The Story of Sheila Riddle (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 22

"Put me down! Put me down! Put me down now!"

Sheila was at last deposited onto firm ground again, and looked around quickly. They were not in Little Whinging Cemetery; there was no sign of the graveyard.

Sheila rounded on Barty, "Where is this? We have to go to Little Whinging!"

"I had to ask you first," Barty said quietly.

"Ask me what? Barty, I want to see my brother!"

Barty didn't answer for a moment; he was still catching his breath from the long run he had just endured.

"Why did you help me?" he said at last, "You said it so many times: you hate me, and you want to be rid of me. You could have left me there. Why didn't you?"

"You want me to apologize for saving you?" Sheila said hotly, pacing back and forth rapidly, "Alright then! I'm sorry I didn't leave you to your horrible fate! Because we all know what happens to escaped criminals from Azkaban!"

"The Dementor's Kiss," Barty answered softly.

Sheila stopped pacing and looked at him.

"Yes, the Dementor's Kiss," she confirmed, "If you'd have rather faced that..."

"Answer the question."

"Why is it so important?"

"Answer the question!"

"Maybe I care!" Sheila shrieked, "Maybe I care enough not to leave my comrade behind to have his soul ripped out!" She lowered her voice as she finished, "You did me the same favor. I wouldn't have been able to keep up if you hadn't carried me." There was a pause, broken when Sheila pleaded, "Can we please go to Little Whinging?"

Barty considered her for a long time. Then he silently extended a hand to her. She hesitated before taking it.

Again, the suffocating blackness. Then they reappeared at their destination, standing only a few feet away from a handful of people clad in black robes. They were huddled together, listening to a high cold voice that spoke from the midst of them. The voice stopped almost immediately after their appearance; everyone turned to look at them. It was then that Sheila spotted the object of their focus. He was a tall figure with long claw-like fingers and pale skin. He had a cruel, lip-less mouth and slits for nostrils. Sheila recognized his eyes at once. They were the unmistakable pale blue that she knew so well.

"My Lord!"

Barty hurried forward and fell at his master's feet.

"You've done well, my faithful friend," Voldemort hissed softly, "Thank you for bringing me Potter. Unfortunately, he has...escaped my grasp yet again. But he will not be able to avoid me forever."

The pale eyes turned on Sheila. Barty stood and opened his mouth, but Lucius beat him to it.

"Sheila!" he exclaimed warmly, stepping forward.

"Sheila..." Tom echoed, his eyes fixed on her, "Is it true?"

"Tom, it worked," Sheila blurted, "The Rebirth Spell worked!"

Without waiting for a reply, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. It was the long-awaited hug she had needed. She had her brother back; everything was perfect.