue for thousands of thousands of thousands of years, people who were supposed to die suddenly had futures again, families.
I had no idea how long I was under, the abyss seemed too wide and too deep to get out of, I was beginning to feel like I would never wake up. Suddenly I felt a pull and then I began to hear buzzing in my ears.
"Perhaps, we should take her to St. Mungo's. She has been out for almost four hours. There is no change in her state, especially with our limited resources here. She's be better at the hospital where there are more resources, better chances of here waking up faster." Madame Noelle spoke softly, from somewhere near the bed.
"No, it seems she is in a state of trance, nothing can be done. Only she can snap out of it. Until then she is to stay here. Call Albus or myself if anything within her state changes." Headmaster Dippet said firmly, before leaving.
"Headmaster Dippet, perhaps it is something strong keeping her in the unconscious state. She is known to be a seer, predictions truer than those of Sybil Trelawney and her readings. There may be a chance she knows who is behind all of these petrifications of the students... even what beast itself is, and has been going around causing chaos, she could be the answer to end this debacle." Professor Dumbledore urged, worry creeping into his usually calm voice.
"Who are you suggesting it is, Albus? We cannot just start pointing fingers to whomever we suspect, you know. You of all people should know that. We have searched and searched through and through all of the school and its grounds, from top to bottom, side to side, many upon many times and have come up empty handed all of those times, what do you suggest it could be Albus? I am afraid if this doesn't stop soon, I will have no choice but to send the students home and close the school down for good. There is no other option." Headmaster said, fear and disappointment as he walked away.
I felt myself begin to regain the ability to move my every limbs, I was just about to force open my eye lids when I was once again pulled into another vision.
Vision:
Tom stood in the second-floor girls bathroom, in front of the sinks. He was tense as he spoke in parseltongue, the sink began to move and the monster arose from its home in the Chamber.
The beast arose from its home deep within the castle slowly, it was a greenish yellow-eyed female basilisk, from the looks of It, it only obeyed Tom. Who knows if it would obey me, I spoke parseltongue but that didn't mean zit when it came to controlling the beast itself. It was out of my control.
He then proceeded to pull his wand out and perform the stunning curse on it.
"Stupefy!" with the flick of his wrist the beast was dead. But not before hissing at him angrily, it fell dead on the cold ground.
To make sure the beast was slain he took out a sharp, gleaming dagger, with a serpent encircling the hilt and stuck it into the beast's head, blood spilled from the wound, spilling onto Tom's hand and onto the floor.
As the vision began to fade his body began trembling violently, and his breathing became hectic.
What was going on? I realized that he could be in danger. Basilisk couldn't have killed its master before it died by a simple glance, could it?
The image faded into black nothingness. I could feel myself get startled out of the vision, so much so that the scream the built up in my chest was suddenly trying to claw it way out of my chest. I had to find him, and I had to be faster than them.
I peeked through my lashes first to make sure no one was in the room with me, then I slowly sat up. Since I knew I had to be quick, I quickly said the imperturbable charm under my breathe, putting it around me and ran as fast as I could to the second-floor girls' bathroom.
I found the vision I had had a few minutes ago playing before me, as I heard Tom say the killing curse.
"Stupefy!" He bellowed, flicking his wrist in a rapid S motion.
I almost had a heart attack when I heard foot steps behind me. It was all our teachers and the Headmaster. I rushed to Tom's side as he trembled violently, my heart rate increased as I felt him hug me closer to his body as if he was cold. We trembled violently as we held each other, tears streamed down my face as I breathed in his musky scent, he smelled of pine, cedar with a touch of another manly scent.
I could get used to this. I thought inhaling some more of his scent.
"Mr. Riddle, what-what is going on here?" Headmaster Dippet asked calmly, taking in the scene before them, though I could tell his voice sounded troubled. He suspected the heir to be someone of Slytherin, Tom being one of the many suspects, since he was in Slytherin.
I knew this would happen, so I decided I should be the one who stepped in, explain and clear it up as soon as possible. I had to squash any suspicions. Immediately.
"Headmaster, Tom and I saw someone opening the Chamber of Secrets, when we confronted the person he ran but not before summoning the beast that lived in there on us. Tom acted quickly, and before it could attack us, he killed it. The person who let it loose got away before we could do anything to stop them." I rushed out.
"How-how did you get here, Miss. Riel? Last time I was informed you were unconscious in the hospital wing. How did you manage to get here so quickly?" Headmaster asked, eyeing me.
"I-I saw in a vision what was about to happen. I-I couldn't let something happen to Tom, err, h-he and I are close friends. He's the only one I have, close to family or a friend." I explained my eyes tearing up.
Tom holding me closer to him in a comforting gesture.
His arms tightening their hold on me. It was a good thing to because I felt like my legs were about to give out from underneath me.
"Anna and I have always shared a bond since the minute we met. She felt and knew I was in danger, that...that's why she rushed to my side, even though she had been unconscious for a better part of the day." He explained, never letting go of me.
They looked struck, or shocked at what we had just old them. Unbelievingly so that they eyed us as we still hugged, both still shaking.
"I want you both in the hospital wing to get checked out. Immediately. Even if it is just shock or adrenaline from what you both witnessed and experienced, I want the both of you to stay there until tomorrow, I shall give both of you passes for the day. You two shall be excused for tomorrow from classes. Now go, both of you, we will check the monster and dispose of it." Headmaster said, dismissing the both of us.
I felt as Tom practically dragged me down the stairs and towards the Hospital Wing. We quickly made our way into the hospital wing, where I proceeded to collapse once more onto the bed I was placed earlier. I felt Tom's stare from the bed next to mine as I laid there thinking, trying to process everything that had happened in the last hour.
"Did this answer all of your questions or do you need me to prove that you are more important to me than anyone else here?" He asked, his voice held a slight hint of amusement.
"Question? Tom, I simply told you what I felt. I didn't realize you didn't feel the same way about me that I felt about you." I said, my lip beginning to tremble.
"Annie, will you-? Please, at least look at me..." He whispered, almost begging, sighing as he began getting up from his bed and climbed into mine, hugging me to him.
"Why is it you think there isn't any good in you, Tom? I know there is. There must be, if not how do you explain what you just did? You are saving thousands of thousands of people Tom. People that aren't even born yet. People that aren't here yet." I said, when I felt him wrap a strong, muscular arm around my waist.
"I am sure that I am a monster, for the sole and simple fact that I can speak Parseltongue. People run from me based on that sole fact, the fact that I am very persuasive. Haven't you paid any attention in these signs the past few years? Being a parseltongue is a mark of the Dark Arts of magic. Salazar Slytherin thought that only certain people should know and be able to learn about magic. I wholly agreed with that until..." He sighed, as if gathering the nerve to actually say the words, "Until I-until I met you. " He said, his voice wary. I could hear the pain in his voice.
I already knew he thought of himself as this. What I couldn't process through my mind was why. We had so many things in common, the only thing that hurt us both so deeply was the fact our families abandoning us so carelessly.
Yet, what our families did to us was harsh, they abandoned us without looking back, whether it was intentional or not. I don't know what is worse, the fact that they may still be alive, for Tom, and that it hurt him, to see him in pain hurt me more. Tears began to form in my eyes. I began to cry for Tom and for me, I knew where I came from yet I still had twelve years' worth of scars to heal.
"Can I call you Tommy?" I asked suddenly, trying to distract him.
"Tommy?" He asked me in amusement, I could already imagine seeing the expression in his face. "You do realize that I despise that name don't you?" He asked, amused.
His lips were pursed as he tried to hide his smile; I knew if he didn't have to stay quiet he would've been laughing his arse off. His beautiful bright green eyes were practically glowing with excitement and happiness.
"Is that a no? Come on, don't normal couples usually give each other cute pet names? I mean, if you decided to take your offer back then I'll understand but I want you to know that my answer is yes. Yes, Tom I would love to be your girlfriend." I said, putting my dainty hand on top of his masculine one. "I mean, people are already wary of me, to an extent. Why not enjoy it?" I wondered out loud.
"I meant what I said yesterday, Anna. I really have grown to like you these past few weeks. But I think that I have sort of always felt something towards you since we first met on that train all those years ago when we bumped heads right after you fell on my lap. We've been friends for five years, last two years on my poor judgement we had a falling out. It made me realize that I'll do anything for you, to see you smile at me, to make you happy. I've never met anyone who made me want to be a better person, people have always thought of me as weird, in the orphanage that I grew up in the people in charge of it wanted to have me committed. I hated everyone there, I still do. But going back isn't so horrible when I know someone like you is waiting for me here. Hogwarts is the closest thing I have that resembles a home. You are home for me." He said, interlocking our fingers together.
I smiled at him, knowing exactly what he was talking about. I wondered what Headmaster Dippet would be doing to the beast's carcass. Could we really be in trouble if the beast was dead, being the heir of Slytherin isn't Tom's fault, in fact, we didn't discover this until at least our third year here, Tom had informed me everything he had discovered, he was proud of that fact. It was then that he began getting interested in Dark Magic.
I would find him in the restricted section of the library so many times, that I didn't need my visions to tell me what he was up to. I remember the day we fought over this, it got so mad he called me a filthy mudblood, it ended with me crying and walking away from him, and proceeding to avoid him for the next month and a half, until he cornered me.
Three years before:
I had just finished my homework in the library with my friend, Grisha Mac Laggen, she is another Gryffindor in the same year. I met her and she told me she is heir to Gryffindor. I was excited to say the least. I knew Hufflepuff had an heir too, Zachariah Smit. As did Ravenclaw, Genevieve Zambwit. I don't remember exactly who they were but I do know we are all in the same year. I was on my way to the tower to put away all my homework when I was suddenly grabbed from behind. My books, parchments, quill and ink bottle splayed out on the floor, as I was dragged into one of the empty class rooms.
"Tom?" I gasped out, shocked at his expression, a scowl etched on his handsome face.
"Annamarie, what in bloody hell were you doing with that, that girl?" He spat out at me, his voice harsher then I'd ever seen him in the time I'd heard him use. I flinched back in response.
"Who? Grisha?" I stuttered, as he nodded in response.
" Oh, we were pared up this morning in Transfiguration with Professor Dumbledore. We were to change our pets into either a water glass or a pocket watch. Since I didn't get one last year and wasn't planning to get one until next year, Grisha was nice enough to let me practice with one of hers. We were studying spells and trying to memorize them so we didn't make any mistakes tomorrow in class." I explained.
He looked distressed for a second, he's green eyes seems to take a yellow green glow to it. I gasped in fear as I felt myself leave the present, only to realize that I was pulled into what our Divination's professor called a vision.
Vision:
Tom slowly making his way towards the restricted section of the library. He slowly made his way towards the history and spell section.
He pulled out a book, the book itself made a cold shiver run up and down my spine.
The three unforgiveable curses:
Killing Curse:
Incantation: Avada Kedavra.
No survivors known as of yet. It is one of the most powerful and sinister spells known in the wizarding community and to all its kind. The effects are instantaneous and painless death.
The Killing Curse is an 'unblockable' curse, thus shield charms won't defend against it. It was invented during what is known the early Middle Ages by Dark witches or wizards. The curse created primarily as a means of quickly and efficiently slaying one's opponent in a duel. It can be assumed that this was a popular and frequently used curse in dueling.
Described as a jet or flash of blinding green light that 'illuminates every corner of the room' followed by a rushing sound, which causes the victim instant death. Victims of the Killing Curse are identified by the fact that they simply appear to have dropped dead for no biological reason.
The curse requires great skill in order to be performed correctly. You need nerve and ability.
There is no counter-curse since it is not possible to revive the dead. However, there are some exceptions to it:
*: Sacrificial protection, which uses the power of love. However, one may dodge the green bolt, block it with a physical barrier, or the use of Priori Incantatem.
* The most effective method of surviving the Killing Curse is Sacrificial protection. The willing sacrifice for another, a manifestation of love, which is the most potent defense against the 'unblockable' Killing Curse.
- Love is a powerful and mysterious branch of magic.
- It gives those who experience it the ability to do very great things.
* Another defense employed against the Killing Curse is the creation of at least one Horcrux. The creation of Horcruxes is a preventive measure, created by a wizard long before he faces an actual Killing Curse attack.
-However, a Horcrux is less effective than Sacrificial protection, since it only allows a little more than the soul of the target to live, while the target's body still dies.
- If one's has Horcruxes, they will, they will not be dead, but they will barely be alive and will be reduced to nothingness.
- To living off of another, drinking Unicorn blood, using the Philosopher's Stone (if it exists) and creating a rudimentary body.
- Horcrux: To contain fragments of a soul and prevent death.
Cruciatus Curse: also known as the Torture Curse
Incantation: Crucio
A tool the Dark arts, one of the three Unforgivable Curses. Is one of the most powerful, and sinister spells known to the wizarding community and all its kind. When cast successfully, the curse inflicts intense excruciating pain on its victim. Considering that the curse does not physically harm the victim, it is possible that it only stimulates the pain receptors.
The pain the curse causes by the Cruciatus Curse is described as worse than "one thousand white-hot knives boring into the skin"
The sensation of the curse is so intense that the person under the effects wishes for unconsciousness and even death, as a means of escape This pain can cause permanent mental injury if exposed to for prolonged time.
To successfully perform this curse, merely uttering the incantation is not enough. The wizard or witch must possess a deep desire to cause the victim pain. The curse's potency and results vary from caster to caster and its effects are expected to be rendered relatively ineffective when used by either those who are inexperienced or timid.
To this point there is no spell that can defend against the Cruciatus Curse.
Imperious Curse:
Incantation: Imperio
A tool of the Dark Arts, and is one of the three Unforgivable Curses. It is one of the most powerful and sinister spells known to the wizarding community and its kind. When cast successfully, the curse places the victim completely under the caster's control, though a person with exceptional strength of will is capable of resisting it.
It is also unique in that is the least harmful of the curses ( unless one counts the complete lack of free will) except if performed improperly.
The Imperious Curse was created during what is known as the early Middle Ages by dark witches and wizards. The curse was created for the coercion and brainwashing of others into slavery. Unlike the other Unforgivables, being subjected to the Imperious Curse- when adequately cast- is not an unpleasant experience, in fact, quite the opposite; the victim of an Imperius Curse is placed in a calm, trance-like state in which feeling of responsibility and anxiety is banished (drawing parallels to the muggle world's phenomenon of hypnosis)
An adequately imperiused being is placed under the caster's total control and may be directed to do anything the caster wishes, including crimes such as murder, political corruption, embezzlement, and even suicide.
Also while under the caster's control, the curse may endow the victim with whatever skills that are required in order to complete the task at hand, such as increased strength or allowing them to cast spells above their level.
It is possible for someone who has been Imperioused to place others under the curse as well.
When cast correctly Imperious Curse is terminated- for whatever reason- the victim becomes themselves again.
The Cruciatus, Imperius and Avada Kedavra Curses were not made unforgivable until the year 1717.
The smirk that Tom had on his face could only mean one thing, He was planning something, something big.
Suddenly as if playing an entire movie, I saw all of Tom Marvolo Riddle's life flash before my eyes within a few seconds. It wasn't going to be good.
"Dark Arts, Tom? Really? Why would you want to know about something like that?" I asked, voice shaking. I felt as if I had been hit in the stomach, the wind had been knocked out of me.
His green eyes widened, "How did... how did you know?" He asked me, eyeing me carefully.
"Do you want me to tell you? Fine, then take my hand and I'll show you." I said, holding out my hand towards him.
He took it hesitantly, the moment my hand touched his, I brought back the future that I had already seen happening as soon as he decided to study the Dark Arts of Magic. I felt him tense beside me, for a second.
We watched together his future, as soon as the vision stopped I let go of his hand, and looked at him straight in the eye.
"Though not everything was clear I can tell you that if you keep your course you will meet a horrible death. Goodnight, Tom Riddle." I said, as I tried to walk away from him.
"I will not let a filthy little mudblood, like you, tell me what to do. I don't know how or what you just did a few seconds ago, but don't think for a second that this will deter me!" He said, in a firm voice.
"Think, say, and do whatever you want Tom, I was just trying to be your friend. But whatever. Don't talk to me. Or better yet come find me when you decide to be a friend again. Not the arsehole that is standing before me." I said, pulling my arm out of his grip and running back towards Gryffindor Tower.
Later that same night:
When I walked into the Tower, Grisha was sitting in the common room, reading a book, she was one of the girls aside from Lily, Molly, and Alice that shared the room with me. I realized this and knew that something was up.
"Gri? What's going on?" I asked her.
"Annamarie, something has happened today... I think I found out who your family is and which bloodline you belong to..." She began.
I nodded as I sat down in the chair in front of her. Feeling as the air in the room grow tense.
"I found out who your parents are. I had slight suspicion of who they were based on something you always wear." She continued once I got settled in.
She pointed to my locket.
"Your parents were a part of my family... Your mother was my older sister, Lucia Marie Mac Laggen, she married Johnathon James Riel. Both your parents knew they were going to die. A wizard named Alexei Kuznetsova, he was a power-hungry man, who strived for perfection. He tried to do what Salazar Slytherin tried to do to the school, only it was the world he was purging. Your parents, were lovely people. The entire family loved them, nobody knew Lucy was with child, she never showed. When we did find out it was too late, Alexei had already attacked them, they were killed trying to protect a family of muggleborns and their families. From what we're told."
All this time I had kept hope in me that I would one day be able to search the world for my parents and that, I could get an explanation as to why they left me like a sack of potatoes on the floor in front of the orphanage, St. Josephine's Home for girls. I felt my heart shatter as I learned what really happened and why they had left me.
"Your parents hid you from the world by only leaving one clue to your existence for us to find. You see your mother, left you wearing the locket that had been handed down for thousands of thousands of generations in our family, that and your whole name, it is Sophia Annamarie Riel Mac Laggen. You are a part of the Gryffindor bloodline... Along with the Slytherin bloodline from you father's side. Don't worry you, aren't related to the Gaunts." She explained, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
" I thought... but.. how is it even possible? I was abandoned my entire life, how am I supposed to know if what you say is true!" I babbled, unsure.
"I-I need time for this to sink in. Give me time please." I said, getting up and going to the room and collapsing onto the bed, proceeding to sink into unconsciousness. The next morning, I woke up with a startled gasp. Lily and Alice were already dressed sitting down on Lily's bed, they both turned wide-eyed to stare at me with questioning glances.
"Where is Grisha?" I asked them, gathering my uniform and robe to go take a shower.
"She woke up earlier than us. She said she was going to be down stares studying for an exam we are having in potions later on." Alice commented as she braided a section of Lily's hair.
"Oh ok. I guess, I'll talk to her later then." I said, rushing to the bathroom to shower and dress before breakfast. I had showered and gotten dressed in under ten minutes. Leaving my long hair in its usual style of choice, a long fishtail braid, only this time I added little flowers to it.
I made it to breakfast, ate quietly and went to all of my classes. I sat in all of my classes, worked when I had to, answered when I need to. If we were working by ourselves, I always finished my work fast, waited for it to be checked and asked if I could be dismissed early to either go to the nurse or run to the Gryffindor tower. That was during the week, or when we had class, during the weekends I stayed locked in my room, or in the common room. I only left the tower during class and week days, or mandatory meetings, or meal times.
I had managed to stay away from Tom all month long, it hurt what he said. He knew he was hitting below the belt, he knew this, yet he still did it. I knew eventually he would try to talk to me, I had a feeling. That feeling turned out to be true when he cornered me in the hall way with Lucius and Narcissa.
"Annie!" Cissy called, as I turned the hallway.
I noticed Tom was with them, his beautiful forest green eyes had a pleading look in them, making my heart skip a beat. I shook it off and scowled at them. I knew what they were doing, choosing to ignore them instead, before they reached me, I rushed to where Lily sat with Alice, Molly and Grisha. I plopped down besides Grisha and smiled at her, feeling safe, even if it was for a while.
Present:
I snapped out of the reminiscing, when I felt Tom's warm breath on my neck. I stiffened for a second before I realized he was asleep, his breathing evened out. I looking back and smiled fondly at him, thinking of how I always felt safe with him, though I had yet to tell him, all of the things I discovered with Grisha, the past two weeks were intense for me. My stomach rolled as I thought of his reaction. What if he decided that we couldn't be together because of our ancestry and bloodline? That made my stomach churn in anticipation.
I barely slept a wink that night thinking of everything that had happened the last twenty-four hours. I had yet to say a word to Lilly and the ladies. It was around five in the morning, when I felt it useless trying to sleep, knowing that I had to tell Tom. I waited for Madam Noelle to come and check on me before I could be dismissed. I had laid down on the bed Tom was originally on, when we came last night.
I has just walked into the Gryffindor Tower into the common room when I remembered something I read in Hogwarts: A history. Under a specific section of the book was based on the Four Founders of Hogwarts. One of them being the known power-hungry Salazar Slytherin. He, himself was a pure-blood, rumored to be originated from 'the fens' region. He was a Parseltongue, amazingly skilled at Legilimency, a Legilimen and probably also skilled at Occlumency. If Tom is his heir, wouldn't he be skilled at casting Legilimency spells too? Meaning he could be reading my mind anytime he wants, even know what I have just found out two weeks ago. Shocked at my discovery, I dropped the book I was studying Potions from.
I suddenly, I felt as if I was being watched. But I knew I was completely alone, still I cast an imperturbable charm around my room, making sure that only those who stayed with me in the room were the only ones to be able to get through the door, aside from the ghost who inhabited the tower itself. I felt better after I put the charm around the room along with a silencer.
I began feeling an odd sensation throughout the day. The feeling of being watched was gone, now I felt an odd sensation, as if a big vision was coming. Grisha had just gotten in, it was an hour before dinner, when suddenly I felt as if I gotten zonked on the top of the head.
Vision:
I was in a weird room, the middle of the week, the twelfth month of the year, second week of the month. But which year?
I stood looking out of the window, lost in thought.
The door of the shack opened and closed, footsteps were heard. Suddenly, a smile appeared on my face. It was Tom. He pulled me into a fierce hug before he leaned in to kiss me passionately.
The vision blurred around the edges, meaning that there are still decisions that haven't been made. Something big is going to happen and it is something massive, enough so that I already. There must be, it is barely the middle of August, the vision doesn't happen until mid-December. I didn't hold me breath on it though, sometimes things happened and sometimes they didn't.
I smelled a weird scent began to penetrate my nose, it burned my nose. I snapped my eyes opened to find Grisha holding a small glass phial up to my nose, and Lily and the other ladies standing by the door with shell-shocked identical expressions. I gave them all a tight smile, as I tried and failed to sit up. Grisha shook her head at me, and smiled back understanding. I sighed, as I looked back at the ladies again, sitting up slowly on my bed with Grisha's help.
"So, I found out more about my family..." I said, fake excitement in my bland tone.
"It turns out that ...Grisha and I are related. Grish, w-would you explain to them? I need to lie down again before I zonk out again." I said, laying back down on the bed as I waited for them to sit around Grisha and I.
"I found out Sophia's parents are. I had slight suspicion of who they were based on something she always wears or keeps near her." She began once I got settled on the bed.
"So-Sophia? I thought her name is Annamarie...?" Alice said confused, her pixie-like features shinning in excitement. She began bouncing in her seat as she waited for the rest of the details.
"Yes, my name is Sophia Annamarie Riel-MacLaggen, my father is Johnathon James Riel and my mother is Lucia Marie Mac Laggen... Let Gri finish and then you all can ask questions, not of the future, just of this situation." I said, tiredly.
"Her parents were a part of my family... very loved by both sides of our families. Her mother was my older sister, Lucia Marie Mac Laggen, she married Johnathon James Riel. Both her parents knew they were going to die. A wizard named Alexei Kuznetsova, a power-hungry sorcerer, who strived for perfection, nothing less. He tried to do what Salazar Slytherin tried to do to the school, the only difference with him was that he did it with the entire wizarding world, purging it from what he thought were non-worthy, meaning half-bloods and muggleborns but mainly muggleborns. Her parents, were lovely people, kind and loving, very rare people to find in deed. The entire family loved them from both the Riel and the MacLaggen sides, nobody knew Lucy was with child, she never showed. When we did find out it...i-it was too late, Alexei had already attacked them, killing both of them minutes apart from each other. They were killed trying to protect a family of muggleborns and their families." Grisha explained, looking at the locket that hung on around my neck.
I smiled as I remembered seeing a picture of them together in the Quidditch case that held trophies there, and another for services to the school. I felt happy and at peace for once in my life.
"Her parents hid her from the world, leaving only one clue to her existence for the family to find after their death; Her mother left her wearing the locket that had been handed down for thousands of thousands of generations in our family, that and her whole name is a dead giveaway to anyone in our family. It happens Sophia Annamarie Riel MacLaggen, anyone in the family would have to be blind and deaf to not see or recognize it. She happens to be a part of the Gryffindor bloodline... A-along with the Slytherin bloodline from her father's side. Her father though not a direct descendent happens to be a part of the Slytherin Bloodline. Don't worry you aren't related to the Gaunts." She explained, her eyes shining once more with unshed tears. "You and Tom Riddle can continue to be together, you aren't related to him. Directly anyway, it's more like cousins by marriage type of thing." She explained, jokingly.
"So, you are the missing Sophie Marie MacLaggen that has been missing?" Lily asked.
"It appears so. Though why my grandmother changed my name is beyond me." I said, sitting up again.
"You should probably know Sophie, that, your father's family has been whipped out. One of the members went completely insane when they found out Nate, your father, was killed. So, they committed... a homicide-slash-suicide. We found out after your parents' funerals. You're the last Riel known, alive to the bloodline... that we know of..." She said, sadly.
"My mother was only trying to protect you, thus Sophie Marie MacLaggen was born as a precaution, just in case anyone wanted to finish killing off the rest of the Riel bloodline." She stated.
I looked at all their faces, monitoring their reactions, Alice had stopped bouncing in her seat, Molly was staring at Grisha wide-eyed, and Lily's eyes were watery.
"W-we should probably go get some dinner now. It starts in fifteen minutes!" Alice said, excitement coming back.
"Don't worry, we won't tell a soul, Annie." Molly said, as she pulled her red hair up into a ponytail.
"We really won't, Anna." Alice stated seriously, before excitement returning to her features.
"So, can we start calling you Sophia or Sophie or Anna now?" Lily asked, excitedly, her blue jewel-like eyes sparkling like a big star.
"No, I want to keep my name the same, Annamarie Riel is all there is right now. I'll know soon if there is any need to change it." I said, before we exited the room.