Sins Of The Father (TRLS)

Chapter 10 Part 1

   My heart rate increased as I left my dorm. Tom was probably in the library or sitting out by the lake. He isn't the type to be forced into the solitude of his dorm by rumors. He seemed like he couldn't care less but I know better. I know it makes him angry, the opposite of my reaction. He believed I'd be staying in my room today because I asked Milly to let him know so he didn't wait around for me in the common room and grow angry once I didn't show. It was all so difficult to face. Now I need to face the anger and disbelief of the headmaster.

I pulled my coat close to my body and rushed down the corridor avoiding meeting the stares of the other students. "She's starting to show," I heard a girl laugh as I walked past. "Who's the father?" A Gryffindor called out to me making his group of friends burst out in laughter. I wanted to snap at them but what was the point? I'm guilty of what they're accusing me of. I am most definitely with child, I thought just as I felt my baby kick. "You're gonna get me in a lot of trouble," I muttered to my unborn child as the headmaster's office came into sight. Here goes nothing, I thought as I took a deep breath to try and prepare myself for whatever's behind the door.

I noticed an ensemble composed of Headmaster Dippet, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Slughorn as soon as I walked into the office. Is Dumbledore like the headmaster's second in command here or something? I guess I understand why Slughorn is here, he's the head of the Slytherin house. All three men wore odd looks on their faces. Dippet's was a look of fury, Slughorn's face read a solemn expression, and Dumbledore looked neutral, neither disappointed or angry. "Take a seat Miss Hill," Dippet sternly demanded as he saw me enter. I did as he said and placed my hands on my lap looking at them expectantly. "Slughorn, as Miss Hill is a member of your house I will let you take lead of this meeting," Dippet said whilst staring daggers at me. Slughorn stepped forward with a sigh. "It has come to our attention that there are some very concerning rumors flying around," he stated. I swallowed hard knowing I'd have to come clean but I wasn't willing too just yet. "I-I don't-" I began but Dippet interrupted me rudely. "The truth Miss Hill," Dippet demanded angrily. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said. Dumbledore stepped forward to relieve some tension. "We can only help you if you tell us the truth Miss Hill," he said calmly. Tears spilled out of my eyes as I looked up at them. It was as if I was telling my parents I was pregnant. Ironically they're the ones that put me in this position in the first place. It's time to hear the noise. "Roslyn, are the rumors true? Are you with child?" Slughorn asked urgently. I nodded my head yes as I began to cry. I couldn't hold it in any longer, it was pointless. I felt so humiliated in this moment. All three men looked down at me in disappointment and even shock. "And the truth comes out," Dippet muttered passive aggressively "What shall we do?" Slughorn asked him. "What can we do, she became with child on our premises," Dippet said furiously. "We will need to contact her parents," he said clearly troubled by this news. "I'm an orphan," I said trying till hold back my tears. "Perhaps we could send her to a convent," Slughorn suggested. "What? No please you can't send me to a convent!" I protested. "Miss Hill you are in no position to be making demands," Dippet said dismissively. "Who is the father Miss Hill?" Dumbledore asked suddenly. "Tom Riddle," I said quietly. I could tell this shocked them by the look on their faces. "Well it just can't be," Slughorn said in pure shock. "Professor Dumbledore if you would please send for Mr.Riddle," Dippet said to which Dumbledore left the room. I rubbed my raw face with my hands wondering what the headmaster was planning on doing with me. "Miss Hill you have done me the very unfortunate favor of being the first student to fall pregnant under my time as Headmaster," Dippet said clearly upset. "Oh how the parents will talk," Slughorn added as he pinched the bridge of his nose in stress. "No one will want to send their child to Hogwarts," Dippet said being far too over dramatic. Dumbledore returned not too long after with Tom trailing him. "Riddle sit," Dippet demanded. Tom sat beside me looking at me with curiosity in his expression.

"Riddle, Miss Hill has just admitted to the predicament you've created," the angry headmaster said. "They want to send me to a convent," I said in distress. "You will not have that child here at Hogwarts! This is a place of learning," Dippet raised his voice. "Perhaps we can create an alternate solution. These students are in obvious need of assistance," Slughorn suggested. "What do you purpose?" Dippet asked him. "Mr.Riddle do you have somewhere the two of you can go?" Dumbledore asked. "I live in an orphanage," Tom said to which Dippet sighed. Tom looked panicked by the prospect of them expelling us for this. "Leave them in my care," Slughorn said suddenly. "What message do we send the students if we abandon these two pupils in their time of need?" Slughorn asked, attempting to make a case for us. "The students mustn't think this is acceptable!" Dippet exclaimed. "We could make an example of them," Dumbledore interjected. "It is clear that this deed does not go without punishment. Perhaps the consequences do not have to include expulsion," he finished. I looked to Dippet hoping he'd take this into consideration. "The students are already aware of the conundrum there's no going back on that, it'll just confirm their suspicions if we expel them. Might as well keep these two here at Hogwarts," Slughorn said sending Tom a friendly wink. Only now did I find Slughorn's obsession with Tom valuable. "They cannot have the child here Horace," Dippet said with a sigh. "What is the alternative?" Tom asked clearly angry with this discussion of expulsion. "If It were solely up to me both of you would be out of this school," the headmaster said with a glare. "Lucky for you at Hogwarts we have a system of punishment In which you're consequences are to be ruled by three staff members. You two have ruined your entire lives. A child is a responsibility not suited to the likes of two seventeen year olds." He couldn't give it a rest. Of all the authoritative figures in this room he was the most bothered by my pregnancy. "We are aware of this and we're prepared to take on the responsibility. All we ask is for some understanding and lenience," Tom said calmly. "How far along are you?" Dippet asked. "Almost five months," I said to which he looked visibly disturbed. "Where do you purpose you will have this child?" He asked. I looked towards Tom for any ideas, he looked back at me first before speaking. "It is to my understanding that the head of house is able to make adjustments to dormitories. If Slughorn is willing to we ask that an adjustment be made for us," he said to which Slughorn proudly grinned. "I see you've done your research Mr.Riddle. As the students have been quite exceptional pupils I will offer my services to make the necessary adjustments in order to get them situated for the arrival of the child," Slughorn stated confidently. "I don't like it, I don't like it one bit," Dippet argued. "The child will only have to be housed here at Hogwarts for a matter of weeks when it is born," Dumbledore observed aloud. Dippet looked between the both of us with a hard stare, I could tell he was making his final decision. "Riddle and Hill will be graduating in only a few months thankfully. Till then this arrangement will be kept under wraps." Dippet sighed, he was obviously angry about our situation, but he had nothing left to argue. Thankfully the other two professors saved us. I couldn't understand what Dumbledore got out of it, but clearly Slughorn would do anything for his 'Star pupil'. "The both of you have committed an immense crime in the eyes of our founders and will be punished under the greatest severity that I am allowed." And so began the slew of punishments. Just when I have believed things couldn't get any worse. Great, just great.