zenith ; tom riddle

chapter 1

Having apparated directly into Hog's Head Inn, Ambrosia sat down on a seat near the corner of the bar. Distractedly denying wanting a drink to the rather grumpy looking barman, she thought about the events of the past week or so and what was to come if she really went through with her plan. About ten days ago, her parents had been murdered right before her eyes. She still hadn't had a chance to accept that or even enter a mourning period.

Perhaps she never would. The thought had crossed her mind before; was she so broken that she couldn't properly grieve for her parents? That she had gone through something that would traumatize any other fourteen year old child, and yet, she was barely affected by it. Human life had never meant to her what it did to others. The idea of death didn't scare her, but only because it didn't seem real. Of course, that was silly. Everyone dies. Right?

Before she could let herself get too lost in these thoughts yet again, the man she had been expecting to see appeared in front of her. Preparing to start reciting the speech she had planned for this moment, she began to speak, but as soon as she got a good look at his face she knew something was off.

She had expected to see surprise, confusion, even an accusatory look. What she didn't expect was the complete terror that seemed to overtake the man's expression. "Miss Dolor, what will you do?" he shakily whispered, seemingly more to himself.

Giving him a confused look, Ambrosia replied "Sorry, sir. I haven't any idea of what you're speaking of. I only wish to be a student at your school, but I completely understand if you would rather not have me." Honestly, she had been surprised when he even bothered to send her a reply back. She should've known this was too good to be true.

Picking up her small bag, she began getting up. "I know this is too much of a bother. Sorry again, sir. Thank you for even meeting me. I should-"

It seemed that the middle aged man had regained his teacher instinct and as soon as he wiped the shock off his face, he interrupted her. "No, forgive me Miss Dolor. You just look similar to somebody I've seen elsewhere and it surprised me. Please, sit back down. Let's discuss what we came here for."

Now, it was Ambrosia's turn to hide her emotions. She had let a momentary look of gratefulness flash in her emerald eyes, but quickly reminder herself not to show any emotions to him. She did not trust this man and would not let him know how much even giving her a chance meant to her.

"Thank you sir." Clearing her throat, Ambrosia began her speech. "As you now know, my family went into hiding years ago. My parents had gotten on the bad side of Grindelwald and it wasn't safe for us to be out and about. Nobody knew of my existence, but my parents faked their own deaths and the three of us went to their safe house. My parents took all the necessary precautions and we've been completely safe and by ourselves for the past nine years, til some people showed up at our house a little over a week ago."

At this, he gave her a questioning look. "Did you recognize any of the people that showed up at your house? Or perhaps catch any names?"

Ambrosia shook her head. "No sir, like I said, I've never really met anyone other than my parents and the people weren't in any books that I've read so I have no way to know who they were. They were also completely silent, so I didn't hear any names either."

At her first statement, the ginger haired man's eyes had widened almost comically. "You mean to tell me that you've never met, nor spoken to anyone other than your parents? Am I the third person you can remember ever having a conversation with?"

Ambrosia felt rather irritated as this really has no significance in the story. She had prepared a whole speech and this man had the audacity to repeatedly interrupt her. "No, sir. The barman was. Now, if you would please let me finish my story, I'll let you ask questions at the end" She replied with what she thought was a winning smile.

Letting out a quiet huff of laughter, he gave her a nod, eyes softening a little. She decided to finish her lecture now that she knew he would keep his rather odd shaped mouth shut for a bit. "When they entered the house, my father was the first to realize and he cast the alarm charm to let us know there were intruders in the house. We just followed the plan after that. I hid in the passageway that leads outside, but before leaving, I cast fenestram to watch what was happening in the house. I saw them kill my parents."

She paused for a moment before continuing. Ambrosia wasn't too concerned about that, but she knew she must show some kind of sadness before continuing. It was abnormal for someone to be able to talk about something like this without showing much emotion. However, honestly, she was more excited that anything so far. All her life had been the same thing over and over and this was different. This was a change.

However, rather than being silent as well, the infuriating man decided to talk yet again. "I'm so sorry for what happened. It can't be easy to deal with the loss of your parents when they're all you've ever known." It is, she thought idly. "On another note however, you said you cast fenestram? That's not taught til sixth year and you should just be entering fourth year, judging by your age. You are fourteen, right?" She nodded in response. "I'd assumed that your parents would've taught you a bit, but you seem to be much more advanced than I'd expected."

"Yes, my parents taught me all of the Hogwarts curriculum already. I finished seventh year when I was about thirteen and a half years old. We had a bit of a garden in the house where we grew potions ingredients and my dad had been rather close with Ollivander before we went into hiding and knew the basics of wandlore. He made this wand" She lifted her wand, which she had been holding tight as she could, in reference. She had pretended to look nonchalant about her educational level, but in reality, she was rather proud of it. She knew that if she were to go to Hogwarts, she would definitely be one of the smartest students in her year, if not the whole school.

The professor seemed to have an awed look when he nodded at her this time. "Well, Miss Dolor, I'm very impressed. To have completed what seems to be a full Hogwarts education by your age, that too with only your parents as your teachers, is quite a feat. I'm sure you'll do well, should you choose to come to Hogwarts."

"Thank you, but can we go back to my story?" She continued without giving him a chance to respond. "So I escaped the house using one of the secret passageways. They didn't realize I was there because we have another Fidelius charm on the passageways and they block tracing spells. They're basically another safe house within the safe house. Anyway, once I left, I apparated into the Forest of Dean, which was the only place my family would ever go on vacations to, and that's when I sent my letter to you from. I camped out in the forest, using the emergency supplies we keep in the passageways until today, when I came here to meet with you."

Smiling, he said "Well I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you know how to apparate, but perhaps keep that knowledge to yourself as underage apparation is illegal. More importantly, you may stay at my house for the time being. I cannot, in my good conscience, allow a student to live in the forest. By the end of the summer, you can make your decision as to what you want to do after, as I will be at Hogwarts during the school year. Before we end this conversation, I have one last question for you. Why did you reach out to me, when Headmaster Dippet would be the more obvious choice to speak to on matters like such."

"Oh, I don't really know why, but my parents told me that on the event that I am separated from them and can't reach them, I must go to Albus Dumbledore for help. They seem to trust you a lot, but don't take that to mean that I trust you too. I'll form my own opinion of you, and anyone else, based on my own experiences."