The Story of Sheila Riddle (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 24

Time flew. Sheila helped Draco fix the Vanishing Cabinet, and the Death Eaters were able to get into Hogwarts. In the end, though, it had not been Draco who had ended the life of the renowned Albus Dumbledore, but Snape. She had expected nothing else; she knew Draco was not a killer, and that Snape would have to keep his vow.

The news had come that Lucius had been broken out of Azkaban. Narcissa and Draco were overjoyed when they heard. But not everyone was so pleased about it.

"You'll be lucky if the Dark Lord forgives that useless slime," Barty snarled at his hostess, who was clutching Draco close to herself.

Sheila stood in the doorway, frozen to the spot.

"Don't talk about my father like that!" Draco shrieked angrily, as Sheila slipped unnoticed from the room.

"Your father is unfaithful, and unworthy to be serving the Dark Lord!" Barty snapped, "As are you! The Dark Lord should have struck your father dead the minute he showed his face. After thirteen years of believing his master would never return, he didn't deserve forgiveness! None of those traitors did!"

A resounding crack echoed through the room. An egg had shattered against the wall inches from Barty's head. Sheila had returned, holding an open carton of eggs in one hand.

"How dare you!" she screamed, hurling another egg at him, which he dodged, "You think there's nothing worse than a Death Eater who walked free during their master's absence? Well, what do you think I am?! No, I don't want to hear your feeble excuses! You can sleep outside for all I care! Just get out!"

Barty made a dive for the door and disappeared through it just as yet another egg smashed itself against it, spraying yolk. There was a long silence. The Malfoys were staring at Sheila, looking somewhat frightened.

"I'm sorry, Narcissa. I'll clean it up," Sheila mumbled.

Sheila wouldn't have felt so bad if it hadn't been for the fact that Barty had still not returned hours later. After a long time of pacing back and forth, and frequently checking the time, she gave up and went looking for him. She didn't have to wander far to find him. He was relatively near the Manor, walking to and fro and muttering to himself.

Sheila watched him for a bit before interjecting, "What are you doing?"

He looked up quickly and regarded her for a moment.

"Someone told me to sleep outside," he said quietly.

Sheila stared at him.

"You're not sleeping outside!" she exclaimed indignantly, "Look, I didn't mean that. I was just angry. I couldn't just let you talk to my friends that way. But I probably shouldn't have thrown eggs at you," she added, grinning sheepishly.

There it was again. He always had that affect on her. Being around him caused her old self, her happier and care-free self, to resurface. The tense and serious personality she had assumed after becoming a Death Eater, immediately fell away. After a long time of knowing Barty simply as 'the raving lunatic', Sheila had trained herself to react irritably toward him in those days. She had often forgot since, that she had seen both sides of him.

"I'm sorry," Barty said suddenly, "I insulted you. I called you a traitor."

"You should be apologizing to the Malfoys, not me," Sheila insisted.

Barty merely shook his head.

"I can't," he said simply.

Sheila sighed, "Come on, let's take a walk. I want to talk to you about something."

Barty meekly obeyed and fell into step beside her as she took the lead. They discussed a wide range of things as they walked. Sheila wasn't quite sure how it happened, but they had ended up on the subject of Barty's parents. Barty immediately clammed up when Sheila brought it to attention. She knew he had hated his parents, especially his father.

"I feel sorry for them," Sheila said quietly, "They must have loved you very much. Despite everything, they fought to keep you safe. And your mother went so far as to die for you. It's hell being a mother. And I'd know from experience."

Barty stopped dead in his tracks, "What?"

"I was pregnant, Barty," Sheila said unflinchingly, "With your child. But I ended up having a miscarriage; it died after only two months. I just thought it'd be unfair to keep it from you any longer. But it probably doesn't make a difference now."

Barty simply stared at her.

Sheila sighed, "I don't hate you, Barty. And I know I've said it a thousand times that I do. But I'm a filthy liar. I just convinced myself you were bad for me because I wanted Snape instead. I'm so sorry I did that to you. I'm sorry I hurt you, but..."

She was cut off as Barty suddenly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. Sheila was shocked; she hadn't expected it at all, but she found it welcome.

She hadn't been so close to him in a long time. It made her happy.