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

Part 14

Chapter 14

Amy's POV

I ran into Harry on the way out of the girls' bathroom. He looked rather frazzled, carrying far too many books in his arms. At my confused gaze he quickly explained that they were Herimone's. He paused. "Is she okay?"

I shrugged. "She'll get over it."

Only moments later, Hermione practically scurried out of the bathroom still looking as distressed as before, although her expression had a touch of reassurance as well. Harry and Hermione exchanged a few words and then Hermione took her books and was on her way, leaving Harry and me alone.

He turned to me. "What did you say to her?"

I smirked. "Just that Ron's a dick and she's a strong independant woman who don't need no man."

Harry chuckled. "Thanks for helping."

I looked down. "I'm -" I couldn't seem to say that I was glad I did. The words stopped in my throat. I remembered feeling this way months ago, back when I tried to force myself to talk over the summer. But my feelings were jammed in my windpipe, unable to move.

"You okay?" Harry asked.

I nodded. "I'm fine."

 "You don't look fine," Harry remarked.

"I am."

"Okay."

Harry did not question further. I was both happy and sad about this. Part of me stood by what I said and I thought it would be a good idea to deal with my own problems without the help of my father's sworn enemy. However, the other part of me was screaming for help and desperately wanted to talk to anyone about Teddy and all of my other problems. I didn't know yet if Harry was the one to do this. Since Teddy was still such a sensitive topic for me, I decided to ignore it altogether, deciding that if I found that I needed to talk about it, I would, and with anyone I wanted to.

So I quickly changed the subject. "Did you hear about Slughorn's Christmas party?" I asked.

Harry nodded, but then looked at me funny. There was a long pause in which I wondered why Harry wasn't answering me. It was a simple question. But then -

"Do you want to go with me?"

I blinked, almost laughing at his funny joke. Then it dawned on me that he was completely serious. "I - wait, what?" I couldn't help but begin to look furiously at him.

"I mean, as friends, of course... I was wondering if you wanted to go to Slughorn's party with me. I don't really have a date and if you don't -"

He broke off at my livid expression. "It's okay if ... you ... don't ..."

"Are you asking me on a date?" I demanded.

Harry shuffled his feet and did not look at me.

I paused for a moment, thinking this over. My uncomfortableness of the situation was all coming back to one single fact: he was Harry Potter, the Boy who LIVED, and I was Amelia Riddle, Daughter of Lord Voldemort and the Heir of Slytherin. We couldn't be more opposite. Why would I want to go with him? Harry Potter, who's always hanging out with Mudbloods and blood traitors. It would be the biggest disgrace to the family name. I thought of how my father would kill me if he found out.

But then I thought about how my father and I were practically about to start World War III with all the fighting we were doing recently. Yes, he would kill me if he found out, but would he necessarily need to find out? Of course not. And even if he did find out, I wouldn't care. He would have a tricky time trying to kill me.