Amy Riddle - Volume 2: The Half Blood Prince (A Voldemort's Daughter Story)

Part 6

Chapter 6

Amy's POV

"Amelia, your OWLs have arrived!"

With a loud groan I rolled out of bed, accidentally tearing the blankets off of my entire mattress. I kicked them unhelpfully back towards my bed, but my motivation was as low as my test scores were probably going to be.

I went downstairs slowly, lacking all desire to find out what I got on my useless exams. I found Draco and Narcissa in the kitchen, huddling around two envelopes, one open and one closed. Draco had his nose close to his paper. He seemed to be scrutinizing every last detail. I rolled my eyes and grudgingly snatched my envelope from the table.

Looking over it, I realized I hadn't done terribly, especially for someone who put close to no effort into it. I raised my eyebrows, skimming over the paper. I was actually pretty proud of myself. I received Exceeds Expectations in Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, and Transfiguration. In Herbology, History of Magic, and Astronomy I had received an Acceptable. My only failing grade was a Poor in Divination, but who cared about bloody Dream Journals anyway? I happily realized that I got two Outstandings. One was in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I had half expected this, as the "Dark Arts" that I was learning to defend myself from were the silly pranks I played on the Death Eaters in the early hours of the morning. The second Outstanding I had received was far more surprising. I narrowed my eye on the small O that was written next to Potions. What was Snape doing? Hr hated me, he hated my attitude. I didn't even think I had done so well in his class or the exams. Yet I was faced with an Outstanding.

Believe me, I wasn't arguing. Outstanding was great. I briefly remembered my career advice session with Umbridge and Snape last year. He had told me that an Auror would be a good job choice for me. I tried to tear my mind off of the fact that everyone seemed to be trying to save my fate. Was Snape trying to save me? Was he deliberately passing me so I had a better chance of escaping the life that seemed destined for me?

I threw the parchment in the trash. Draco looked up. "How did you do?"

I paused before leaving the room. "Fine."

**********

Sooner or later, it came time to go back to school. Knowing now that Potter and his friends didn't recognize me, I felt much better about going back. However, I was still slightly nervous. Aside from the normal mission, I now had a little mission of my own. One that involved Draco and his poor life choices. I couldn't let him do this on his own, and now I was stuck helping him with his near impossible task. Furthermore, since my father and I weren't speaking, I felt more vulnerable than ever. Even while knowing he was there to support and help me last year I had issues with loyalty. Now that I was on my own and didn't have a support to fall back on, the chances of me joining Harry Potter, or at least having those thoughts were much higher.

Although it made me vomit just thinking about it.

So I packed my things and waited for Draco outside of his room. I tapped my foot, standing there for quite a long time. What the hell was he doing this time? Eventually I got bored of waiting and I dragged my luggage downstairs. To my surprise, I found Draco walking down the stairs from the direction of my father's study. I furrowed my eyebrows, but I had an idea what he was doing up there. He made slight eye contact with me before he reached the bottom.

"What was that all about?" I demanded.

Draco sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "You're gonna hate this. Your father wants to see you."

I turned around and crossed my arms. "Like hell he does," I muttered. Talking to my father was the last thing I wanted to do. I was practically off the walls with excitement due to going back to Hogwarts and being away from this wretched place. I had a hunch that not being in the same building as my father would do some good on my positive energy, however little of it I had.

"Amy, I think you should -"

"He's an asshole, I don't wanna talk to him!" I exclaimed. I paused, waiting for Lucius to reprimand me for my choice of words. Then I remembered where Lucius was and I felt bad. I felt I owed it to the Malfoy family not to get them in trouble. I sighed. "Fine. Don't leave without me, though."

I stalked off towards the stairs. Each step I took going up was aggressive, punctuated by the hatred I had of my father. I muttered incoherent profanities to myself as I stormed down the hallway towards my dad's study. I didn't bother knocking like I usually did and instead barged right in.

"You wanted to see me?"

How's that for the first words I had spoken to my father in two and a half months?

My father's eyes traveled over me coldly. He made no attempt at apology, nor did he really expect me to either. For a few moments we stared at each other in what you might be able to call the most terrifying staring contest ever. I had to admit, especially after not interacting with him for a long time, I was a little scared. He was a little more intimidating than I remembered. But I was as stubborn as he was evil; I would not back down.

"How has your summer been, Amelia?" he said softly.

I blinked. This was the last thing I was expecting him to say. "That's not why you want to talk to me," I snapped.

"Can a father not be interested in the life of his daughter?" His voice was cold. Although his words seemed innocent enough, there was a threatening edge to them. "You have a boyfriend, do you not? Is he nice? Funny? A gentleman, I should hope."

I tightened my fists into tight balls. Like hell he cared about Teddy. Every word my father spoke was a knife in my heart. This was a joke to him. He only meant to tease. I gritted my teeth in rage.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he apologized, though the way he said it was not apologetic in any way. "He's dead now, isn't he? You killed him?"

I was determined not to show weakness. "What do you want?"

My father laughed chillingly. "I merely wanted to wish you the best of luck in your upcoming school year."

"... Thank you." My voice was as hard as stone.

"You will be continuing with your mission?" he asked. I knew this wasn't a question.

"Yes." I decided short and to the point was the best way to go here.

"Good. I expect nothing less than the best from you, of course."

I was suddenly aware of Nagini slithering on the floor by my feet. "Of course."

"And know that if you get too close to the Potter boy..." My father did not continue. I knew what he was going to say. "And keep in mind that Draco Malfoy has a mission of his own." He paused. "It would be best if you did not interfere."

"That all?" I asked.

"Good luck this year... Amy."

Without another word I turned around and strutted from the room. I couldn't care less what my father once thought. But one thing was true.

My fear of failure was not caused by the possibility of failing to make my father proud anymore. Instead I had to worry that if I failed or disobeyed his orders... he would surely kill me.