Secret Behind The Mask

Chapter three-Reflecting Her Life

Melly was so excited that she would get to spend time with the trio at the ball. No more having to ditch her friends to carry on with her task.

She lay in bed, and recalled the night that her father- godfather- gave her the important task.

"Watch over Harry Potter," he said. "The Dark Lord will thank you greatly for it."

She looked down at the ground. She didn't want to spy on anyone. She just wanted to learn magic with Sherry and Draco. Besides, the Dark Lord wasn't even alive anymore!

"Do you hear me, Mel?"

She looked up at him, unwilling to talk. She hasn't talked to anyone but Draco and Sherry since her mother died.

She nodded, and brought her head back down. She didn't like her godfather very much. He was always so demanding, and perfect. Why did he expect her to do something that she knows she won't be able to do?

"Go now. You and Draco leave for Hogwarts tomorrow morning, and I will not tolerate you being late."

Melly smirked. This time, Lucius Malfoy, I'll be the one who gets praised over, and you get to stand back and watch.

She slowly closed her eyes, and thought about her sorting.

She stood next to Sherry. Draco seemed to be avoiding her, being surrounded by Crabbe and Goyle.

"When I call your name, I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your house." She cleared her throat, and began the sorting. " Abbott, Hannah!"

A moment's pause-

"Hufflepuff!"

"Avalon, Melly."

She sat down, and the hat placed on her head, falling all the way down to her shoulders.

Hmm... She heard. Your mind is in two ways. One way is the way that will lead you to greatness, power, truth, freedom, beauty, and, above all things, love. The other is the way that you must choose in order to please those who care for you.

I am supposed to look after someone, she thought.

Really? Loyalty, trust; There's no doubt about you..."GRYFFINDOR!"

She thought she would be going deaf if the hat yelled just a hair louder. She walked to the cheering Gryffindor table. She sat down, and watched as the others got sorted.

She didn't really pay much attention to it. She clapped once a Gryffindor was named, but manly kept her eyes on Harry Potter. Having grown up with her mother and her father-godfather- she practically knew him like the back of her hand.

"Malfoy, Draco."

Melly snapped into her senses as Draco walked up to the stool. She wanted, really badly, to see what house he would be put in. As McGonagall was about to set the hat on his head, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" before it even touched him.

Melly wasn't surprised. He did have that evil look to him.

She watched as he walked to his two goons, and sat down. He glared at her, and then turned back to the sorting.

Melly nodded, mentally, and also turned back to the sorting, waiting to see which house that Harry Potter would be put in.

Melly almost burst out laughing. What a weakling she was back then! She hardly ever looked Lucius Malfoy in the eyes, and now, whenever she speaks to him, it's always direct.

Never show your opponent that you're weak! It's highly regretful, and cannot always be corrected. Lucius's voice ran through her mind. Having not so fun and not so exciting lessons on how to be strong.

"Well, Father, that's easy for you to say! People fear you, and all you have to do is say 'BOO!'"

He laughed. "I worked to get it that way."

"No you didn't! You're a Malfoy! You will always be feared! Draco will always be feared! I'm not a professional at that!"

He did nothing but smirk. "You don't know who's daughter you are, do you?"

"Of course I do! I'm your daughter! I'm not stupid! I haven't been living with you for three years not knowing that!"

"Yes, you are! My daughter has been born fearful! You just don't know how to show it!"

"I'm not a Malfoy! It won't just blossom out of the blue! It's hard to do this!"

"I'm an Avalon," she whispered to herself. "It takes practice." Melly slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Melly, Come in here please," Lucius's voice echoed from his study just as Melly was walking past.

She stopped, and looked in. She was never allowed in there unless on important terms, and those were rare.

She walked in. There were three men in there. Lucius, and two cloaked figures, one sitting in an armchair that faced where she stood, and the other stood in front of the fire.

She walked to Lucius, who walked up to her as she came in, the man sitting in the chair eyeing her every move. She couldn't see it, but she knew that he was watching. He was in a black cloak, covered from head to foot.

The second man, staring into the fire, had shoulder length black hair. He was also wearing a black cloak, but wasn't as covered as the first man was.

"I have someone that I want you to meet, Mel," Lucius said as he motioned towards the man sitting in the chair.

He stood up, and walked towards her, all the while still being successful in covering himself up. He reached out and placed his stone cold hand under her chin, and examined her.

"Don't you think that it's funny, Melly, that you are Lucius Malfoy's daughter, and yet, you look nothing at all like him," he said. His voice was snake like. It made Melly shiver. She was sure he saw it. "Don't tremble, Dear. No need to be frightened."

Melly swallowed, trying very hard to not show she's frightened, having not wanting Lucius to reprimand her later for it.

"She has her mother's eyes, Lucius," he said again. "Actually, she looks like a fourteen year old version of her mother."

"There's no changing that, my Lord," Lucius answered.

Melly's eyes got wide. Her face fell, into a scared stiff expression. She couldn't believe that this man, who was touching her face and won't let go, was the Dark Lord! She quickly regained herself, and stood upright, holding her chin high, and showed no sign of fear.

"You've taught her well, Lucius. But she still needs a little practice." The Dark Lord pulled back, and looked at her from a distance. He then drew out her wand, pointing it at her, and whispered something.

Melly could feel her head grow somewhat heavier, but it returned back to normal just as she was realizing that it was too heavy for her.

The Dark Lord then turned to the man who stared at the fire. He hasn't moved an inch, Melly thought. The Dark Lord muttered the same thing that he did with her, and then turned back to her and Lucius, placing his wand back into his cloak.

"Think of something, anything," he said.

I'm thinking that this guy is freaky, she thought.

"I'm thinking that this guy is freaky," the man by the fire said.

Hey! That's just what I thought! Wait, he sounds familiar.

Well, I should hope so, she heard. The man turned towards her. I have been your Potions Master for four years.

Her mouth fell open. "Professor Snape?"

"That's not all, Deary," the Dark Lord interrupted. "There's more. Lucius?"

"Yes, my Lord." Lucius then turned to Melly, placing his hands on her shoulders, and spun her around, so she faced him. "Mel, there is something that you should know. I've brought you in here for two things. One, I'm not your father. I'm your godfather. Two, he is your real father." He spun her around to face the Dark Lord.

Melly stared, mouth open, eyes twice their size.

She watched as he placed his hand on the tip of his hood, and pulled it back. His face was whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils.

At first, she thought, Oh crap! The Dark Lord is my father? Then, she thought, Who would be crazy enough to love this guy?

You forget that I can hear your thoughts, Avalon, Snape thought to her. And, from when I knew her, your mother was crazy.

DON'T TALK ABOUT MY MUM THAT WAY! She whipped her head at Snape, who smirked and shook his head.

I'm not talking.

And stop being such a smart-ass!

Well, it's better than being a dumb ass now, isn't it?

She slowly looked back at the Dark Lord. "So, Lord Voldomort is my father? What do I do now?"

"Deary, you are to stay here," the Dark Lord said, smiling. His smile made Melly shiver, but didn't show it. "I'll call you when I need you. Lucius? Take care of her, and teach her. I will be back at different times to see how she does." He said all of this without looking anywhere but at her.

Why is he calling me Deary? Why is it that his penetrating stare gives me the shivers?

Well, you are his daughter. And, not all the bravest wizards can withstand his stare without breaking, Snape thought.

It gets so frustrating when I can't think in private! Thinking is supposed to be for yourself! Not shared with your Potions Master!

Is that my fault?