Riptides (Fred Weasley Fan Fiction)

Chapter 16

The news spread quickly and soon everybody knew that Lyssie's father was a Death Eater. Not everyone believed in it, or even in the fact that Voldemort was coming back, but they have at least heard about it. Everyone was now looking at her either scared or intrigued. Lyssie didn't like it, obviously, but she had other things to worry about. She had to find out what the truth was, and she was determined to do so.

She also had no idea how they even found out about the situation. At first, she suspected Draco, but he denied. Then, she thought that maybe someone was spying on her when she went to Snape's office, but it didn't add up. Even though she was furious when she run there, she remembered that she didn't meet anyone on her way. It seemed that there was no chance someone heard her talk with Dumbledore either, but somehow now the whole school was talking about her.

Due to the recent events, Draco became very protective. When they were walking together, he would either yell at or give deadly stares to anyone who had the courage to even look at Lyssie. She was grateful for that because she didn't enjoy this unwanted attention at all. It was her first year at Hogwarts and she already had such a bad reputation. That wasn't how she imagined learning here at all.

She spoke to all her Slytherin friends, since they were the only people who were eager to talk to her after the horrible news. Nether Pansy, nor Theodor were able to tell her much. They both said that after the events from fifteen years ago, all adults stopped mentioning You-Know-Who and they didn't know much of what happened that day or after. They were aware of the fact that something horrible happened then and that Voldemort existed, but they couldn't offer her any information she hasn't already possessed, or maybe simply didn't want to do so.

However, Zabini and Malfoy turned out to be a useful source of information. One day, they sat down together in an empty common room and they couldn't keep ignoring Lyssie's questions. It was early in the morning, so everybody was still in their beds.

"I asked my father one day," Draco started. "But you have to keep the secret. He will kill us both if he finds out that I told you."

"Of course," Lyssie nodded. "I have to know the truth. I'm fed up with people lying to me all the time."

"Well," Draco started but it was visible that he wasn't happy to share this piece of information. He looked around to make sure that no one could hear him. "He used to be a Death Eater as well. When it all happened, he was on Voldemort's side. He knew your dad, I'm sure."

"That explains why you came up to us in the Diagon Alley," she noticed. Draco nodded and continued his story.

"He told me what he knew about the night your mum died, or at least I think he did. Well, he shared what he could share. It was an accident, really. I mean if you can call a murder an accident." He frowned, trying to think how to word what he wanted to say. "Your mother was friends with the Potters. I'm sure you know Harry Potter, the chosen one." The last words sounded really bitter.

Lyssie nodded. Of course she knew Harry Potter. Everyone in this school have at least heard about him and the Golden Trio. People said that he survived the killing curse. Also, she understood why Draco frowned saying his name. He hated him, and vice versa. Lyssie saw them arguing about the most mundane things over the last month or so.

"Well, Potter loves his fame, but he doesn't deserve it," Draco said. "He's not the chosen one, you are."

Lyssie gave him a surprised look.

"What does it mean?"

"Sure, Potter survived that night," Blaise added. He seemed to have heard this story before. It's no wonder, since he was Malfoy's best friend. "But you did as well."