☤ Pseudonym ☤

~Chapter Six~

I had left Dumbledore's office with my mind buzzing with many different thoughts. Harry and I have only just repaired our friendship and now I'm expected to lie to him again. Harry has gone through so much and I don't want him to think that he can't trust anyone. I wish Dumbledore had asked either Ron or Hermione to do this. Surely Voldemort infiltrating my mind just makes me more of a flight risk. Dumbledore's plans are always so elusive and complicated. It is always better to just tell the truth. 

The corridors were dark by now, only lit by the gentle flickering of the torches. I could hear a faint clicking of heels on the stony floor, slowly approaching me. I stopped and checked my watch and saw that I was out way past our designated curfew. Hopefully it was just McGonagall and I could explain that I was talking to Dumbledore.

The clicking grew louder and finally rounded the corner. I was shocked to see a short, slightly plump woman with brown curly hair fixed around a bright pink beret. The shocking colour did not end there. In fact her entire figure was cloaked in the offensive shade. 

Her frog-like eyes met mine and she paused, taking me in. She clasped her small hands in front of her and let out a condescending tutting noise.

"Students should not be in the corridors at night." her voice was high pitched and resembled a young schoolgirl.

"I'm sorry, I was -" I tried to explain myself but was rudely cut off by the woman.

"Do not interrupt a professor when they are speaking, young lady." my mouth fell open at her  words. "What is your name so I can speak to your head of house about your behaviour?"

I smiled a little that she didn't know who I was. Usually the terrified stares would bother me but in this instance the fear would work to my advantage.

"Florence Riddle." I said confidently.

"Ri...Riddle?" she stuttered. Quickly she drew a deep breath and smiled with fake sweetness. "Are you a relation of... you-know-who?"

"Lord Voldemort? Yes, he's my father." I say without batting an eye. 

She let out a small gasp and recoiled in horror. I guess the news of my existence hadn't reached the Ministry yet, but I had no doubt that I would be gracing the pages of the Daily Prophet sometime soon. 

"No matter. That doesn't scare me. You... don't frighten me." she said with a slight waver in her voice.

I smiled brightly at her, "Good. That wasn't my intention at all." Her fear was obvious in her body language but I could see her struggle to overcome it. My enjoyment suddenly sent a shiver down my spine. I was actually enjoying this. I bet my father would enjoy this too. I am just like my father. "S..sorry Professor. I didn't mean to come off as offensive in any way."

This seemed to please the pink toad as she straightened her spine and smiled up at me. "Well, Miss Riddle. I will see you in my office tomorrow evening at eight o'clock for detention." I scowled at her but nodded and walked away towards the Gryffindor tower. "I'm not finished talking to you!" she called after me. I ignored her shouts and kept walking. 

The Fat Lady was snoozing contentedly when I approached her portrait. I paused and cleared my throat loudly. She awoke with a start and glared down at me. "Password?" her nasally voice demanded.

"Umm...." crap, I couldn't remember the bloody word.

"No password, no entry." I groaned, this was becoming a very long evening. I racked my brains and came up empty. 

"Fine." I walked over to the wall and sat down, leaning my head against the cool stone. "I'll just sleep right here then." 

The Fat Lady grumbled a little but after a few minutes I could hear her obnoxious snores. I closed my eyes and let her rumbling lull me into a deep sleep. 

The heavy darkness gently subsided from my vision, but lay dormant in the corners of my eyes. I was in a long elaborate hallway with dark wooden panelling lining the walls. It took me a moment but I recognised my surroundings. I was in Malfoy Manor. I had visited several times in my childhood and none of them had been very pleasant. 

"Finally, you're here." I deep hissing voice echoed behind me.

I whipped my head around to come face to face with Wormtail, my father's humble servant. The one responsible for his return. 

"This way." his gestured down the hall with his metal hand. After a moment's hesitation I began to walk gingerly towards the end of the hall. As I drew closer I could make out a door in the dim light. 

I reached out for the handle but it swung open before I could touch it. The room was lighter than the corridor and had a long table in the middle. The table was empty except for the large chair at the opposite end. On the chair was a sprawled figure wrapped in a dark cloak. They looked completely at ease, twiddling their wand on the end of the armrest. 

"Hello, my sweet daughter." I took a large step back as I realised who was in front of me. He lifted his head and I saw those dark eyes and slitted nose that haunted my dreams for the past six months. "Have a seat." he pointed to the chair next to him. 

I weighed up my options, but with Wormtail behind me and the darkest wizard of all time in front of me, I didn't have many. 

I walked up the side of the table with my head held high. I stopped several seats away from my father and sat down. He shrugged at my disobedience and began to speak."You've been a terrible daughter as of late."

"You've been a terrible father... always." I said with new found confidence. He's been hurting me my whole life, it can't get much worse.

He sighed, "I guess I have. But I think we should start over. We could be great. Together!" he leaned forward in excitement."I am the most powerful wizard of all time and you are my daughter. Together we will be unstoppable."

I stood up, causing an abrasive screech to sound from the chair. "You are not the most powerful wizard of all time. Dumbledore is." I sneered. 

My father raised his wand quickly and shouted "Crucio!" 

The pain hit me with full force knocking me to the floor. My body writhed on the ground in agony. "Renn?" a voice called, hard to hear amongst the pain.

"Reeennnnn!" it sang. 

"Renn!" the voice suddenly became a lot louder.

My eyes snapped open as I sucked in deep breaths of air. I could feel the sweat on my skin from the pain. 

After a second I realised someone was still calling my name. I looked up from my seated position and saw a pair of redheaded twins peering down at me. 

Their usual cheeriness was replaced with worry and concern. "Are you okay?' 

"We were on our way back from the kitchens and-"

"We heard you screaming..." Fred trailed off. 

I stood up and brushed off the dust from the floor. "No I'm fine. Great actually. It was just a nightmare." 

Fred and George looked a little skeptical but turned and told the Fat Lady the password. I lingered back for a second. The memory of my father's cruelty still fresh in my mind.