What a Riddle

what now?

I walked calmly from the owlry to Dumbledores office. Medusa was keeping an eye on anything and everything from under my robe sleeve.

"Lemon drop" I said urging the statue to move quicker. Running up the stairs I knocked.

The door swung open by itself to reveal Dumbledore looking at me from his desk.

"Miss Riddle" he started shocked at my sudden appearance in his office.

"Sir, my father made contact with me" I rushed once the door was shut.

"You saw him?" He stood alarmed

"No, he's to weak and he didn't want me to see him as such. He sent a grubby looking man to give me this ring that I now can't take off" I gestured to the silver band on my thumb.

Dumbledore rushed to me looking at my hand with the ring. "And this man?"

"Wormtail... Also known as Peter Petegrew"

Dumbledore looked grave. He tapped his wand against the band but it did nothing except show an orange outline of the dark mark.

"He'll use this as a way to summon me" I explained "something about not wanting to mark me as he does his followers"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Your hand is forced much like Mr. Malfoy"

I nod in agreement "It may take Draco a little more time before he realizes"

"And you?"

"I've done my best to get the best possible outcome in the end by making some unlikely friends"

"Like Mr. Longbottom" Dumbledore throws out

"How did you know?" I was still curious as to how he had known about my helping of Longbottom.

"I have my ways" he says mistiriously as he turns to go back to his desk.

"The portraits" I threw out a guess

"They help" he smiles as he sits down "what do you know of the Order of the Phoenix?"

Moving closer and take a seat on a chair across from him. "It was the opposing force to my father's army of death eaters led by you" I summarized.

"You know your history" he seemed impressed

"Aunt Cissy would be able to take credit for that" a gave a small smile.

"Ah yes... well, The Order is still operational working under the assumption that he will return" My eyes widen with that information "your visit today confirms what we have thought for years"

"Does the Ministry know?"

"They are blissfully unaware"

"Are you going to tell them?"

"They wish not to believe"

I scowled at that naive I thought

"I'm not sure how I can help but I'd like to be able to stop looking over my shoulder" I fidgeted with my sleeve under the desk.

"Your godfather, Severus is also a spy in your fathers ranks. If you wouldn't mind doing so as well..."

"As long as the people I care about are safe. I'll do anything" I stood now determined "I shall let you know when he comes into contact"

He nodded and I left careful not to be seen exiting the office.

Now it looks like your not alone in being apart of your father downfall Medusa hissed still hidden under my sleeve.

"It will be an interesting next few years"

~~~

The rest of the year was quite. No one noticed the ring that never left my thumb on my left hand. Not even Draco noticed the new addition.

If we weren't already close we were closer now. Draco officially asking me to be his girlfriend much to the pleasure of Aunt Cissy and Lucius. I couldn't quit read what Uncle Sev thought. He had gotten quieter but procided about interactions like our argument never happened although his act towards me was more of a student then the man who helped raise me. I was still among his favored students.

When Lupin had found out I had scared him off the night he turned he apologized profoundly. Shocked my animagus form could scare off his other side. His arm was wrapped and hidden from view in his tweed jacket and I apologized for the large deep bite. Lupin just laughed it off saying he probably needed it and gave me the nickname Cani as some sort of initiation. He had said his was Moony and the man, Serius Black was Padfoot.

They had apparently agreed on the name Cani for me short for Canine both meaning dog and teeth. I thought the nickname cute and secretly stuck with it.

I was sad to hear Lupin would not be continuing his stay as the DADA Professor in the next year.

~~~

"Good bye long hair" I dramatically cried as I brushed it one last time while I sit on my bed. Pansy turned to me she obviously rolled her eyes.

"Florry stop being dramatic" she teased "it's good to have a new look... And your lucky everyone is terrified of Draco otherwise the guys will very all over you next year" she takes my hair and lifts it to test out a length.

"Everyone isn't just scared of Draco, Pans. Their terrified of approaching anyone with the affiliation of Slytherin" I point my hair brush at her.

Pansy smirks "what about the boys in Slytherin. Everyone is terrified of a Malfoy even in Slytherin"

"Well everyone is going to be alarmed when they find out who I'm related to" I raise an eyebrow at her as I tug out a knot in ends if my hair.

"That may be true" she crosses the room and grabs a detangling spray. "But that just makes you more badass and... A much powerful power couple" she sits and sprays the chunk of hair and snatches the hair brush and get the knot out within a minute "not even the golden trio could compete"

"Your a damn good friend, Pans" I smile

"Your damn right I am... Now I'm thinking your godmother should cut it right about here"