My Father, Tom Riddle

Chapter 4

I step into the Hall that evening, and all eyes turn to me.
"Hey, Delphi." smiles Goyle. I swear he is obsessed with me.
Draco stares at me in annoyance.
"What's wrong, sweet cousin?" I tease.
"Shut your face, Tiny." Draco snaps.
I was shocked. Draco had never, ever made fun of my petite size.
"See you later, Malfoy. Be jealous somewhere else."

ONE WEEK LATER

I stood in the change rooms, broom in hand. I had been given a Nimbus 2000, but to my dismay, so had Harry.
It would knuckle down to pure skill.
To roars of applause, we flew out of the change rooms and into the blinding sun.
"LET THE MATCH BEGIN!" Madam Hooch yelled, letting the balls go (and throwing the Quaffle into the air.
Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle, and scores a goal before Oliver could even think about defending it.
"Slytherin scores!" the scorer yells, putting the points up 10.
Things were looking up.
I stay close to the ground, so close my feet are nearly skimming the floor. I hear the Gryffindors roar as they score a point.
Neck and neck. Come on snitch, where the heck are you?
Harry flies high in the sky, scanning the pitch and eyeing me carefully.
He probably shouldn't bother - Gryffindor was going down anyway.
Harry looks so strong, so sure of himself.... No. I couldn't do this.
All of a sudden, Harry and I both see a flash of gold. I bolt, thinking about nothing but the snitch.
Harry had the advantage of being older and taller, but I was nimble and fast.
Even though I was rocketing ahead, Harry was still gaining on me.
"Come on, Potter! Is that the best you can do?" I tease, watching Harry's face screw up in determination as he wills his broom to go faster.
All of a sudden, my broom wobbles. I feel myself about to fall, and after spinning a bit, I regain my balance and continue flying.
The snitch was in front of my face, and I reach out to grab it.
We had won!!!!
I look down at the ground before screaming.
I was flying without a broom.
I landed softly on the ground, and burst into petrified tears.
Marcus runs up to me, his face stricken with worry and fear.
"Delphi.... how the hell did you do that?"
Dumbledore strides onto the match, amongst claps from Slytherin for our win and gasps.
"Delphini Lestrange, I need you to come to my office immediately. No time to explain."
I walk off with Dumbledore, still in tears, while the whole of Hogwarts stares back at me.
We arrive at a crevice in the wall, and I look at Dumbledore in confusion.
Then, as if my day couldn't get any crazier, he talks to a gargoyle about lollies.
"Sherbet lemon."
"Dumbledore, why are you talking to a statue?" I groan. "Just tell me what's going.... oh."
No sooner as I had complained, the wall turns to reveal a secret staircase leading straight up.
Dumbledore beckons to me as the staircase rises higher and higher.
"Jump on, Miss Lestrange." Dumbledore orders.
I stand cautiously on the staircase at Dumbledore's side, rising up as if I'm on an escalator.
After the staircase comes to a shuddering halt, we step into a well furnished office.
"Take a seat." Dumbledore mutters. For the first time, he looked scared.
"Call me Delphi." I smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"Of course. Delphi, may I ask.... how on Earth did you do that?"
I start crying scared tears.
"I.... I have no idea."
"Please, I need to know the truth. Miss Lestrange, did you use some levitation charm so that if you were about to fall you would...." Dumbledore takes a deep breath. "Fly?"
"I swear, sir. I never meant to.... I'm so sorry." I mumble.
"No, no. Delphini, you are not to be sorry for this. We will find a reason as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
I get up to leave.
"My pleasure."
At the door, Dumbledore calls out.
"Delphini?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Congratulations on your win."

BACK IN THE SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM

I step into the dungeons, and I'm greeted by deafening applause and a roar.
"Here comes Delphi, everyone! OUR NEW FLYING SEEKER!!!"
Everyone claps, and I blush profusely.
"Thanks, guys. Where's Malfoy?" I ask.
Marcus brings an overflowing mug of Butterbeer over.
"Probably sulking in his room that he's not the centre of attention." Marcus laughs.
I giggle. My poor, self centred cousin.
"Hey, Delphi. There was this kid booing you, calling you Devil's child. We have him here, if you want to..."
Anger boils my blood. How dare he? I had no idea how I had done that, so he shouldn't make accusations.
I storm over, glaring at the small boy. I knew he was older than me, but I had one advantage; my height.
"You piece of crap!" I yell.
"I didn't... I'm sorry..." he stammers.
"You'd better be bloody sorry! Because tomorrow, we duel." I sneer.
"I don't want to..." he complains.
I look deep into his eyes.
"You will duel."
He jolts a bit, and then looks at me in respect.
"Of course, Miss Lestrange."
"Go. Now." I snap.
He stands up robotically, and walks out of the common room door.
"Delphi, how the hell did you do that?" one of the small Slytherins who is a victim of bullying.
I look at my feet and walk straight out of the common room in search of Dumbledore.

HALF AN HOUR LATER

I sat in tears in the library, my blindingly white long hair strewn across the table.
A gentle hand comes and pats me on the back.
"Miss Lestrange. The library is closing." a soft man's voice tells me.
"Please, just a while longer." I sob.
I look up hesitantly, and nearly slam my head back down again as I see Dumbledore standing over me.
"I'm so sorry, sir, I was just leaving...." I mumble.
"No, no, Delphini. Please, sit." Dumbledore laughs softly.
I flop into a seat, looking at Dumbledore with cautious eyes.
"I have heard rumours of a forced duel - did you manipulate one of your peers?" Dumbledore questions.
"Of course not! I don't have any powers of persuasion or manipulation. Also, I swear on my father's supposedly dead grave that I didn't use a spell."
Dumbledore looks at me warily.
"Miss Lestrange, I give you my permission to duel. But, I am watching. I will see you at noon." Dumbledore demands, and then struts out of the library, his blue robes billowing in his wake.