Harry Potter novel and character concepts © 2007 J.K. Rowlings, first published in Great Britain, by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
"Do you know what she did? She looked directly into time. She saw all of it's majesty and darkness and power. She saw everything that has happened, and that will happen. And you know what she did with that? She broke it."
"People who should have been born, weren't. People who should have died, didn't. Things that weren't supposed to happen, did. And everything you knew changed, only slightly, but it changed, and more than one time appeared, more than one set of events. Something that was never supposed to exist."
"And I'm going to fix it. I'm going to fix her attack."
– Chapter One –
Wishes
It was raining. It always rained when he went to talk to him. The child did not get many chances to talk to him, but whenever he could he would go. The boy was six years old, and he walked London alone, in dirty clothes, and torn shoes. He kept his hands in his pockets, and avoided the eyes of the others on the streets. The Depression was bad in this part of town. But once he got to the statue he knew everything would be all right again. It was not far away now. The boy didn't even know what the statue was. It was just an old one, left alone in a park. Teenagers had knocked it over and drawn over it, putting a curly mustache on the man's clean-shaved face, drawing obscene pictures over his hat. But the boy didn't care about those. Those things did not make the statue who it was.
When he arrived in the park, it was empty. There were large puddles on the walk between him and the statue, but it didn't matter to the boy. Wetness was usual, he could dry off back at the Orphanage. Finally the statue was in sight. There was a new pictograph scrawled across the nose and right eye. The boy walked up to him, he looked long and a hard and then sat down in front of him.
"I know I've asked for a lot lately," the boy said quietly. "I asked for the better room, for more dinner, even to see my father in the street – I know that you can't do everything, so I'm alright without the last wish. But… instead… could you please send someone? … Anyone to help me?"
The boy paused and looked around his shoulders, he didn't want anyone to notice him. "Anyone," he continued to the statue. "A police officer, or a Professor, or… anyone." The boy slumped slightly, "I've been having bad dreams again," he said starting to cry. "And I don't know what to do."
The boy sat there crying in the park. There was no reason why he should think that the statue would grant his wish – he just believed in it. The statue did not answer, but the boy was reassured. He knew that someone would be arriving soon, the statue wouldn't fail him. Not when it was this important.
He got up and turned around, wiping his cheeks. There was someone standing behind him, with her back to him. She was tall, much taller than him, with red hair tied up into a ponytail.
"Hello?" the boy asked, tentatively. The girl looked around, seeming surprised that there was someone behind her. She was young, but definitely an adult, wearing dark blue and had a strange assortment of things strapped to her belt. One looked like a long stick of white wood.
"Hi!" she said smiling at him. Her accent was like nothing he'd ever heard before, definitely not British. "Odd question," she said. "But what year is this?"
"1934," the boy replied suspicious. It was difficult to miss the middle of the Depression; he looked this girl up and down. He had never seen someone wear something as ridiculous as what she was wearing. She had trousers on, but made of a material that he had never seen before, and her shirt was form fitting and short sleeved.
"Oh," the girl said, clearly thinking about the date, "that's… different. Where am I?"
"London," the boy replied, surprised. "Who are you?" he demanded, needing to be on top on this conversation again.
"It's – um – complicated," the girl replied, awkwardly, looking around at her surroundings, wiping her wet bangs out of her face. "I'm not sure why I came here."
"Did you come to help me?" the boy asked. The girl's face softened and she sank to her knees to be closer to him.
"Do you need help?" she asked, gently putting comforting hands on his shoulders. He looked at them briefly, no one had showed compassion to him before.
"I've been having bad dreams," the boy said, his lip wobbling slightly. But he put his chin up again, regaining his composure. He would not cry in front of a girl, he may have been only six, but he was strong, and he didn't need pity.
"What's your name? And I will try to help with the bad dreams," the girl answered, smiling.
"It's Tom," the boy answered. "Tom Riddle."
James Potter tapped his fingers against the windowsill. It was the only outward sign of his discomfort. His blue eyes were calm, and even his messy black didn't betray his inner thoughts. The hospital was quiet around him. The Healers went about their business, tense and silent, glancing over their shoulders and hurrying as though the hallways would attack them. Sirius was in the lobby, sitting by himself, pretending to read a newspaper, but his black eyes were staring at the corner, watching the main entrance. Moody was also there, disguised as a security guard, standing by the welcome witch, who kept glancing nervously at his fake blue magical eye.
There were four others around the hospital; Frank Longbottom, a tall, solid man, was close by, wand secured in hand. He didn't have to be there, he could have been at home with his wife Alice and their newborn, barely a day old; protecting them instead. But he had insisted that James had been there when Neville was born, he would be there for James when his son was born.
Lily and James had debated. They weren't even sure that they should have gone to the hospital, not after the near attack they had the day before, at Neville's birth. But Moody had put his foot down; he was not endangering the life of Lily or the baby with a home birth. The healers knew what they were doing, and he wanted them all alive. Professor Dumbledore had agreed, and so they had come, nearly twelve hours ago, to wait, and stand at attention.
James looked into the room again. The Nursery was dark, and almost empty. One Healer stood in there to protect the babies, her wand attached to her waist. There were only two babes in the Nursery; a little boy, with wild black hair, peacefully asleep; and a girl. It was the girl that captured James' attention. She was awake, interested in her fingers mostly, but occasionally her little blue eyes would glance at the man in front of her. She wasn't much interested in him, with the new idea of the world to occupy her.
The boy who was sleeping they had decided to name Harry. He was after all, James' son. The girl… they hadn't decided. They hadn't expected her; yet she had appeared, ten minutes after Harry, screaming just as every newborn. She had somehow managed to hide from the tracker spells, disappearing behind the silhouette of her brother. She made James nervous. Every time he was in the room with her it was as though someone was whispering in his ear. It wasn't harmful, or made him angry, just uncomfortable.
The Healer from the Nursery turned and walked towards the door. She opened it quietly and looked at James.
"You may come in now," she said with a smile.
James nodded and came into the room. The whispering began almost immediately. Just a little murmuring, in his mind, almost like a song, but made up with unrecognizable sounds.
"Would you like to take the boy?" the Healer asked kindly, gently picking up Harry and depositing him in James' arms.
"Alright," James answered and took Harry, almost frightened to hurt him. The Healer adjusted his arms and then picked up the girl. The Healer led him to the door. Frank Longbottom was waiting there; he smiled broadly at James, who returned it. James motioned for Frank to follow him to the room where Lily was.
Frank stayed outside the door, keeping watch, and protecting the lives within. When James and the Healer arrived, Professor Albus Dumbledore was still with Lily. They had called him the instant that the girl had appeared. Lily was the only patient in this room, and Dumbledore was standing by her bed, a small frown on his face. It disappeared when they walked into the room. Dumbledore walked forward to the Healer, holding out his hands to take the baby girl from her.
"Thank you, Ally," he said kindly, as she transferred the baby into his hands. "We shall call you if we need you again."
"Very good, sir," she answered and then left the room, making sure the door was closed behind her.
"Well?" James said going to sit by Lily's side, looking worriedly at Dumbledore, holding Harry close to him.
"Well?" Dumbledore repeated, looking fondly down at the little girl, who now realised that his beard was much more interesting than her fingers.
There was a silence in the room, as they felt the danger press in on them.
"Do you think he might try again?" James asked worriedly, putting a hand out to grip Lily's.
"Oh, I doubt it," Dumbledore said lightly. "You performed the Fidelius Charm, did you not?"
"Of course," James answered quickly, "we did it immediately – after yesterday's incidents…"
"Then you should have nothing to fear – once Lily is rested enough, you may go home, and I am sure that your friends will be happy to protect you," Dumbledore said, smiling as he tickled the little girl's chin. She laughed, filling the room with the tiny sound of her voice. Her brother woke to that sound, and stirred in James' arms.
"What about her?" James asked. Lily gripped his hand tighter, she didn't say anything, but looked alert and worried.
Dumbledore frowned slightly, jiggling the little girl in his hands, "I think you should first give her a name," he said quietly.
"But is she-" James fell silent, and looked down to Harry and Lily. He was there when the twins were born, surely that meant that the girl was their daughter just as much as Harry was their son.
"Oh, I think she is yours," Dumbledore said smiling again, looking up to James and Lily. "After all, she looks very much like you. And it is not uncommon for one twin to hide behind the other during pregnancy." Dumbledore smiled at the little girl, "I think she was just shy."
James sighed in relief, though he was still nervous. The murmuring was fainter now, almost unheard, with all the other presences.
"Though I do have a suggestion," Dumbledore said slowly, "which you may not like, but it will keep her safe."
James stiffed, and Lily sat up more on her bed.
"As the opposition knows only that you were having one child, it would keep her safe if she were to grow up someplace else; away from all this."
This was met by silence from James and Lily. They looked at each other, and then at Harry. Finally Lily spoke.
"Are- are you sure?" she said, sounding worn out. She looked longingly at the little bundle in Dumbledore's arms.
"It would be for her protection. If no one knew who she was – if she did not know who she was," Dumbledore said quietly. Lily bit her lip, looked away from the girl, and placed a hand on Harry's head.
"Where would you place her?" Lily asked quietly.
"With a family I trust," Dumbledore answered, softly. "She will be safe with them."
They were silent again, staring at each other. Finally James nodded, "alright," he said. "If we must – we can always see her again when all this is over."
"Of course," Dumbledore replied. He began to walk to the door. "Before I go," he said stopping and looking to her. "I would suggest, for extra protection, that you choose a godparent for them both."
"Sirius," James said instantly. "He's done so much for us." Lily nodded her agreement.
"Go and get him," Dumbledore said, James nodded, handed Harry to Lily and hurried from the room. Once he was gone, Dumbledore looked to Lily. "I would pick a different godparent for her," he said motioning to the girl in his arms. "It would protect her better."
Lily looked from Harry in her arms, to the door where James left to Dumbledore.
"James won't like it," she said softly.
"He doesn't have to – the power resides in the mother, the one who carried the child for nearly ten months."
"Severus," Lily answered firmly. "I want him."
"Very well," Dumbledore answered. "I will let him know."
"How does it work? Just… just so I know it'll be okay," Lily asked.
"In your naming of the godparent you have called them to take care of the child in case something should happen to you. When James returns with Sirius, Sirius will accept the charge of Harry. I will take the girl to Severus – and he will do the same, before I take her to her new family."
Lily nodded, and looked down.
"You have not named her," Dumbledore said, smiling at Lily.
"We did not have a name for a girl," she replied, holding Harry a bit tighter. "Let her new parents name her."
"If you are sure,"
Lily nodded. She paused and then spoke again.
"Can I hold her?"
"I would not advise that, I am sorry Lily," Dumbledore said softly. "Do not tell Sirius of her – do not tell anyone of her."
Lily nodded, and Dumbledore wrapped the child up securely and left the room. The murmuring ceased when he left, and the little girl was silent, as though she knew something was happening.
Dumbledore left unseen from the hospital. He wrapped the little girl up in his robes and past by all the pictures and Healers without a word. He knew where he would find Severus, but he wanted to take a good look at the girl as well. He could hear her murmuring in the back of his mind, and that bothered him. He was certain she wasn't dangerous, but all the same. He felt like she needed protecting, from something he couldn't quite put his finger on. There was something bigger moving within this little girl's aura, something very powerful, something that put him on edge.
Severus Snape sat in his living room, his head in his hands. He'd been sitting there for nearly fourteen hours. The clock ticked on the mantel piece, but the rest of the house was silent. There wasn't a light on; Severus just sat in the pitch black. Waiting for some kind of news. The carpet was fraying under his feet; he'd been staring at the same tear since he had heard the news. If he was hungry or thirsty he didn't feel it. He didn't make a single movement, just stared at the carpet and listened to the clock tick on the mantel piece.
Then he heard what he was waiting for; a step at the door and a soft knocking. Severus jumped up, nearly toppled over the coffee table in his haste to open the front door. His legs and arms were cramped from sitting so motionless, but he didn't care.
An old man stood at the door, with very long greying hair, and a beard just as long.
"You have news?" Severus questioned immediately.
"Will you let me in, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course," Severus said at once and stepped back. As Dumbledore crossed the threshold Severus noticed that he was hunched slightly, as though protecting something in his arms. Dumbledore made his way into the living room and stood waiting for Severus to shut the door and join him. Severus did just that and arrived, standing looking frazzled in the doorway. His shoulder length black hair was messy from running worrying hands through it and there were large bags under his eyes. It took him a moment to realise they were standing in the dark, so he lit a single candle on the coffee table. Light flickered into the room casting long shadows onto the walls. They stood in silence for a moment and then Severus spoke.
"Well?" Severus asked. "How is she?"
"Is this place secure?" Dumbledore enquired.
"Yes, of course," Severus said quickly, "Lily, how is she?"
"Lily is well," Dumbledore replied. He shifted his arms under his cloak but did not bring them out. "She delivered a healthy baby boy and they are both quite safe."
Severus let out a long sigh and suddenly exhausted sank into the chair that he'd occupied since he heard the news that Lily was going into labour. "Are you sure she is protected?" he asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "I am very sure. There is something else."
Severus looked up worry etched across his face. Dumbledore gently removed his cloak and pulled out his arms. He was cradling a bundle of clothes protectively. Severus frowned and stood up, he couldn't make out what Dumbledore was holding until he moved barely a foot away from him.
A little redheaded baby girl was wrapped up in his arms. She was just waking up, her blue eyes bleary. She didn't cry when she looked up at the two men in front of her. Severus stared at her and then at Dumbledore.
"But-" Severus began.
"She had twins," Dumbledore explained. "This little one came ten minutes after Harry. She had hidden behind her brother, but it is best that we hide her from this war."
Dumbledore held out the little girl for Severus to hold. He took her gently, trying not to disturb her, but staring at her wondrously all the same.
"She looks like Lily," Severus murmured.
"Very much so," Dumbledore said smiling.
"What did they name her?"
"They haven't," replied Dumbledore, "Lily thought it best that her new parents name her."
Severus took his eyes away from the little girl for the first time since he'd seen her. "Why did you bring her to me? I cannot take care of her, or keep her away from this war."
"Lily asked for you to be her godfather," Dumbledore said. "Do you know the power and responsibility that goes along with that?"
"Yes," said Severus, "of course I will."
Dumbledore smiled, "I knew you would, but do you understand the responsibility that goes along with this? Should anything happen to Lily and James, it would be your responsibility to take care of her? You would not sleep well if she were in danger, the magic would call you to help her."
"I understand," Severus said, smiling down at the little girl. "I completely understand, and I will do it all."
"Good," Dumbledore approved.
"Who will you place her with? Can I visit her?"
"I am giving her to Hector and Charis Black."
Severus' head snapped up. "Hector and Charis? Will she be safe with them?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said firmly. "Charis is already with her parents in Canada and I know that she will be able to take care of her."
Severus had a deep frown on his face and he looked back at the little girl. "Do you really trust them, sir?"
"Yes, I do," said Dumbledore firmly.
"Alright," Severus said. "Will I be able to visit her?"
"Yes, most definitely," Dumbledore answered. "Narcissa and Charis are very close friends so I suspect that they will visit England often. And Narcissa's boy is only a few months older, so she will have a friend that she'll want to visit."
"That's if she likes Draco," Severus answered.
"I don't have much fear in that," Dumbledore chuckled as the baby girl reached out a hand to grab Severus' fingers. He let her and wiggled them a little. "She seems to like everyone."
"Will you ever tell her? About her parents?" Severus asked.
"We shall see how things go," Dumbledore said, reaching out again to take the little girl from Severus. He let her go reluctantly, his eyes following her bright red hair.
"She'll go to Hogwarts, won't she?" Severus asked.
"Absolutely. I think she'll continue to surprise us all her life," Dumbledore chuckled, "you can feel her presence, can't you?"
"It is very strong," Severus said with a half-smile. "Like Lily's."
Dumbledore nodded, wrapping the baby back up in his cloak.
"Tell me when she is safe," Severus said. Dumbledore nodded and moved out of the living room. Severus stood behind as Dumbledore let himself out. The room was lit only by the single candle on the table and silent aside from the clock ticking on the mantle piece.
Romi stared at the yellow eyes. They were large and unblinking. Black slits down the middle of the golden irises. The cat and the girl lay on the ground of the barn, on their stomachs, staring into each other's eyes. Romi was very particular. She would not look away and this tabby apparently thought the same thing. She very close to knowing the cat's secret, she was certain. The cat was beginning to understand that Romi was trustworthy enough. She could tell by the way the cat moved its head back and forth and flicking its ears.
The rest of the barn watched this interaction. The cows chewed their cud while the sheep snuffled against door back into their pen from the pasture outside. There was a large brown mutt in the corner that sat patiently beside the Clydesdales. Both were watching the girl and the cat having a staring contest, the horses flicking their tales occasionally, and the dog looking around the barn for intruders before turning his attention back to the match in front of him.
Owls were hooting in the rafters unaware the intense and very important happening down below them. Romi had her feet in the air and her chin in her hands as she stared the cat down through her rectangular glasses. They were sliding down her nose, but she did not bother to push them up again. This was too important, she had let her red hair fall into her face as well.
There was a snort from the horse and then a shadow fell across the floor from the large open barn doors.
"Romi, love, what are you doing?" asked a soft voice.
Romi's concentration was broken and she looked behind her. The tabby ran off into a corner, disappearing from sight. Romi's mother, Charis, was leaning against the barn door, looking curiously at her eleven-year-old daughter.
"I was trying to learn the secrets of cats," Romi said getting to her feet and dusting off her legs. She missed most of the straw and dirt, leaving her overalls full of it. She looked like she belonged in the barnyard.
"I see," mused Charis, "did you learn anything?" she asked.
"No," Romi said sadly. "I almost did, but you scared her away."
"I am sorry, sweetheart," Charis said. "I didn't know you had such important business in the barn."
"It's alright, next time it will be easier because I've made progress," Romi said, walking up to her mum and looking up. Charis' blonde hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, and her purple eyes sparkled down at Romi.
"That's good," Charis said. "Come along now, it's nearly time for dinner and you have a visitor."
"Who!?" Romi demanded, excited. She had completely forgotten about the mysteries of cats. Romi never had visitors in summer. She normally went to visit her cousin in England for the summer months, but Charis had wanted to stay in Canada this year, as her father wasn't very well. They were to go in a few days to England, on July 30th, so Romi wasn't expecting any visitors at all, even if she was having an early birthday party. She didn't have very many friends in Canada, and her actual eleventh birthday was July 31st.
"You'll just have to run up to the house and find out, won't you?" Charis said with a large grin. Romi took off across the field. Her grandparents' house was outside a little town in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It could snow any day of the year here, and the temperature could vary from minus thirty-five, to twenty-five degrees Celsius, this also seemed to work whenever it felt like. Today was a nice day, nearing ten degrees above freezing, causing Romi to be wearing a t-shirt and overalls instead of a sweater and leggings under her pants.
She bounded up the hill towards the front door of the house. There was no sign outside of who her visitor might be, so she ran full force up the steps of the house, through the porch and burst through the front door. Her grandmother and Father, Hector, was warmly greeting a tall man in a large black coat that hid his face from Romi. At the crash from the front door, the man turned around.
Romi squealed and ran forward to be received in a giant warm hug by her godfather, Severus Snape. It lasted a few moments before Severus pushed her back and held onto her arms to take a good look at her. He tried very hard not to smile.
"What on earth have you been doing?" he asked his mouth twitching.
"She was staring at cats in the barn," Charis said coming in the front door, smiling. Romi looked back at her mother and then to Severus again.
"Just one cat," Romi said firmly. "The tabby in the barn, she has a secret and I want to know what it is."
"I see, did she tell you her secret?" Severus asked.
"No, mum interrupted and scared her away," Romi said. "But I was close."
"Why is it so important that you know the cat's secrets?" Severus asked standing upright and taking off his cloak. Grandmother took from him and went to hang it up in the hall closet.
"Even the Ancient Egyptians knew that cats were magical," Romi said. "When I'm older I'm going to buy myself a cat."
"Why not ask for one for Christmas or your birthday?" Severus asked.
"Because, cats are expensive. And their special," Romi said. "I can't ask someone for a cat that would be insulting to the cat."
"What if someone were to give a cat to you without you asking for it? Would that be acceptable?" Severus questioned.
Romi thought for a moment, "Only if they thought the cat wanted to be bought. Otherwise it would be like I was dropping hints about wanting a cat, and that's not good."
"So, the cat has to choose you?" Severus asked, running his fingers through his hair to get the strands out of his face.
"Exactly," Romi said. She suddenly hugged him again around the waist. Severus put a gentle hand on her head. "Why'd you come to visit?"
"Really, Romi," he said with a smile. "I come for all your birthday parties. You think being in Canada would have stopped that?"
Romi grinned up at him and took his hand, as Hector and Charis invited him into the living room. She snuggled up beside Severus as he sat himself on the sofa and accepted a cup of tea from her grandmother.
"How was your journey, Severus?" Charis asked sitting down beside him.
"Not terrible," Severus answered. "Bit exhausting though."
"Romi, go wash up please," Hector said coming into the room. "You know how Grandma and Grandpa are."
Romi untangled herself from Severus' arm and hurried upstairs to her bedroom. It was the smallest bedroom in the house, but it's not like she spent a lot of time there. Her bed was in one corner, a desk and dresser in the others, and a closet. At the end of her bed was her trunk. She'd used it before just because she'd spent so many summers in England. But this year it was being packed for a different use. On her desk was her letter, her letter to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was going to learn how to be a proper witch. Severus had gone there, and was now a teacher there. Her parents and grandparents, and her aunt and uncle had also gone to Hogwarts when they were eleven. Her cousin and best friend, Draco Malfoy, was starting with her in only one month's time. Her trunk was already packed, they were to go to the Malfoy's in three days and spend the rest of the summer before school there. Romi was so excited she could barely contain it.
Her father had scared her last March by telling the story of how her mother had gone to Hogwarts. Charis had never received her letter; she had forged one of her own. Romi never did find out how that worked out in the end because Charis had forbidden Hector to repeat the story to Romi.
Romi stripped off her clothes and went to the bathroom that was connected to her room. She quickly washed and found a new set of clothes. She looked in the mirror briefly to make sure was acceptable and then hurried down the stairs to the living room.
Her grandfather was just making his wobbly way into the room, to greet their guest. Severus had stood up to offer a hand, but he was waved away by Romi's grandfather. He settled into the armchair with a huff and then smiled.
"Good of you to come down, good of you," he said with a heavy breath but a wide smile. Severus had met her grandparents a few times before when he was invited to Canada for Christmas dinners. Charis' parents were always very welcoming and they doted on their only granddaughter, subsequently doted on anyone who doted on her also. Romi came bounding into the room looking clean and refreshed as though she hadn't spent the last few hours staring at a cat on the barn floor.
"Ah, there she is," her grandfather said holding out a hand. "The girl of the hour." Romi walked over to him and gave him a kiss as he squeezed her hand in return. "Good of her to spend her birthday in Canada with us this year," he said smiling.
Romi smiled back, she couldn't help noticing that her grandfather looked weaker every day. He smiled just the same, but it made him exhausted.
"Draco and your aunt and uncle send Birthday wishes," Severus said, "though you'll see them in a few days."
"I can thank them then," Romi said smartly. She went to sit beside her Godfather. She never got to see him that often so she tried to be with him as much as possible. Draco had once asked her if she thought Severus was scary. He was tall and thin, with a hooked nose and greasy hair, at least Draco thought it was greasy, but Romi never saw any of that. She just saw how his black eyes crinkled as he smiled at her, and felt nothing but love from him.
He looked at her like that now; as though she reminded him of something, but he never said what. It must have been something good, for he was always smiling.
"Have any large plans aside from staring at cats?" Severus asked.
"Not particularly," Romi answered. She didn't have a lot of friends. In fact, most of the children that lived near here house in Canada weren't magical, and the ones that were, were all older or much younger than her. There had been a few times when they had held get-togethers, but Romi's grandparents weren't very social. As for cousins, her mother didn't have any siblings, and her father's only nephew was in England.
There was a pause when no one said anything, just watched Romi. She cast her mind around for something to say to them. "I was thinking about going riding later though," Romi mused, thinking about the Clydesdales.
"Well you best clean out their feet first," Grandfather said with a chuckle. "It's been a while."
"I can't use magic for that, can I?" Romi asked.
"Definitely not," Severus answered before either of her parents.
"Ah, a little elbow grease never cause any one any harm," Grandfather said with a grin.
Romi liked hearing her grandparents talk. Their accents were like hers; they grew up in Canada and met there, even though their daughter, Romi's mother, was born in England. Her mother had an English accent, a slight one, but it was still there, and her father and Severus were very British. When they all got together in one room, Romi couldn't really hear the differences anymore, they had all just slurred together.
"Well," Grandma said, getting to her feet again. "Best get dinner started, I'm sure our guest is hungry. Won't take a half hour."
"I'll help, mum," Hector said moving over.
"Thank you," Grandma said, and the two left the room. Charis stayed near her father, and Romi looked back up to Severus.
"Do you have any news?" she asked.
"Not too much, unless you want to hear about last year's classes," Severus said with a smile.
"Can I hear about this year's classes?" Romi said excited. "I get to take your class right? Potions?"
"It is a required course, so yes," answered Severus. "But I won't favour you just because you're my goddaughter, you better work hard at it."
"I will, I promise," Romi said. She smiled to herself. She'd never told any of her parents, they would never forgive her if she did, but she had borrowed one of her father's advanced textbooks to read through about four years ago. Draco knew about it, they had studied it together, dreaming about what it would be like to be able to perform that magic.
Three years ago, Romi had come across the description of an Animagus. Draco had thought it interesting, but Romi had been enthralled. Animagus were extremely rare; it was a powerful piece of magic that could go seriously wrong. Transforming oneself into an animal at will, and retaining all memory of who you were was difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.
Draco had lost interested a few months later, but it had never left Romi, she researched everything she could get her hands on, and had formulated a complete understanding of the workings of the magic.
She just needed to try it out.
"Good," Severus said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll do fine in all of your classes." It was said as a certainty, but Romi wasn't bothered. She was a quick learner.
"My dear," Charis said, "Why don't you show, Severus the garden before dinner? It's been a few years since he was here."
"Okay," Romi said jumping up. Severus carefully laid his empty teacup on the side table beside him and got to his feet. Romi took his hand and led him to the front door.
Outside was still bright and sunny and the farm was laid out in front of them. The stable and pastures stretched away to the right and then the left was covered with tall following wheat grasses, nearly ready to be cut. The chicken coup was centred in front of them but across a delicate little garden. But this wasn't the garden that Romi liked best. Off to the right, past the cattle pasture was a little bit of wilderness that was on her grandfather's land. There was a swing and a tree house with wildflowers spread out beneath them.
Severus knew this was her favourite spot, for as soon as they were outside, he started to causally stroll towards it. They walked in silence for a moment, and then Severus spoke.
"How are you, Romi?" he asked seriously.
Romi knew he wasn't expected a polite answer, he was expecting a proper account of how she felt. She knew what was bothering her the most. She looked up to him, frowning slightly.
"What happens when you're Sorted?" she asked. "At school?"
"The Sorting is a surprise," Severus said, "you'll find out how it's done on the first night."
"I meant what happens after you're sorted?" Romi asked.
"You sit with your house, you go to classes with your house, live in your house dormitory," Severus said. "You are loyal to your house."
Romi nodded. She knew that already, but she didn't know how to explain how she felt exactly. There was the truth gnawing at the bottom. Her parents had never told her, they had never treated her any different, Severus must have known, but he had never said a word either. But she knew, she'd known since she was eight, when she overheard her parents talking. They had been talking about her, about how she wasn't biologically theirs. She had been adopted, really placed in their care by someone they wouldn't name. And she worried about that, now that it came to actually going to Hogwarts. Her whole family was in Slytherin, but she wasn't really from her family – so where would she go?
"Romi, what's bothering you about the Sorting?" Severus asked seemingly to read her mind.
"What if I'm not in Slytherin?" Romi asked. "Everyone else has been in Slytherin. Grandma, Grandpa – Mum, Dad. All of Dad's family – you."
Severus smiled, "not all."
"What?"
"Not all of your father's family was in Slytherin," Severus said. "But it doesn't matter. If you are not in Slytherin, then you will be in a different house."
"But I'm not like any of the other houses," Romi said. "I'm not brave, or smart, or hospitably."
Severus laughed. Romi really liked it when he laughed; it filled his thin face and spread to his black eyes. She had noticed that she was usually the only person that saw Severus in this manner. He was cold and secluded with others, even a little with her parents, but with her, she was his world.
"What's so funny?" Romi asked curiously.
"My dear, you are all of those. I don't think I've met someone so young yet so brave and kind. And you are far smarter than you give yourself credit."
"So then I won't end up in Slytherin," Romi said miserably.
Severus quieted and stopped, turning Romi to look at him. "The houses are not defined by one quality. No person is only one quality without the others. Wherever you are sorted you will belong there. It's never been wrong."
Romi nodded, they started walking again. They reached the garden and Severus took a seat on the stone bench while Romi went to the swing. Severus watched her for a moment.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Severus said. "Your opinion counts."
Romi nodded. "I just wish I am in Slytherin."
Severus gave a small smile.
Romi's birthday dinner was full of everything that she liked most. There was roast beef with onion and carrots, mashed and roasted potatoes, boiled carrots and turnips, Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower and broccoli, cranberry jelly and loads more. Her grandmother had out-done herself, and made food for twice the amount of people that were there. It was fun to sit around the dinner table with everyone that was like a parent to her, Severus was being his fun cheerful self, instead of the sullen expressions she'd seen cross his face. Her parents were happy and talkative, her father relating stories from when they were young at school. Severus remembered half of the stories told as he was at school with both her parents.
Romi enjoyed listening to all their talk about their times at school, it was making her excited to go to school herself. And she couldn't wait to get to England to talk it over with Draco. He was her best friend after all and it had been almost four months since they'd seen each other. Since she was last in England with her father. Her father actually worked for the Ministry of Magic in England. He'd done so since before Romi was born, but spent half of his time with his wife in Canada. Charis had lived permanently in Canada since they had Romi. She never explained why, but there was definitely a reason why, and Romi figured it had something to do with that event that happened when she and Draco were only about one years old.
The two had speculated for years what made Draco's father so angry. Draco was positive that it had to do with the misconception about Harry Potter. The most famous wizard of their time; everyone else in the world thought he was a hero, but Uncle Lucius always told him that he knew better. Romi's parents didn't like to talk about it, and Severus always pretended that Uncle Lucius wasn't in the room whenever he went off about it.
The way Uncle Lucius talked about it was that he had a great wonderful friend, who was trying to help people, but an enemy of that friend, spread nasty rumours saying that Uncle Lucius' friend was mean and bad. This eventually caused an altercation between Uncle Lucius' friend and Harry Potter. Uncle Lucius' friend had died, while Harry Potter had lived, and the rest of the wizarding world had rejoiced at this.
Romi had spent a lot of time thinking that Harry Potter must have been some great evil wizard with hundreds of people at his command and thousands hoodwinked by him. Until her father had explained. Harry Potter was only a baby when the Event had happened. He was almost exactly the same age as Romi herself.
Romi had asked her father how it was possible that a baby could kill a full-grown wizard, and her father had changed the subject without answering her.
Romi switched her thoughts away from all of that stuff as dessert came out on the table carried by the family's very old and kindly house-elf. Dessert was an ice cream pie loaded with cherries, chocolate flakes and cookie crumbles. Then the party retired to the living room again for some tea and coffee. Romi settled herself with a cup of tea cross-legged on the floor between the couch where her father and Severus sat and the chair that her mother had occupied.
This was the best part of the evening. Her grandfather, taking his time coming out from the kitchen arrived with a package wrapped in bright red paper.
"I think it's traditional to give presents for birthdays is it not?" he said with a grin.
Romi smiled broadly and got up off the floor to shimmy over and receive the present. She gently unwrapped it, careful not to tear the paper. Inside was a book. It was a book of Fairy Tales, collected. It carried the most famous tales that Romi knew inside and out from when she was little, Tales of Beetle the Bard, along with a whole new set of tales by a woman called Elyssa Nina. Romi recognised that name, but she could not put her finger on where she had seen it before.
"Just something light for you to read when you get bogged down with school work," her grandmother said. "And we know how much you liked Beetle the Bard when you were little."
"Thanks, grandma!" Romi said and she gave both her grandparents a large hug. Her mother and father were next to give her a present, and Severus actually slipped out of the room for a moment. Romi wondered where he had gone, but she didn't say anything and just opened her parents' gift. Inside was a stationary set, with faint pictures of owls and other birds around the edges. The quill was very elegant and the ink was a dark purple.
"So you don't forget to write to us," Charis said with a smile as Hector put an arm around his wife's shoulders.
"I better not be getting letters only from your teachers," he said grinning at her, "after all, you have no excuse now."
Romi smiled broadly. It was then that Severus returned into the room. He was holding something in his right hand close to his robes. He returned to his seat as Romi held up the present he missed.
"Very nice," he said smiling. "I'm certain that'll be used, correct?"
Romi nodded vigorously, gently touching the eagle feather quill. It was an expensive and delicate gift. He parents must have thought her old enough to take care of it. She looked up to Severus smiling.
He was watching her with a curious expression; she wondered why on earth he was looking at her like that. Then there was a movement that caught her eye. Severus was holding his hands in his lap, cradling something small and black. Romi heard her mother chuckle slightly, and she carefully put her other presents aside to walk closer to Severus.
"What's that?" she asked.
"You present," Severus answered. "If you can take care of her." Severus opened his hands and Romi saw the tiniest kitten she'd ever seen. The black cat hard barely opened her eyes, her paws smaller than Romi's thumbnail. Her little ears were pinned to her head still, not fully grown and she looked up at Romi with bleary yellow eyes.
"She's very young, only about three weeks old. Her mother was an old cat that used to live in my attic," Severus explained. "Her mother couldn't take care of her, she was too old and ill, and so I've been feeding her myself." He held out his hands and very carefully deposited the kitten in Romi's hands. "You have to be very diligent with her, she'll need your constant attention for at least two more weeks before she'll be able to drink out of a bowl, or eat by herself. But you're eleven now, I figure your old enough to take on such a responsibility."
Romi nodded, she didn't have anything to say, and the present of this tiny creature was so incredible. The kitten weighed barely half a pound, and felt so delicate that if Romi held onto her too hard she might break her in two. But somehow she felt like this kitten was special, she would live and she would be incredible. Romi finally looked up to Severus and smiled.
"Thank you," she said.
"It's like taking care of baby," he said, "remember. So you'll have to get up in the middle of the night to feed her, and love her."
"I can do that."
Hector laughed, "Good. Means Severus won't have to do it anymore, I thought he'd wake up the whole house last night."
Severus didn't reply, only smiled at his goddaughter.
"What should I feed her?" Romi asked. "Milk?"
"If you have a heifer that just calved, her milk would be the best," Severus said, glancing at Romi's grandfather.
"I knew we had a late calving season for some reason," he answered with a smile.
"Thank you," Romi said, glancing around, "really."
"You're most welcome," Charis said, giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead.
"Was this a good birthday, Romi?" Hector asked, grinning.
"Absolutely," Romi answered, "best one."
"Have any Birthday wishes?" Grandpa asked, "For the coming year?"
Romi thought for a moment and then looked at the little kitten in her hand, a little life that was hers to take care of, and watch grow. She'd even forgotten by now her obsessions with the mysteries of cats, she had a mystery all her own now, and with school approaching it seemed like she was about to get a whole new set of mysteries.
"I wish for this year to be awesome," Romi answered.