Snape POV
I can't believe the Headmaster finds it necessary that I go to find the child. She's missing and it's only a guess. I could be working on potions that are more important. But instead I, Severus Snape, have to retrieve a child. I knew this part of the Muggle world and knew it wasn't a great village. I walked up to the address in London and knocked on the door. It was 23 Macadoo Lane.
"What?" Okay now I know who I'm dealing with. I taught this woman. Her name is Juniper Valeska and she married Jeremy Valeska. They had a daughter it seems. "Professor Snape be quick. I have to tell my waste of space to move it."
"If you're in reference to your daughter, that's why I'm here. Professor Dumbledore has been notified that she hasn't been in any wizarding schools. Since you are in London she is required to be at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts would hate the waste of space she is. She'll never amount to anything," she spat and as I saw the girl I couldn't believe it. She looked like she died inside. Her eyes were covered in a clouded look and her face was set to neutral. Her hair was almost like straw. I'm sure they let her bathe but it's only enough that nobody asks questions.
"Well I'd like to have a word with her. Alone," I clarified. Her mother scoffed and let me walk with her to the park. "Is she always like that?" A simple nod was all I got. "Are you scared?" She shrugged. I'm now able to guess non-verbal communication was all she got. "Does she frighten you?" Finally I got a nod and I knew what was going on. "Let's go have a chat where you'll actually talk. Is there a place you feel safe enough to do it?" She nodded and picked up her pace and I had to even pick up mine to keep up with her.
She's leading me down alleys. It's not exactly promising. Nor do I feel 100% comfortable with that. Finally though she was climbing stairs. I followed and as I walked in, I was astounded. This place was beautiful. "It belongs to my grandmother. She lets me use this as my safehouse," she answered before I could pose the question.
" She has a good sense of taste," I admitted and this girl had to chuckle. "What? What's so funny?"
"You're the only one besides me who likes the place the way it is. My mother tries to get in but can't. Grandma charmed it to deny anyone but myself and my guests entry. My parents are never guests. So what do you want to talk about? Oh and if you need a drink I can make tea. Grandma restocks the place once every 2 weeks and cleans out the old stuff. It should be restocked since yesterday."
"Then if you wouldn't mind making tea. Does she buy different kinds?" I got a solemn nod at that and I looked shocked. She's scared. "Emily what scares you so badly to make you go quiet?"
"I told you. It's her," she answered. That's great kid, but why did dfferent kinds of tea relate to her. "Mom always made me do hte shopping. One time I forgot two types of tea. I was put in my little room that's only big enough for a bed, for 5 days. Not a morsel of food. Just water. I'd get a cup every 6 hours. So now I have to remember everything."
"It's not on you to remember every little detail of your life. Besides you'd be a year 3 in Hogwarts right now. Your mother would be on her own. Why didn't she send you?"
"I don't know. I didn't even know I was to go to school elsewhere," she answered. I growled and she looked scared so I softened my expression rather quickly.
"Emily, did you know you had a brother?" She looked at me alarmed. I pulled out a picture and handed it to her. She looked at it amazed. "That's your older brother that's standing behind the cauldron. His name was Landon. Landon was one of the biggest prodigies I had in Potions class. He was a Potions Master until his end. Nobody knows who killed him," I began before I heard the unmistakeable sound of a growl. I looked up and saw Emily looked ready to kill. "What's wrong?"
"When can I get out of here and go to Hogwarts?"
"As soon as you pack your trunk. You'll be the oldest year 1. Dumbledore wants you to start where you would if you were a new student. I know it'll be scary being older than most, but it's necessary," I began before she looked at me.
"I'm only 12," she reminded. I looked confused. Dumbledore said she was 13 or turning 13. "What?"
"Emily, has your birthday already passed this year?" She nodded and I groaned. "The Headmaster believed you were 13," I explained. She looked confused. "All it changes is what year you would be. Your birthday must be pretty close to Hogwarts start time. When did you turn 11?"
"Last year on September 1," she answered. There's the ticket. She'd be a year 2 this year had she gone to school.
"Now you're not that much older than the year 1 kids. Most year 1 kids turn 12 over the year," I explained and she nodded. "Now let's go get your things."
