The Story of Sheila Riddle (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 27

Sheila stood in a dimly lit room among a handful of wizards that included Lucius and Bellatrix. Her brother stood across from her, gazing down upon a cowering goblin from Gringotts. Something had been stolen from the well-known wizarding bank, something he had put in there for safe-keeping, something very important to him. Ever since the incident at Malfoy Manor, Tom had been particularly nasty. But Sheila feared the latest news would put him in an even worse temper.

"Say it again," Voldemort murmured, his wand pointed at the goblin.

He had attained a new wand after Lucius' had been destroyed. The Elder Wand. Dumbledore's wand. He had taken it from the old wizard's very grave.

"Say it again!" Voldemort hissed angrily.

Sheila could feel the waves of fury billowing off him, but she didn't flinch.

"M-my Lord," stammered the goblin, "Im-imposters, my Lord, broke...broke into the Lestranges' v-vault."

"Imposters? What imposters? I thought Gringotts had a way of revealing imposters? Who were they?"

"It was...it was the P-Potter b-boy and t-two accomplices."

"And they took?" Voldemort snarled, "Tell me! What did they take?"

"A...a s-small golden c-cup, my Lord."

Tom suddenly screamed in rage and the Elder Wand slashed through the air, spewing green light. The kneeling goblin rolled over on the floor, dead. The wizards scattered in terror. Lucius and Bellatrix threw others behind them in their rush for the door. The Elder Wand fell again and again. Sheila started to scream at him.

"Tom! Stop it! Stop it now! Stop! Stop! Tom, enough! What are you doing? No!"

The last remaining wizard crumpled to the floor. She was the only one left, and her brother's wand was pointed straight at her. Their eyes locked. Neither of them moved or said anything for a long time.

"Tom," Sheila said quietly, at last breaking the silence, "Listen to me. I can help you. Just tell me what to do. I can help you.

His wand remained trained on her. His eyes were wide.

"You can't do it," Sheila said, "You can't kill me. You know it."

Voldemort paused, then lowered his wand. Sheila took a step toward him.

"The cup," she said, "It was a Horcrux, wasn't it?"

A flicker of surprise crossed her brother's face, but it was gone quickly.

"I know, Tom. I know about your Horcruxes. I can help you protect them. You just have to let me. You have to tell me where and what they are. You know I'm loyal."

Tom still said nothing. Sheila's temper finally snapped.

"Stop hiding from your feelings!" she shouted, "I know...I've always known that there was a part of you that cared for me as your sister, despite what you say and believe. You have to stop believing that love is such a problem in your life. You don't need to get rid of it! You need to embrace it! It's the very thing that gives Potter on edge over you! Please...believe me, and let me help you. I love you, Tom."

She cleared the space between them and wrapped Tom in a hug before he could respond. The silence stretched on.

"Alright," he murmured, "Alright...I'll tell you where they are."

Sheila hugged him tighter and whispered, "Thank you...for trusting me."