Happy Birthday, Mason!

Happy 2nd Anniversary to the Muggleborn Slytherin!

Teddie stopped searching.

There wasn't a clock in the room, so she wasn't fully aware of how long she had been searching, it felt like hours, and it probably was. But the light outside the glass-paned window was still relatively light, with a hint of darkness encroaching in the horizon. Night was coming fast.

She had been searching for a way out, after the woman had left her, Teddie had waited a few minutes, just to see if she would return, when she didn't then Teddie had taken in her surroundings.

She was in a bedroom - if she had to venture a guess, she would have said the master bedroom - there was a King size bed in the far-left corner, a grand fireplace stood opposite it beside a giant bookcase. The books were old, the pages torn, and dust covered them, they were also leather bound, which only added to their age - who had leather bound books anymore?

In front of the fireplace sat a chair with a high back. The material that covered it used to be red, but it was worn and covered in dust, just like everything else. It was clear that the room hadn't been used for some time, but Teddie still hadn't found anything that told her where she was... and the search for an exit route was coming up short.

Teddie had looked everywhere- a hidden passage in the walls, a trapdoor under the bed, a latch on the window - but there was nothing. Nothing but the door the unfamiliar woman had gone through.

Teddie swallowed.

She didn't want to try the door. What if whoever had taken her was waiting on the other side? What if putting her in this room was a trick? They could've have been testing her, waiting to see what she would do.

Professor Moody had asked her how far she was willing to go to protect Mason, that could have been part of this. Was Mason on the other side of the door?

Teddie banished the thought. Mason was safe at Hogwarts. He was protected by friends and the Professors, not to mention Dumbledore. There was no way Moody and his accomplice were foolish enough to go after Mason while he was so well guarded, right?

*creak*

Teddie's attention snapped to the door. A tiny gap between the base of the door and the floor showed a shadow, it was directly outside. Was it that woman? Was she coming in?

"Avery, please, you don't have to do this..." a man pleaded.

Teddie's heartbeat faster. The man's voice sounded familiar, but where had she heard it before.

"That's where you're wrong, Robert," the woman snarled. "I shouldn't have to do this. You and Caroline brought this upon yourselves the minute you interfered with my plans."

"She's a child. Just a child."

"She's a weapon."

The floorboards creaked for a second time and then the door burst open and a body fell through, hitting the floor with an even bigger crash than Teddie had made.

Teddie looked from the body of the man to the woman standing in the doorway. She smirked, and in that instant Teddie knew who she was dealing with.

"Avery. You're Avery Sutherland."

The woman - Avery - grinned and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

Teddie and Avery stared at one another for a long time. The silence that hung in the air was disturbed only by the coughs and groans of the man on the floor.

Avery pointed at him. "I'm surprised at you, little witch," she said. "I thought family meant more to you."

"I don't know this man," said Teddie, her eyes never wavering. She was afraid that if she looked away, Avery would strike.

"Are you sure?" Avery asked. She held out a wand.

"Hey! That's mine!" Teddie snapped.

Avery grinned. "Indeed, and an interesting wand it is. The combination of elements that made it is truly unique," she said. "But we shall talk about that later. First, introductions..."

Avery used the wand to pull the man to his knees, almost like he was a puppet on a string.

Teddie noted the pale skin, sunken eyes, and dark circles. This man had been tortured, starved, and refused to sleep for what could have been days or even months.

But there was nothing familiar about him. He had short dark hair, dark eyes, and high cheekbones. Clearly a man of wealth.

Teddie looked back at Avery. "What have you done to him?" she asked.

"He's been punished, of course," Avery answered. "This man is a thief and a liar, little witch."

"That's still better than being a monster," said Teddie. "No human being deserves this treatment, and for the record, I don't know him."

"Interesting compassion for someone you don't know," said Avery.

"I'm human," said Teddie. "Compassion is natural. You have to be cold-hearted to not have it."

Avery shrugged. "Shall we see what happens when I do this?" She released the man from her hold and flicked the wand once more. "Don't look at me, little witch, you'll miss all the fun."

Not wanting to look away from Avery, but also curious about what she meant, Teddie glanced at the man. His appearance had started to change.

His dark hair had changed to a much light shade, it matched Teddie's red to a T, his eyes turned from black to green, freckles appeared on his nose, and immediately Teddie felt her heart shudder to a stop and her eyes widen.

The man before her was the spitting image of Mason... except he was older.

"Dad?" Teddie whispered.

Robert met his daughter's gaze. "I'm sorry, Teddie," he whispered. "I truly am."

Then, there was a flash of green light and Robert Green was dead.

~X~

A scream of despair exploded from Teddie as her father's body hit the floor. Her hands curled into fists and she looked up at Avery, the woman stood with a sadistic grin on her lips, and Teddie's despair evaporated and was replaced immediately with anger.

"I'll – "

"Careful, little witch," said Avery. "There are protective enchantments surrounding this room. They'll prevent you from controlling that shield of yours, and trust me when I say, you don't want an uncontrollable burst of power in here. It could kill you."

"Maybe it'll kill you, too," said Teddie.

Avery laughed. "I doubt that," she said, shaking her head. "Unlike you, I have absolute control over my abilities."

"Does that include your shield?"

Avery paused and then grinned. "Someone's done their homework," she said, sounding impressed. "But, unfortunately, you'd be wrong this time. I did have a shield, but it's long since developed into something more… dangerous. Would you like a demonstration?"

Teddie shook her head. Her gaze drifted back to her father and she felt anger spike again. Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall. Then, fear struck, and Teddie looked up at Avery in alarm.

"My mum," Teddie said. "Where's my Mum?"

Avery cocked her head to the side and then jolted. "Oh, you mean that Muggle my brother was married to. She's dead. Been dead for about three months now. I kept Robert alive for this moment."

"You killed my parents!"

"They are not your parents!" Avery snarled. "They are thieves and liars!"

"You are the liar!" Teddie yelled.

Avery waved the wand and Teddie flew backwards, slamming into the chair. She coughed as the wind left her lungs before returning as the spell was lifted.

"Watch your tone, little witch," Avery warned.

Teddie rubbed her chest and glared hatefully at Avery. "Why did you do this?" she asked. "Why me? My family."

"Because you're special."

"Don't call me that!" Teddie yelled. "You don't get to call me that."

"And why not?"

"It's reserved for family only."

Avery smirked. "Interesting choice of words," she said. "It confirms that they never told you."

"Told me what?"

"About why you are so special."

Teddie hesitated. Avery had her there. Her parents had always said there was a reason for her speciality, but they had never told her why. Even her professors and headmaster had said it, but they, still, couldn't tell her why.

"Do you want to know why?"

Teddie started to reply yes, but then stopped. Could she believe anything this woman said? What if she was only saying these things to get Teddie to trust her? There was no one that Teddie knew that could confirm Avery's stories as fact.

But Avery seemed to be the only person that was willing to give her any answers. She had to try, right? Even if she didn't believe the woman, Teddie could still listen.

"Fine," Teddie relented. "Tell me. Why am I so special?"

"Haven't you ever wondered why you have magical abilities, or why you can talk to snakes when other Muggleborns can't?" Avery asked.

Teddie raised her head and glared at the older woman. Of course, she had wondered these things.

"The answer is simple, Little Witch," said Avery. "You aren't a mere normal Muggleborn with extraordinary abilities." She directed the wand at Teddie and waved it for a second time.

Teddie shuddered as something cold trickle down her neck from the tip of her head, it spread further down her body, extending towards the tip of her fingers and toes.

Teddie closed her eyes.

"Open your eyes, Little Witch," Avery coaxed. "You wanted to see this. You wanted answers."

Swallowing her fear, Teddie opened her eyes. A mirror stood opposite her, a long full-bodied ornate mirror that showed her reflection – except, it wasn't her reflection.

The girl that stared back at her had shoulder-length black hair, dark brown eyes, high-cheekbones and tanned skin.

"What did you do to me?" Teddie asked.

"I didn't do anything, Little Witch," said Avery. "This is the real you. This person, right here, is the real you."

Teddie shook her head. "No, you've done something to me," she said. "Cast a charm, a curse, something."

Avery shook her head. "All I did was undo what they did," she said. "I am sure you've heard of the charm – Finite Incantatem – it undoes all spells, charms, and jinxes. Whatever charm was used on you was a powerful one, but don't worry, I recognised the signature, I know who to go after next."

But, Teddie was no longer listening.

She was staring at her reflection. This is how Daphne had described her back in second year – dark hair, dark eyes, intimidating – but she hadn't been able to give a name.

"Who am I?" Teddie whispered.

"Who do you think you are?" Avery asked.

"I-I don't know," said Teddie, shaking her head. "You're the one with all the answers, you tell me!"

Still with the condescending smirk on her face, Avery glided over to Teddie, tugged her out of her seat and guided her closer to the mirror.

Teddie shuddered as Avery's fingers brushed against her throat, pulling back her hair and exposing her neck in the reflection of the mirror.

"Your name is Faye Sutherland," said Avery. She met Teddie's terrified gaze in the mirror,and her grin grew. "Daughter of the Dark Lord."

End of Book Four

Happy New Year, guys!