Obliviate

CHAPTER NINE

Maeve walked up and down the rows of books in her father's library, looking for anything that might help Tom find the rest of his ancestry. It would seem utterly unorganized to a Librarian, but Maeve felt her father would know precisely what she was looking for.

After close to an hour of perusing on her own, she resigned and pulled her father away from his work in his study.

"What in particular are you looking for?" Asked Ambrose.

"I suppose, blood lineage?" Said Maeve innocently.

Ambrose stopped and eyed her. There was a glimmer in his eyes.

"That's very vague," said Ambrose slowly.

"It is."

"Can't you be any more specific?"

Maeve bit her lip.

"Alright," laughed Ambrose. "Come."

He guided her a few rows down and reached up to a high shelf.

"This one," said Ambrose, pulling down a large book, "has the most family trees but little additional information. You'll need to cross-reference with any of these." He gestured to an area of books on the higher shelf.

"That's a mighty fine start. Thank you," said Maeve taking the large book from him and setting it on a desk.

Ambrose lingered for a moment.

"Surely you can at least tell me who's blood you're looking to inspect without specifics."

Maeve laughed. "A friend from school."

"A friend I am unaware of?"

"A friend you are not unaware of. My Potions tutor."

"Ah," said Ambrose excitedly. "And how is this young wizard unsure of his bloodline. He's a mudblood?"

"No," said Maeve defensively. "He's. . . He was abandoned as a baby. He grew up in a muggle orphanage with no idea of his abilities."

"That's interesting."

Maeve nodded as she flipped through a few pages.

"Is he-"

"That's all the information you're getting, Daddy," said Maeve without looking at him.

Ambrose turned to leave, but he stopped.

"At least tell me his name?"

Maeve grinned. "Tom Riddle."

Ambrose nodded, content with his interrogation, and took his leave. Maeve gathered all the books and carried them back upstairs to her room.

Maeve and Tom had written back and forth over the winter holiday. Each time Maeve sent an owl, she was immediately eager for it to return with Tom's reply.

The Sinclairs hosted the Selwyn family for dinner one evening shortly before Maeve's return to Hogwarts.

Titus Sewlyn was as dull as Maeve had imagined him. He worked a Ministry job in the Department of Magical Transportation, ensuring that magical brooms were used properly.

"You must see some pretty exciting things then," said Ambrose.

"Not really," said Titus dully. "I mostly do paperwork registering new brooms as they get manufactured."

Maeve gave Arianna a discouraged look, who had given up on her facade of a smile twenty minutes ago.

"Sounds fascinating," said Maeve.