The Story of Sheila Riddle (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 23

"No more experiments," Sheila said, smiling serenely.

Narcissa stared at her, "And what did the Dark Lord have to say about it?"

Sheila shook her head sadly, "He's been avoiding me. You'd think being separated from his only blood relative for over a decade was like a treat to him. I don't think he wants my help anymore, Cissy. But I'm sticking around; it's what I've always done. He's my brother first, my master second."

A derisive noise came from across the room. 

"Nobody asked you, Bella," Sheila snapped, glaring at the dark figure in the doorway.

Sheila had come to stay at the Malfoy Manor after she had rejoined her brother. After a horrible mistake, Lucius had been sent to Azkaban. Although the news had been tragic, Sheila had no doubt that he would not be staying there long. The dementors were on their side, and a plot to take over the Ministry of Magic was already in the making.

Draco was away at Hogwarts for sixth year. He had been tasked with a mission to bring down one of the most powerful wizards of all time: Dumbledore himself. Narcissa was profusely worried, certain that the task was actually just a punishment for Lucius' mistake. She had even gone so far as to force Snape into making the Unbreakable Vow to protect her son.

Snape had once again joined the ranks of the Death Eaters, having somehow managed to regain the Dark Lord's favor. Sheila hadn't trusted him at first, but in the end, she had been resigned to agree with her brother. Bella still showed obvious distrust of him, along with Barty.

Seeing as he was now unable to return home, Barty had come to stay at the Malfoy Manor as well. He openly disliked the Malfoys, though. Sheila knew he was only there because of herself. She had tried her best to comfort Narcissa in all of this, but she often found it hard to stay composed herself. What with having to deal with both Bella and Barty, she wondered how she had managed to remain sane for so long. 

"I've often heard you refer to the Dark Lord as 'Tom'," Bella said, her dark eyes flashing, "I'm sure you must know he does not appreciate this."

"Well, if you were listening to anything I was just saying, you'd know why I do it," Sheila replied coldly.

"If I had the honor of being his sister..."

"I'm sure you'd do great things with that honor," Sheila said dryly, "But fortunately, I was the one who got stuck with it."

Bella's face flushed angrily and she turned and marched from the room. Sheila sighed exasperatedly  and turned to Narcissa.

"I don't know how you survived your childhood," she moaned.

Cissy smiled gently, "I'm sorry you two don't get along."

Sheila protested quickly, "It's not your fault!"

She leaned way back in her seat so that she was staring straight up at the ceiling.

"I have to see it again, Cissy," she said suddenly, "I miss Hogwarts. It just felt so much like home..."

Narcissa nodded understandingly.

"When you do go," she said, "Please say hello to my boy."

Luckily, Sheila did not have to go far to do that.

She waited for the dark of night before bundling up for the cold snowy weather, and Apparating to the gates of the Hogwarts grounds.

A spell instantly flew over her head and Sheila spun around. A startled Draco was standing there, his wand pointed at her.

"What are you doing here?" he said sharply, barely controlling the tremor in his voice, "Has my mother sent you to check on me?"

"No, but she did ask me to say hello to you," Sheila replied calmly, "I came here to pursue some old memories."

Draco slowly put away his wand and stood facing her.

"And what are you doing out here in the dead of night?" Sheila asked casually.

"Nothing," Draco snapped, "None of your business."

"I'm a Death Eater too," Sheila said quietly, "You don't have to keep secrets from me."

"I'm headed to Hogsmeade," Draco said after a pause, "To fix an old vanishing cabinet."

Sheila's eyebrows shot up, "A vanishing cabinet?"

"There's one in the school, and it's linked to another one in Borgin and Burkes. It's how the Death Eaters are going to get in. Only, I...I don't think I can do it."

His eyes fell and he stared at the snow in silence for a long time. To Sheila's utter shock, he began to sob quietly.

"I can't do it!" he shouted, "The Dark Lord's going to kill me! I'm going to die..."

Sheila suddenly stepped forward, flinging her arms around the terrified boy and holding him tight.

"I won't let him hurt you," Sheila whispered, "I'll never let Tom hurt you, I promise! You're not going to die, Draco. I can help you. I may know how to fix the vanishing cabinet."

Draco pulled away, his eyes wide.

"You do?"

"Go on," she said, "Show me where it is."