“Melody?” Whispers of shock circulated around the hall.
“Jess?” Mrs Weasly breathed in surprise.
“Jessica?” Asked Harry, ever so quietly.
The figure smiled and stood up straight. The bushy brown hair that had previously covered the figure’s face fell to the side.
Cries of shock and horror spread across the room.
“Not Jess. Rose.”
Rose stood up straight to face Voldemort. She felt his red eyes scan her up and down. Rose extended her arms around the shimmering light, and it disappeared. Harry was unable to move with shock. How could this powerful magical being be Rose? How could this amazing person, who which was able to block a spell that that supposedly could never be stopped, be Rose?
Rose stood, unmoving. Her aura was a brilliant shade of red, as if she cast a shadow of fear to anyone who dared look upon her. One arm held high, holding her wand in it. The other, raised, as if expecting attack from the sides.
There was not a sound that could be heard in the hall. Every single witch, wizard or creature stood, backs against the wall, afraid that she would strike them as well.
No one, even his own death eaters, had seen him look like this. Every muscle, every nerve, every ligament, was saturated with fear. Voldemort was scared. This being, whoever she was, was by far more powerful than anyone he had encountered before. Except for one other…
“Who are you?” Spat Voldemort.
Rose raised one eyebrow.
“Thought you of all people would recognise me.”
Confused expressions and thoughts ran through every mind of every creature that stood in the great hall.
“Voldemort, meet my mother, Jessica Melody.”
Voldemort spun around to see Jessica Melody standing in the doorway of the entrance hall. The storm outside the hall raged, once or twice thunder shook the hall. The lightning behind her shadowed her face into a terrifying stare. All eyes were on her. She circled Voldemort, and went to stand beside her daughter. Jess glanced quickly to her daughter and turned to face Voldemort alone.
“Jessica Melody.” He spat.
“Tom Riddle.” Jess glared at Voldemort.
This time, even Rose was shocked.
“What?” Asked Rose.
“All those years ago Tom, you never thought I’d do anything…did you?” She whispered. Jess took a step forward towards Voldemort, ignoring her daughter’s question and shocked look.
“You didn’t have the will. Even now, you don’t stand a chance.” Voldemort mocked her.
“All those years ago, all seventeen of them…”
“Seventeen?” Voldemort flinched, as if the mere word caused him pain.
A sudden chime made everyone jump. The massive clock behind the hall chimed twelve. Midnight.
“Exactly seventeen. I didn’t do anything? I kept the most powerful person a secret from you. I made sure the only person in this world who can ever defeat you lived. I made sure that until the age of seventeen, no one in this world could make the connection. It’s exactly seventeen you see? Watch your daughter grow.”
No one made a sound.
Rose’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to her mother. She was terrified. Jess was like an alien to her; standing facing Voldemort without a trace of fear. The one wizard in this world that made millions feared him, and Rose’s mother didn’t even flinch at the sight of him.
Jess turned away from Voldemort to Rose. Mother and child locked eyes for a split second before the clock let out its final strike. A blinding light filled the hall. Hundreds turned away to protect their eyes. It slowly subsided as everyone watched as Jessica Melody and her seventeen year old daughter became coated in a brilliant, glittering light. Their bodies were lifted into the air, and the light became more intense. When it eventually darkened, Rose and Jess’s feet touched the ground. But no one could recognise the people that stood there.
A young woman with wavy blonde hair, smooth features and a tanned complexion. A Seventeen year old girl, with sleek black hair, smooth features and a pale complexion.
Rose slowly opened her eyes. She felt her dark hair, and her pale complexion. She could barely believe her eyes.
Jess said nothing, raised her wand and pointed it towards Voldemort.
“Know who we are now?” She whispered.
Voldemort’s expression turned icy cold as he recognised the woman that stood before him.
“You.” He whispered, pointing a long white finger at her.
“Me.” She replied in an equally icy tone.
“Jessica Melody is just a ploy. My real name is Rebecca Potter. My brother was James Potter.”
Harry could hardly believe his ears. He had family. And it was his best friend. Rose was equally just as shocked.
“Harry and me are cousins?” She gasped.
Witches around the hall put their hands to their mouths in shock. Wizards remained speechless. There was not a sound emitted from the crowd, as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.
Harry stared at Rebecca in shock. He recognised her now. He had seen her, in the Mirror of Erised all those years ago, reflected as a member of his family. He turned his gaze to Rose. Her facial features were very similar, yet they were changed…
Harry realised just where he had seen a face like that before. In Dumbledore’s office in the pensive…
“Rose’s father is Voldemort.” He breathed.
Rose spun around.
“What!?” She cried.
“Mum? What happened to me? MUM?” She screamed. Rose was terrified now.
“I have a gift, a gift I share with only one other person. My daughter Rose. I gave up my gift to keep her hidden.” Rebecca held her head high, staring into Voldemort’s eyes.
“I used my gift to make her change, make her different. But only until she was seventeen. You would be safe, safe from the one person who wants to destroy you. But it meant I would lose you for all those seventeen years.”
No one spoke. No one moved. All eyes and ears were on Rebecca Potter.
She let a tiny laugh escape her.
“It’s funny you know, the prophecy was almost correct. January, not July. The birth month of the one to destroy you was January. Trelawney almost had it.”
Voldemort remained speechless.
Rebecca cocked her head to the side.
“By hiding her I knew I would lose her, but it meant that you would die. That was enough for me.”
Rose’s cheeks were strained with tears. She could barely look at her mother, let alone anyone else.
“I don’t understand.” She managed to say, choking back tears.
“I used my ability to hide our appearances until you were seventeen, and the transformation would be complete.” Replied Rebecca, who was still staring at Voldemort, who remained speechless and staring.
“But, I saw you blow things up and-“
“Conscious abilities. I can only control what I think, those accidents were only the results of my emotions getting a little more tuned in than I would like.” Interrupted Rebecca. She turned to face her daughter.
“I’m sorry I had to keep this from you. I’m sorry I abandoned you when you were a baby. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who your father was until now. It was all done for you though.” Rebecca walked over to Rose, who could barely keep back the sobs.
Rebecca wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her tight. Rose buried her head into Rebecca’s shoulder, and let the tears flowed. Then she remembered.
You must find out who he is, you must save them.
Rose’s eyes shot open. The voice. The voice had told her to find out who he was. She now knew. You must save them…
While all eyes were on Rose and Rebecca, Voldemort had slowly been backing away from the scene. He motioned for the remaining Death Eaters who were still standing to join him by his side. Once they were all assembled in a line, Voldemort issued instructions.
“Now.” He hissed.
“EXPELLIARMUS!”
“AVADA KEDEVRA!”
Rose looked up just in time to see a wave of spells coming at them. The crowds around the sides of the hall screamed and ducked for cover. Rose and Rebecca were not fast enough. The disarming spell hit both her and Rebecca, throwing them backwards. Rose jumped up from her fall and immediately recovered. She looked to her left, expecting her mother to be by her side. But Rebecca did not stand by her. Rose whipped around, searching the hall for her mother. She spotted her a couple of metres away, lying unmoving on the ground. Rose screamed and ran to her side.
“Mum! MUM! Can you hear me?” Rose grabbed Rebecca’s shoulders and shook her hard.
Rebecca groaned.
“I doubt that she will recover from that one.” A mocking voice behind Rose made her jump.
Rose whipped around to see Voldemort standing in the middle of the hall, with Death Eaters by his flanks. They held their wands facing the crowds, threatening them and keeping them from moving. All of them, including Voldemort had triumphant smiles on their faces.
Rose stared at the helpless crowds of wizards and witches, terrified of the Death Eaters. She looked at Voldemort. His face was a blur of triumph. His mocking smiles made her sick.
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