I traveled with Floo Powder that morning, following the woman sent from the Ministry to collect me. Professor Snape and Professor Umbridge were there too. Both of them didn't dare to say a word to me. However, the plump woman from the Ministry was very welcoming, kind and always smiling. She was gentle and treated me with respect. I wouldn't expect that she would. The three of them were standing around me like guardians. I would expect Dumbledore to come with me but he never showed up.
My guardians thickened as soon as I set foot in the Ministry. One of them was ordered to point a wand to me at all times.
"Don't you worry, dear," said the Auror with a smile. "It's just for your protection. Not ours."
I would have expected everyone to be as mean as the students who had tried to duel me when they found out who I was.
"Sit here, Miss Riddle," the plump woman, led me to the courtroom. I sat on the chair in the middle of the Court Room, facing the court. All the members of the court were rather kind with me. Most of them would even welcome me with a real smile on their faces.
I didn't have the time to think about it but maybe it was because of my mother. Maybe the love of the people of the Ministry was greater than their hatred for Voldemort.
"Annalise Helen Wallis, you're summoned here, in front of the Court for a public hearing. Now, the process is simple and known us all," said the Minister with calm but cold voice. He was one of the only ones that looked at me with disgust. "Now, Mr Snape, please give Miss Wallis the potion so we can proceed," he continued while Snape was coming closer to me, giving me the potion.
I looked at it a bit scared. I knew that if they asked me a question that wasn't to be answered, I would be dead. But since I had no choice, and since I knew that if I didn't drink it then they would tell that I had something to hide, I took the vile and forced the potion down my neck. I didn't feel any different, just like last time.
I told myself it would be okay. Sirius had told me everything would be okay.
"We're ready to begin," said Professor Snape going back to his seat.
"Now, we begin with the simple questions. Is your name Annalise Helen Wallis?"
"No," I answered without even realising that I answered something that I didn't want to. Everyone stared at me with surprise. I suppose that no one answered negatively in this question
"And may I ask what your name is?" he said behind some sort of laugh.
"My name is Annalise Sophialine Riddle."
"Yes, we talked about that before the hearing began and we are ready to change your second name and your surname, if that's what you wish. Moving on to the next question – I think it is already answered but – are you the Dark Lord's daughter?"
"I am," I said with steady voice and the answer just slipped from my mouth.
"When did you find out who you were?" he continued without expression on his face.
"It was last summer," I answered quickly, again without realising it.
"And how did you learn about it? Under what circumstances?"
I must admit I thought about it for a moment. But then something forced me to answer honestly. "I was spending my holidays with Draco Malfoy. It was there where I was told," I was able to hide some details. I didn't lie, I just didn't say the whole truth.
"And before this summer you didn't know you were his daughter?"
"No, I had no idea," I answered with straight voice.
"Now, I happen to have a full report of your abilities or even your latest actions in Hogwarts. Here it is clearly stated that you happen to be a very charismatic parslemouth. Knowing that your father had the same ability, didn't you even once think that there was some connection to you a certain person from the House of Slytherin? A Dark Lord maybe?" he said in a sarcastic tone.
"You mean to imply that I knew who I was because of my abilities? No. I never gave much thought to it. It had concerned me, but I was made sure it was plain luck."
"You were made sure by who, exactly?"
"By my godfather," I said and paused. "Albus Dumbledore."
A long pause followed. I knew what was coming. I didn't know what I was going to answer to the next question because I practically hadn't sort out my feeling yet. I was terrified of saying something that I shouldn't but I had no other choice. The court stared at me before the Minister finally spoke.
"I'm going to make my question quite plain and simple. Have you in any way followed your father's lead? Are you a Death Eater?"
"No, I'm not."
It was the truth. Come to think of it, the fact that I had met Voldemort didn't make me a Death Eater.
"Do you have any intentions of becoming one? " he went on.
I didn't know the answer myself so I hoped the Truth Serum would do the work.
"No, never. No, I don't intent to become one," I was actually very surprised by my own answer. I was in some sort of confused situation through the last few days. I was thinking of the answered that I would give Voldemort when the time comes. I didn't want to think about whether I was going to become a Death Eater or not. I felt like I was going to resist but would I be brave enough to do it? I felt some kind of relief and fear too. I felt good because I now knew exactly what the truth was, what I wanted.
"Take her wand..." he said before I saw two thickset men coming up to me and taking my wand from my wand pocket. Then they gave it to an old, white-haired man who was sitting near the Minister. I had heard that wizards and witches felt a strong connection to their wand and I had always felt guilty and ashamed for not feeling that way about mine. But it was in the moment when I had to part with it that I realised how empty and defenceless I felt without it. The man took the wand from my hand and placed it near his ear.
"Nothing illegal," he said after a few moments of examination. "And this wand once belonged to her mother. It seems that it chose her because it's was her daughter." I didn't know so but it didn't surprise me. I keep learning things about myself for the last few days. I was sure never to see my wand in the same way ever again.
There was some loud murmuring for more than a minute. People were nodding and some were smiling. Only a few were shaking their heads in disapproval. Among then was Umbridge, who hadn't lost a chance to look at me with hatred.
The entire room fell in silence.
"Excuse me Minister, but you are not considering of clearing all charges, are you? You were not going to let the Dark Lord's daughter free, are you?" said Professor Umbridge by the end of the court room. She was hiding a snigger like it was obvious that there were going to be consequences anyway.
"She drank the Truth Serum, Dolores. She couldn't lie."
"And forgive me, if I sound naive but I don't think we should take such matters that easily. We've seen cases like this before and we are no fools. We don't take chances with our rivals."
"Excuse me, Dolores, but she just learned that she's his daughter," said a young lady who was sitting next to the Minister. "And we shouldn't forget who her mother was. Sophialine McGregory was the brightest witch of the 20th century and of course our beloved Ambassadress. Our Ministry has never met more glory in this sector before. She had done great goods to the whole Wizarding World and as you can remember, and she was one of the most preponderant candidates for the Minister's place more than once before her death. The people trusted her and they still recall her as a brave, young witch that couldn't be described with other words than intelligent, confident, strong and of course beloved to each and every one of us. No wonder why we respect her memory as a Spiritual Leader. I think that no matter should be taboo here. Her mother's glory was no greater than You Know Who's powers. Young Miss Riddle shouldn't be judged by who her father was. But if she must be judged by who her parents were, let her be judged by who her mother was as well."
"Sophialine betrayed us by leaving the Ministry for Him Who Must Not Be Named," answered Umbridge.
"We all know that Sophialine didn't know his true identity. Not to mention how quickly she escaped when she realized who the father of her child was. And we all know that she sacrificed herself for her beliefs; that's the reason the Dark Lord killed her! She stayed true to the Ministry – and of course her daughter – until the very end," the slim woman continued arguing.
"Let me get this straight, then. If the scale shows equality, then we are to base our choices and the future and fate of our world on what a fifteen-year-old girl claims to believe. Am I the only person in this Court Room who finds this scenario a little more naive than it needs to be in order for our world to be kept in peace? What is more, we've seen great witches and wizards changing combats, after all - most of you will agree with me when I say that Sophialine Mcgregory was one of them. I would expect no less than a girl, a fifteen-year-old and naive girl," said Umbridge.
"Exactly what would you suggest then? Lock away a teenager just in case?" The lady wouldn't stop at her strategically planned words.
"Last time I checked the Ministry was taking no risks on such matters!"
"The Ministry is also supposed to protect the innocent, protect people who have done nothing wrong," another man from the Court spoke. I had many friends here, it seemed.
"So according to all of you, we are to leave a threat free? A possible threat, yes, but still a threat! Measures are to be taken in such cases," Umbridge almost shouted. "I leave this up to you, Cornelius."
"Very well. From now on, Miss Riddle, will be closely followed and remain under observation. The whole staff will take care of this, I want all the teachers informed and I want two Aurors staying at Hogwarts for the next two months. She shall be followed everywhere she goes. And if she creates any problem associated to her father then it'll be obvious what we'll have to do. We will have to take her to Azkaban were the Dementors will take care of her. But until proved guilty, the Ministry cannot take action. I would also expect the Aurors to hand in a full report every week; I want every move, every behavior reported. Now, I consider this case closed for now."
My heart started beating normally again. Mrs Umbridge, however, was not satisfied by the Minister's decision. She looked upon me with hate as she left the court room. I knew she would do anything so that she makes it look like I've done something wrong. She would do anything to send me to Azkaban.
But what concerned me even more was that Dumbledore didn't show up to defend me. I had read all over the papers that in Harry's hearing, back in August, he attended and tried to prove Harry right. Why would he do this for Harry and not do it for his goddaughter?
* * *
"Good morning, Miss Riddle?" I saw Lucius standing just outside the courtroom. I wondered if he was waiting for me. I knew he was working here but it seemed odd that he was here at this time.
"Hello, Mr Malfoy,"
He gave me a forced smile but I could see the same fear in his eyes as if he was talking to Voldemort himself.
Right now I had a mixed role in the enemy combat; I was asked by the Order to work as a spy as much as I could, use up the time Voldemort had given me to choose whether or not I wanted to be a Death Eater for the Order's benefit. Yet now, and under the effect of the Truth Serum, I had confessed that I had no intention of becoming one. That was certainly something that Lucius would not forget and soon enough Voldemort would know all about it. With the recent events, I didn't know how to play things with Lucius.
"How excellent!" he said with a great smile.
"Excuse me?"
"I see the simple Truth Serum replica saved us from some trouble, didn't it? You should thank professor Snape for that..."
I looked confused for a moment. I was sure the Truth Serum was effective. I was sure about this; I couldn't help but tell the truth, after all. I needed a moment to process this.
It was obvious to me that Severus had lied to the Death Eaters, tell them that he had given me a non-effective Truth Serum. This way, he would protect me from Voldemort because he knew that Voldemort wouldn't be that happy hearing me telling the truth when saying that I didn't want to become a Death Eater. It was simple. Severus was working for the Order, and I knew this.
"Oh, right," I said then, "I guess a few things must be done for the sake of our fight," I said and hated saying this.
"My Dark Lady, I wanted to tell you that this kind of things can not be so easily forgotten. I don't believe that they'll leave you alone after two months of observation," he continued. I tried not to cringe when he called me Dark Lady.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you are His daughter. You could change the course of the world and you expect them to be kind with you, my Dark Lady? They are afraid. And they have every reason to do so. They'll find the slightest imperfection so they can send you straight to Azkaban. And I still don't know how the people are going to take the fact that you left the Ministry without chains in your hands," he did a small pause realising that he had said far too much. He went back into his naturally scared look. "And, I have to remind you that your father expects an answer."
"I know. But my father also has to understand that becoming a Death Eater could be dangerous for both of us. This time we were lucky, Professor Snape helped me. Next time a real Truth Serum could be used and then my father would have to plan an escape from Azkaban for me," I said. I tried to show him that I really did consider of becoming a Death Eater, even though I didn't. I didn't want Voldemort to get 'angry' at me. I needed to lie, I needed to make them sure I would follow Voldemort. I needed to spy on them and that would take many and great sacrifices.
"What do you mean, my Dark Lady?" He had called me this way before. I suppose it is the female name for 'Dark Lord'.
"I'm merely saying that, if I had accepted his offer in the summer then today I would have a terrible problem. What if they'd made me drink the real Truth Serum. Can you imagine what would happen if I had answered 'yes' in the question 'are you a Death Eater?'" I finished, slightly angry. I saw him staring at my with fear taking all over his body.
"My Dark Lady, I-" I didn't like the fact that he called me like this but it was better than saying 'Lady Voldemort' or so.
"So I want you to tell my father that I will answer as soon as I know that it's not dangerous for both of us. Besides, he gave me as much time as I needed. Even years, he said. He has to understand that giving a specific answer could reveal the fact that he's back. Remind him so."
"He won't be happy to hear that. He wants to see a snake on your hand."
"You'll do as I say!" I said with cold calm and straight voice. I thought it would be suitable to play a bit cruel. I wanted to be able to control him. It would benefit me. "And remind him that this is only for precaution. In other words, you can consider me one of your own," I said and couldn't stand listening to myself. "But only in these other words," I spelled silently.
"Of course, my Dark Lady," he said lowering his face, avoiding my eyes.
"And don't be afraid of me," I said with the same tone on my voice, even though I was just bluffing. It is a way for inspiring even more fear. "I'm not going to kill you, Mr. Malfoy, so you don't have to be afraid of me. Yet."
"I'm not afraid of you. I'm... loyal to you," I could easily say something to make him even more afraid that he already was but I decided not to. He was, after all, something like my father-in-law. "How is Draco?" he asked after a moment.
"His fine. I'm sure he sends his best."
Lucius seemed concerned, almost as if he read right through me, as if he was sure something was wrong with Draco and me.
Our situation was becoming more complicated by the minute. Not only were we in a weird place after a traumatic summer, but we were also sneaking in a dark corner or two to have a few brief moments together. Now we would have to deal with Aurors following me around the school. If there was a chance of us figuring out what we were anymore after things fizzled out, they had vanished the moment the Ministry got in the way.
"This is from your father..." It was the last thing Lucius said before he handed me an envelope discreetly and left hastily.
I looked around to make sure no one was in the hallway. I turned to the black wall and with trembling hands, I opened the letter.
You have until Christmas. If you deny me, you will be terminated. Choose wisely.
Your father
* * *
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