Holly Potter - Heiress of Slytherin Chapter 15

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Coming back from Astronomy class I was wanting nothing more than to collapse on my bed and go to sleep. Since coming back from break, astronomy is now on Tuesdays, which isn't a problem in itself, but sometimes I have a tendency to overdo it during dueling club which leaves me a little tired. So when I finally got back to my room I changed into a sleepshirt, leaving my robes in a pile on the floor and collapsed on the bed. It was when my head hit my pillow that something was wrong. It took a moment for my brain to register the fact that my head hit something hard.

"Ow." I muttered. Reaching my hand back behind my head to feel something very bookish.

Pansy let out a small chuckle then asked "You okay?"

"Yeah. Did you leave a book on my bed?"

"No. Did you let someone borrow one?"

"No." At this point I was sitting up and reaching for my light. As soon as I slid the lantern cover open I looked down at the book in my hands with a puzzled look.

"What you got there?" Pansy asked, seeing the bewilderment on my face.

"Hogwarts yearbook 1945."

"Weird. I'm going to bed. Good night." Pansy got Into her bed and pulled her curtains shut.

"Goodnight." I replied, and not wanting to be rude I grabbed my lantern and drew my curtains closed. The yearbook was bookmarked with a piece of parchment. Opening the book to the marked page revealed the parchment had writing on it which read, "Meet me in the astronomy tower during the start of the next Quidditch match. Please come alone." Needless to say I was more annoyed that my sleep was postponed until I looked at the marked page in the yearbook. It was the seventh year Slytherins and one picture stood out, granted he was older when I saw him in the mirror, but it was definitely him. "Tom Riddle." I said in a whisper. I flipped through the yearbook trying to find more pictures of him, but fell asleep somewhere along the way.

When I woke up it was almost lunch time and Pansy was gone. I made my way to the bathroom, and after relieving myself, took a shower, helping me to wake up fully. After my shower I still had almost an hour before lunch so I decided to take another look at the yearbook, however it was nowhere to be found. I threw on a clean robe and headed to the library.

It felt like I was being watched as I made my way to the library. There was an eerie quiet that seemed to move with me through the dungeons. I listened for footsteps, and took glances over my shoulder, neither giving any indication of anyone around me. I shook the feeling the best I could, after all the only reason I'm not in class right now is because I had Astronomy last night, and the castle corridors can be desolate at times.

Arriving at the library I headed to the collection of yearbooks, but 1945 was missing, as were the six years prior. I asked Madam Pince about the missing books, and she informed me that they had all gone missing several years ago, before she became the librarian. I left the library disappointed and went to the Great Hall, as it wouldn't be long until lunch was served.

Pansy was already there sitting next to Draco with Crabbe and Goyle across from them. I sat my bag on the table next to Pansy and plopped down, crossing my arms over my bag and resting my forehead on them.

"Hello sleepyhead. Long night?" Pansy said, too cheerful for how I felt.

"Yeah. Kinda." I responded, then rolling my head to face her I continued, "Did you move that book this morning? I couldn't find it when I woke up."

"No. Maybe whoever put it there took it back?"

"What book was it?" Draco asked.

"A Hogwarts yearbook from a long time ago." Pansy answered before I could.

"Weird." Draco said, and then continued his conversation with Pansy. They were talking about quidditch, which I tuned out in favor of my own thoughts, trying to think of anyone that might have known about Tom Riddle. I told Susan what I saw in the mirror, but she wouldn't have any idea what Tom looks like, and I haven't told anything to anyone else. 

It wasn't until all of the professors walked in that I thought about Dumbledore. He knew that I had found the mirror. I know he knows something about Bellatrix Black. Could he have somehow seen what the mirror showed me and recognised Tom? I hoped that it wasn't him, because I found the thought of him sneaking about the girls dorm rather creepy.

________________________________________

The rest of the week dragged on, and I had problems concentrating on my classes. I had of course told Susan as soon as we had a moment to ourselves. She wanted to come with me when I met the mystery person, but I convinced her to let me meet the person on my own. She was a little disappointed but understood, as the note did say to come alone. 

Saturday finally arrived, and with it the quidditch match and my meeting with the mystery person. While most of the school was making their way to the pitch, I made my way to the astronomy tower. I knew I was early, but I was still disappointed to find myself alone, despite my winter coat, without the usual warming spells the cool wind seemed to cut to the bone. This was my first time up here during the day and the view made up for the cold. I took a seat on one of the benches and was looking out over the forest when I felt pressure on my back that radiated out a tingling over my entire body. I tried to move but I couldn't. My mind flooded with fear and anger until I heard a voice behind me.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." The voice was unfamiliar, but soothing. Seeming to sense my emotions calming the voice continued. "You were robbed of the life you should have had, and for that I am sorry. I know you have a lot of questions, but it is not yet time for all of them to be answered, because knowing the truth will place you in danger and I would be unable to protect you. Soon though I will rise again, and claim you as mine. Before I go let me share with you a few of my fondest memories."

A feeling of vertigo overtook me, and had my body not been frozen in place I would probably have fallen over. My vision faded out and was replaced by a vision. Bellatrix was laying in a bed, her hair was matted and disheveled, and her body was covered by a sheen of sweat. She was rocking  a newborn baby, wrapped in a pink blanket, in her arms and singing Hush Little Baby. It was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard as she sang,

"Hush little Lyra, don't say a word,

Mommy's gonna buy you a Thunderbird.

And if that Thunderbird flies away,

The wizarding world 'll have hell to pay.

And if those wizards won't pay you gold,

Daddy's gonna do things that can't be told.

And if those things don't come to pass,

Mommy's gonna have to kick some ass."

That vision faded and was replaced by a baby girl a few months old, lying in her crib crying. Her hands were outstretched in front of her. Bellatrix is standing over the crib cooing, trying to get the baby to sleep. All of a sudden a pink stuffed dragon with purple eyes flies off the shelf and straight into her arms. Bellatrix looks over to my point of view with the most beautifully bright smile I have ever seen and looks back at the baby and says "Look at my little Lyra. Already using magic. Mommy's so proud of you." Lyra has now stopped crying and is smiling. Her eyes open, violet eyes just like her mother's, and then shuts them and falls asleep.

My vision once again goes black and my normal senses come back. The spell that had frozen me in place now dispelled, I turned around to see that I was once again by myself. "Dad?" I say in almost a whisper, my voice cracking and tears streaming down my cheeks.

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Comments

Well that is quite the turn

Well that is quite the turn of events... was not expecting the ending there when I opened this chapter! Lol. As always, well done and I can't wait to read more! Loved the changes to the nursery rhyme as well!

I'm glad you enjoyed it

I'm glad you enjoyed it instead of forming an angry mob with pitchforks and torches to hunt me down. I was tempted to continue the chapter, but it was the perfect ending in my opinion. Definatly glad you enjoyed the nursery rhyme. It took me about an hour (and several edits) to come up with something that I could actually hear Bellatrix sing.

Nailed it.

You definitely nailed the nursery rhyme there. It's totally something I could hear her sing...

Did Daddy show up?

WillowD's picture

And is Daddy Tom Riddle? Nothing like a mystery to catch a reader's interest.

Well, if I have to say it,

Well, if I have to say it, then I'll keep you in suspense. I thought I made it pretty clear. ;P

Pretty clear

WillowD's picture

Yes. And that's why I am suspicious. I've noticed that some of the BEST authors here like to drop "obvious" clues that mislead unwary readers. Thank you for the chapter.

I'm glad you regard me among

I'm glad you regard me among the best, although I don't think I deserve that praise.

I will tell you that 'I' plan no deception. My characters on the other hand can sometimes have a mind of their own, and some of them spend a lot of time planning, plotting, or scheming.