Daddy's Little Girl [FW - Book Two]

Saying Goodbye

The wheels on my trunk click loudly on the wooden staircase as I climb down it. I set my trunk by the door and whistle for Athena, who flies downstairs and lands on my shoulder, rubbing on my face. I stroke her feathers for a bit before guiding her into her cage.

"Silv, are you packed?" I call, my voice echoing in the large, nearly empty house.

"I'm right here." Sylvia says, appearing behind me and setting her trunk next to mine.

"Right, you stay here, I'll do it, then we'll leave. Remember, your story is you are going to a summer camp." I say seriously. Sylvia nods, though her eyes are shining with unshed tears. I pull my sister into a hug, kissing her forehead, and then walk into the living room where my loving adoptive parents are watching the television.

"Mum, Dad?" I ask.

"Yes, darling?" The only mother I've ever known says kindly as she and my father turn to look at me.

"There's something I need to do and I think you deserve to know why." I say, holding back my tears.

"We're listening." My mum says, elbowing my dad. They both stand up an walk over to me.

"So... This is hard to explain, but please try to accept this." I start, my parents nod. I take a deep breathe. "I am... not really your daughter. Your memories were magically modified so that you would believe that I was, so that I could be safe, and loved, and so that I could grow up without the constant influence of evil. You see-" My voice breaks, but I press on. "You see, my father is the most powerful evil wizard to rise in this generation, and my mother is one of his most loyal followers. I was taken away from them so that I wouldn't grow to become like them. Then my father supposedly died and my mother went to Azkaban, a wizard prison. And though my mother is still secure in Azkaban, my father, Voldemort, has come back from the dead, and he knows that I attend Hogwarts. And it sounds absolutely mental when I say it out loud, but it's true."

"You're right, it does sound mental." Mum says quietly, pain in her eyes. "But I don't imagine you would make something like that up..."

My parents are quiet for a moment, then they envelope me in a hug that lasts quite a long while. I don't want to let go, because I know what has to happen next, but I have to.

"Mum, Dad" I look at each of them in turn. "Neither of you are safe as long as you remember me, as long as I live here. My father has been under the impression that I died as a toddler and now that he knows I'm alive, and have been raised by another family, it can't be long until he attacks. So, Sylvia and I will be going to the burrow, which is where Fred and his family lives. But like I said, as long as you two remember me, my father could torture you for information about me. So... It's been decided that I need t-to wipe your m-m-memories." My voice breaks again and a tear rolls down my cheek. "You won't remember that I ever existed, Sylvia will be y-your only child as far as you will know, and she will be going to a camp that will last the entire summer. And after I wipe your mem-memories, I will be a stranger to you." I take a deep breathe in, I'm trembling now, but I refuse to let any more tears escape. My parents obviously don't know how to react, so they just hug me, then back away and nod at me to do it, speechless. I didn't not expect them to just accept the fact that they most likely won't ever see me again, and if they do, they won't recognize me.

"We love you." My dad eventually says. My mum just nods, tears rolling steadily down her cheeks. "I love you more. Thank you for everything." I whisper. "It won't make any difference that I've just told you all of this, though, because you won't even remember, I just thought you deserved to know..."

"It makes all the difference in the world, Vanessa." Mum says, finally speaking. I nod mutely.

"Ready?" The only parents that I've ever known nod bravely.

"Obliviate!" With a flick of my wand I erase all memories from their lives that concern me, and create memories of Sylvia excitedly rambling about summer camp. I put away my wand once it's done, and my mum suddenly looks at me with a confused expression.

"I'm sorry, who are you, dear?" She asks kindly.

"I'm Riley, I'm here to take Sylvia to camp." I say, trying to smile as refusing to cry again, which is what I feel like doing. "I just thought I would let you know that I'm here. We'll be leaving shortly."

"Oh, alright, we'll come and say goodbye then." My father says. I nod, and with a wave of my wand behind my back, I send my trunk, and Athena to the Weasley's house.

"Goodbye, dear." Mom says, pulling Sylvia into a hug. My dad soon does the same, and I help Sylvia pull her trunk out the door. We walk down the road a bit, to an empty bus station, and hold hands before I apparate us to the burrow.