Riddle

Chapter Eleven

Ivy stared at the boy. She snorted. The boy who had proclaimed himself as 'her father' stared as Ivy's giggles developed into a full on laughing fit. 

"Are you quite done?" 

"Give me a second," Ivy held up a hand while shaking with laughter. 

The boy folded his arms impatiently tapping his foot. Ivy managed to regain control of herself. She suppressed the smile playing on her face and stood tall facing her father.

"Hello Dad!" Ivy said. "No, it doesn't feel right. Nope." She shook her head. laughing again. 

The boy glared at her,

"The only reason I shall let this behaviour pass is because you are my daughter and I am not physically here-"

"What a surprise the Dad I never knew is not really here!"

Surprised laughter echoed throughout the common room. The boy frowned.

"I-"

"Don't!" Ivy held up a hand to silence him, "I don't particularly care about anything you say. So you might as well not bother." 

The boy began to chuckle.

"When you meet the version of me that is your real father I am sure we will have fun!" He faded from sight leaving an imprint of his cruel smile behind.

"Love you too Dad!" Ivy called out sarcastically after him. 

Ivy sighed rolling her eyes. She turned to head back upstairs to her nice warm blankets and book. 

"Who the hell do you think you are!" Lavender Brown stared at Ivy. Livid.

Ivy turned to her, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes again.

"My name is Ivy Green, I am an Orphan, I am also apparently a wizard." she answered.

Lavender shook her head and stormed out the portrait door. Ivy took a deep breath and addressed the room.

"I deal with serious situations badly." Ivy gave a small smile.

"No kidding!" Ron clapped Ivy on the back. "You just talked back to Tom Riddle. That was...wow. I can't explain it!" He stared at her wide eyed, shaking his head. 

"Teach us your ways!" Fred and George knelt on their knees, pretending to beg. 

Ivy laughed. She caught Hermione studying her. Ivy felt herself get defensive. She didn't like how Hermione was analysing her as if she were some curious problem in need of solving.

"What?! Do you have a problem?" Ivy demanded.

Hermione looked startled.

"Oh no! I was just thinking?" 

"Spill."

Hermione looked surprised. Ivy wondered if anyone had ever asked her what she was thinking.

"Erm... well, that was young Voldemort. When he was still known as Tom Riddle. He was also only partly here. It shouldn't be possible." Hermione spoke cautiously, "And why would he risk revealing that he is back to the entire Gryffindor House?"

"Well who is gonna believe a bunch of kids that they saw a young version of the most evil wizard of all time just appear in their common room so that he could bond with his daughter?" Ron said.

Everyone turned to him surprised. 

"This seems like some Golden Trio plus friends problem. I gonna go mind my own business." A sixth year gave them the thumbs up, "Good luck guys you got this!" The guy gave Ivy a high five before heading towards the boys dormitory. Many other Gryffindor disbanded into groups gossiping about what had just happened. A few stayed to listen into their conversation.

 "Something else that bothers me is How?" Hermione frowned, thinking. "Tom Riddle was last produced by the diary which was destroyed by Harry in second year. How could he just reappear to talk to Ivy?

"I dunno." Ron shrugged.

"Helpful Ron, real helpful." Hermione shot him a withering glare.

"We should tell Dumbledore about this." said Harry looking worried. "I'm sure he will have some answers." 

Ivy looked around. She couldn't see Neville anywhere. She scanned the room. Life in the common room had resumed its natural state more or less with paper planes being enchanted to follow people shouting profanities at them. Ivy still couldn't see Neville.

"Harry, you go see Dumbledore," Hermione ordered. "Ron and I will go to the library to research. Ivy can keep an eye on Fred and George." 

"We don't need a babysitter!" Fred and George protested.

"Though you would make an excellent one!" George added with a wink, making Ivy giggle. 

Hermione sighed and pointed to a poster tacked to the wall.

"The line of puking first years I saw this morning proves otherwise." Hermione said. Fixing Fred and gorge with an intense stare. They nodded.

"Fair enough." They shrugged.