The Dark Side (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter 31: New Beginnings

           It was the day I was going to Hogwarts to finish my final year. Months had passed since the Court date and Rita Skeeter's interview, but nothing had been said. I had gone over every Daily Prophet newspaper to find anything about us. Not one thing—not even between the lines. I had almost forgotten about it, and with packing and returning to school, it wasn't exactly the first thing I thought about.
          I was going to Apparate with Draco to Kings Cross Station to say goodbye. I wouldn't see him till Christmas, and I was going to miss him. I was also quite terrified. People knew who I was now, and I don't think I would be treated fondly. After all, I was the Dark Lord's daughter. I had been given tons of death-threats through the post, but they had begun to dwindle over time. Draco's mum had been sent to Azkaban and he had inherited Malfoy Manor when he turned seventeen. 
           "Ready?"
           "Ready," I held his hand, and in seconds we were in Kings Cross Station. According to the Ministry, we weren't allowed to Apparate here because the Muggles noticed. But it's not like they could explain it or anything. It was incredibly busy. Witches, Wizards, and Muggles were everywhere, and I smiled at the younger kids who were marvelling at everything. My first year at Hogwarts was one of the best in my life. I hugged Draco. "C'mon," we walked together, my arm around his shoulders, talking casually, making sure not to attract any unwanted Muggle attention. We went through the brick wall and were surrounded by little witches and wizards. I gave my luggage trolley to the short man at the back of the train and turned back to Draco. 
          "I'm going to miss you a lot."
          "I know," I pecked him on the cheek and held his hand one last time before Christmas. "Remember to write!" I walked onto the train.
          "Alex!" I turned around. "Don't forget, I love you!"
          "I love you more," I waved at him and walked into the train. I was a little late, and so all the compartments were taken. I peeked inside to see if I could get an empty seat when I saw a very familiar bush of brown hair. I stopped in my tracks. "Hermione?" She looked up from her book. 
          "Alex?" I saw no kindness in her eyes. "Sit down! I didn't know you were retaking Seventh-Year too."
         "Yeah, I guess I couldn't leave the place," she turned back to her book in silence. I couldn't take it anymore. I put my head in my hands. "I don't even know where to start," I blurted.
         "What?"
         "I've done so many awful things to you, Ron, and Harry. Everyone. I was surprised you even let me sit down!"
         "What? Oh, no. I understand what you were through. We all did awful things. I don't blame you at all, I blame Voldemort. He turned really good people into beasts."
          "Thanks... That helped..." we were silent for a while. "Did you know?"
         "Know what?
         "That I'm his daughter."
         "No! Are you serious?" she stuffed her book in her bag and began to put it on the luggage rack above her. 
          "I've got it," she passed me the bag and my sleeve slid up and I placed it above her head. She gasped as she saw what remained of my Dark Mark.
          "I didn't know..."
          "Yeah," I pulled back my left sleeve. "That was after Fourth-Year, I think I had just turned fifteen," she had her hand over her mouth. I pulled the sleeve back.
          "... You were only fifteen?"
          "Yes. And the next year I had to kill a Muggle. Journalists, I think? They had broken into the house and Wormtail kidnapped them. The next day Draco and I were told to kill them or we would be. Just to see if we were capable."
         "I'm so sorry."
         "You shouldn't be apologizing, you didn't do anything but fight for the right side," she looked away. Eager to change the subject, she dug a crumpled paper out of her pocket.
          "Oh! You were in the Daily Prophet today," She handed me the wrinkled newspaper. Our picture of us holding hands before we went to the Court was on the front page. I was prepared for the worst. The title read 'Malfoy and Riddle'. It wasn't that bad. The article wasn't all that big. It talked a lot about our relationship, a lot of which was fake, but nothing horrendous, and most of it was true. Nothing was said about the trial, they must not have released any information yet, but now everyone knew I was the Dark Lord's daughter. And that I was an orphan. Well, was, I had turned seventeen, so I was an adult now.
         "Maybe if I'd read it it wouldn't have been that much of a surprise when you told me. Rita Skeeter wrote it?"
          "Yeah, and interviewed us," she knit her brow in frustration for a moment.
         "I will never forgive myself for setting her free!" She could read the confused expression on my face, so she explained further. "In Fourth-Year she was banned from school grounds, but still getting private information about people, and myself. I researched and when I thought I'd found nothing, then it hit me! She was an unregistered Animagus. I kept her in a little jar, she was only a little bug, and then let her go one day and she promised never to write again. I actually thought she was living up to it, but then your article came out, and it says here she wrote it," she pointed at the bottom of the article. I shrugged. "So, why are you going back to Hogwarts? If the job you want to do requires all of your years to be complete?"
         "Yeah, actually I want to be Professor at Hogwarts."
         "Fantastic! I think you'd be a better Auror, though. I'm not sure what profession I'll take on yet, but I think I'm leaning towards Hogwarts Professor. Maybe I'll take Professor Magonagall's old job. Oh! Did you hear? She is Headmistress now!"
         "That's great! She was an excellent teacher."
         We talked the entire journey to Hogwarts, never becoming bored with each other's company. It turned out, we had a lot in common. This one time, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor finally got along. I never thought I'd be friends with Hermione, but life does throw so many unpredictable things at you.