Hedda Prince and the Hidden Family Line
Authors note: I have not given up on SeidtoTama, my Gintama Fanfiction. I just took a break, but I'm still writing it. I had another idea for it last night at work. I wanted to post this for a while, I just did not have time to have it corrected for a while thanks to my super busy schedule this semester at school, and work. Ugh college. Okay, so I don't own Harry Potter, nor anything affiliate with it. Or any of the other TV shows, books, places mentioned that are real or were created by someone else. This is a fanfic I'm writing Yazziyous Daydreamer. She had a dream about it and I wanted to write one for her. I'm rearranging the years where Harry Potter took place in. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Hedda is two year older than the trio. One last thing, this will be done in three parts. Part two should be corrected tomorrow, then posted. Part three needs a bit more writing. This is a mix of Cannon HP and Lupin-Black story Notes: ' ' means thoughts " " means dialog
-Beginning of Part One-
Somewhere in the English Country side, 1999
The night was dark; there was no moon out on this cloudy mid-July night. A very secluded manor house stood amongst a strand of deep woods. There was only one light on in the many dark windows that faced the night. In that one lit room a man sat hunched at a fancy, ancient-looking writing desk. Longish, dark locks fell in his face as he glared at his quill. He placed it back into the ink well. The man lifted the candle as he rose from the burgundy desk chair, ready to retire for the evening. He turned back towards the desk to seal the letter in an envelope.
The dim flame in the fireplace behind the man roared to life. It held the face of young woman with Hispanic features. "Severus Snape," she addressed the older man, with a Mid-Western, American dialect. He twisted on his feet, his black robed twirling with him like the flapping of an unkindness of ravens.
"Yes," he sneered. 'Who would be as impudent as to use the floo network a few moments before the stroke of midnight?'
The woman smiled. It was a charming, very professional smile. "I'm Stella Stanson." She paused, trying to offer him a crisp white business card.
Severus ignored it. "Get to the point, Ms. Stanson."
She hid her offense behind a polished mannerism. "Of course, Mr. Snape."
"Professor," he corrected between gritted teeth.
"My apologies, Professor Snape. I'm with Magical Children's services. Head of the Special Cases division." The wizard's pale face betrayed none of the curiosity brewing inside of him, only the irritation of being called upon at this late hour. 'What in Merlin's Beard could this be about?' Severus was a childless, bachelor. 'I suppose it must have something to do with one of my students. They might want proof or statements of them being neglected at home.'
Stella cleared her throat before continuing. "If the manner of this case were not so urgent… I would send you a letter. Which is the general protocol." She raised a manila folder, careful not to ruin her fresh manicure. She had gone to one of her old-school friend's newly opened nail salon and had them painted with wonderful black and gold stripes with silver G's for the play in her home town's community theatre that she was just casted in, The Great Gatsby. "A child was just recovered today from Gnilrets, Illinois." She handed him the folder. "The circumstances were worthy of a boggart."
Severus snatched it out of her hands and hurriedly scanned it. He did not have the time nor the patience to stay up until the wee hours of the morning for something like this. He had breakfast with his distant relatives Lucius and Narcissa in the morning. Then he had plans to run into town, he was almost out of his jar of Newts eyes for his potions. The species he was using for his creations were difficult to find and he only used the best ingredients for any of his potions regardless if it was for his personal use or business matters.
The first page was of a little girl about five years old. She had hair like that muggle actress Severus remembered his mother was fond of, Shirley Temple? Large brown eyes and a slightly crooked nose—which is a common trait of the Prince family line. Most would not have noticed it, but as he was of the Prince family, he of course did. He did not usually find children cute, but she was adorable. Not that he would ever say that aloud. She was much cuter than Lucius's son, Draco. He was such a mean looking baby, unlike this child. There were many random jotted in notes to help wizards understand muggle terms, clearly by some witch that was proud of her high marks in Muggle Studies. Severus rolled his eyes at this.
The files read:
Name: Hedda M. O'Dailey
Birthday: June 22, 1992
Sex: Female
Age: 5
Biological Parents: Caitlin O'Dailey and Bob Convernly.
Case Notes: On a Kindergarten (A sort of school for baby muggles) trip to a local National Park, the child was reportedly quietly playing with a plastic dinosaur (They do not come to life and roar, unless they have some type of power source called batteries) on a wooden park bench and watching the small waterfall before in a moment's notice appeared in a fifty ft. Spruce tree. The lady in charge of the trip, Ms. Smith, came running when another child reported this.
When Ms. Smith reached the child, she was already trying to climb down, when her hand missed a branch and she fell. Miraculously, the child was not hurt. Nonetheless, they rushed her to the hospital because they thought she might have a concussion. The child's mother, Caitlin O'Dailey, picked her up after the doctors (Muggle Healers) discharged her with the warning for Ms. O'Dailey to keep her awake for several more hours and to watch for several signs.
Report Cnt: The next report comes from Liz Mindo, a friend of the biological mother. She reports that Ms. O'Dailey dropped Hedda off at her house. Ms. O'Dailey told Ms. Mindo that she was going to be late for her tanning appointment (A skin appointment that takes place at muggle salons to make one's skin tan) Ms. Mindo was only supposed to watch Hedda for a couple of hours. However, Ms. O'Dailey never returned to get her. After a week of keeping the child and unable to contact Ms. O'Dailey, Ms. Mindo dropped Hedda off at DCFS (Muggle Child Services).
Further Notes: the child exhibits several signs and displays of having magic. Very powerful magic.
Severus felt a twang of pity in his heart. It reminded him of how neglectful his own parents were. He immediately squashed it. "Yes, this is very tragic Ms. Stanson. Despite that, what does this have to do with me?"
Stella had watched him read curiously. She did not want this case. Normally, it would go to an underling, but all the other case workers refused the job. A majority of them said they would quit, if their superior insisted they take the case. MCS was already understaffed as it is. So, Stella begrudgingly accepted it. Knowing the potions instructor's reputation as an incredibly rigid and harsh man. "Well, the client would normally be placed with a relative after being taken out of the mother's custody. Unfortunately, no one could locate the biological mother. The biological father is in prison. There are no step parents or close relatives that we could get a hold of. DCFS placed her in foster care, and her foster parents, Tim and Andrea, both squibs, realized immediately that she was a witch and contacted us in hopes of reaching any magical family."
With an annoyed sigh, Severus tapped a long, pale finger against the fireplace mantle. 'Ah. They want to contact one of my student's parents, who will turn out to be some sort of relative for the child.' He rolled his eyes. 'Why did they not contact Dumbledore or any of the school officials for this?' A short, greenish, spindly creature wearing a mini Victorian style dress entered Severus's study. The house elf carried an antique tray. Severus accepted the cup of tea, she offered mumbling. "Thank you, Dapper." He was unprepared for what the case worker informed him next.
"Well, Professor Snape, according to the Heritage potion she is a Prince." There were a few moments pause. Stella's eyes lit in what could be considered an almost sadistic glee. "You are the closest relation we could get a hold of." Severus choked on his tea, causing Dapper, who had started to exit the room, to nearly drop the tray.
Being the good house elf she was, she managed to place the tray neatly on the desk and assist her master. Severus quickly regained his composure and sent Dapper away, not in an unkind manner. "What do you mean she is a Prince?" He snarled. Cold black eyes filled with the promise that if she was joking he was willing to cast an unforgivable curse or two on the unfortunate trickster, caused a shiver to go down Stella's spine that she could not quite conceal.
Stella gulped, but otherwise stayed perfectly professional. "Turn to page 394, Professor Snape."
He thumbed through the pages until he found what he was looking for. It was the results of the Heritage potion. It was true. It says that Hedda's Grandmother was his Grandmother's sister, Danica Prince. But he had never heard of her. The heritage potion results only went as far as the closest wizarding relative. The MCS clearly used a cheap one, as it went past even the 1500s on the child's muggle relatives, but not only to the most recent Wizarding ancestor. Severus could make a potion that went a lot further, however he wanted to know now. Since the Heritage potion would require, a bit of Hedda's saliva and Severus did not wish to wait that long. Danica Prince was not in any of the family tapestries that hung throughout the halls of the manor, nor in any of the records he had read. Once Severus found out that he was from a great lineage, all those years ago, he had done extensive research on his genealogy.
Usually so controlled, Severus struggled to maintain his racing thoughts. Turning away from the fire place he searched several cluttered shelves filled with all kinds of odds and ends: a humanoid skull, several rare gems that sparkled in the candle light, a couple of parchment pieces, and a few other random things. Until he found what he was looking for. A small golden bell. He rang it once. Dapper reappeared in the doorway. "Dapper. I need you to bring me everything you can find on the Prince blood lines," he ordered.
Dapper bowed, hiding her smile as she scurried away. She was happy her master was not going to be all alone now. She had hoped that he would soon settle down, especially now that he had such a good job at the Wizarding school. 'He should find a wife and have lots of little wizards and witches for Dapper to look after.' Her green head nodded rapidly to herself. 'But having a niece is good, too.' She hummed as she made her way to the library to find the requested items.
Severus turned back to deal with the American witch. "What must I do to claim guardianship of the child?"
Stella had waited patiently, for him to finish with his elf. She hid her copy of Witch's Fab behind her back, then apparated it back to the nightstand in her bedroom, back at her apartment. The case worker explained the whole situation to him. She was relieved that he had taken it so well. It was also good that he was from a well-known pure blood family, to her knowledge a very wealthy one too. 'Perhaps he'll feel so grateful at finding his long lost relative he'll donate to Wizarding Children Services.' After everything was arranged, Stella disappeared from the floo.
Severus almost smiled when Dapper brought him a giant pile of books. "Thank you, Dapper." He sent the sleepy house elf away so she could retire to bed. He actually liked the house elf more than he liked most wizards that he knew. Severus had inherited her at the same time he inherited the Prince estate. Technically Dapper, and the others were free. They just did not want to leave, preferring to serve the Prince family. There were a couple more house elves on the property, but Dapper was the main one in charge of the others, sort of like a butler, he imagined. Severus pulled his wand out of his robes and pointed it to one of the shelves near the door.
"Accio candles." Catching the candles out of the air he placed several more on the desk and lit them. He would be here for a while pouring over the information. Severus had to know, who was Danica Prince? His thoughts turned to the coming days. Severus was to travel to Gnilrets, Illinois; in America, via floo, to sign paper work and other official documents and pick up Hedda.
As the clock struck three, Severus soon found the answer to his question. It was not in any of the thick tome books that held family trees, and extensive records of everyone's lives or biographies. It was a tiny, floral, leather bond journal that belonged to his grandmother, Maryannsia. It turned out that she was having an affair with his grandfather—the man Maryannsia would marry two years later, Bartholomew's older brother Mycroft who was married to Eileen Longbottom. This was before she was engaged to her late husband. Instead of shaming her family with an illegitimate child, Maryann, had fled to America for her summer holiday right before her seventh year at Hogwarts. When she returned to England no one was none the wiser about any of the whole scandalous affair.
Gnilrets, Illinois turned out to be a relatively small town (compared to London, anyway) with only about fifteen thousand residents. The sun shined brightly, filling the children services office with more light, thanks to the giant wide windows that filled the building–much to Severus's annoyance.
The child was dressed in a yellow sundress and sat with her hands in her lap waiting quietly. A small blue backpack, with a brown teddy bear sticking out from it, was placed by her. Upon meeting the reclusive wizard, the child shook his hand and said. "Hello. Nice to meet you, mister."
It was hard for Severus to hold back his rare smile. She seemed less headache inducing than most of his students, already. Furthermore, although Severus was not around young children often he knew that most could not speak so well. "Hello, miss O'Dailey." After delivering the paper to the caseworker, he traveled with her to Chicago, which is where the closest Wizarding court was. He had forgotten that the child had not grown up in a wizarding home, and was mildly surprised when she clung to his robes on the trip. It was easy enough to finish the adoption papers. Severus handed them to the judge who stamped them, thus Hedda O'Dailey was now Hedda Prince. She never said much, just stood nearby.
When they finally arrived back at his estate, Hedda's brown eyes widened to almost comical proportions. She was more surprised by his home than the existence of magic. "I've never seen such a big house before!"
He covered his mouth to hide a chuckle. From the description of her family, he knew that she had also grown up in poverty, like him. "Yes, Child. One day it will all be yours..." He tilted his chin up proudly, gesturing toward the entire estate, "It is your birthright," Severus announced in a matter of fact tone.
The next few days passed quickly, he had taken her to Diagon alley almost immediately to have robes made. 'No Prince heiress would be caught dead in muggle clothes.' He thought as he leads her into Madame Malkin's shop. 'I would never hear the end of it if Narcissa or Lucius saw her in the garb she came with.' "Stay here. Request eight pairs of casual robes and two dress robes." Severus ordered his niece, "I will be right back. I need to pick up a few ingredients." He had no need to tell her to behave. He knew she would, after the last few days that she had been in his custody.
Madam Malkin's youngest daughter had come to work with her. The squat, happy witch was pleased that one of her daughter had an interest in the family business. The Malkin's have worked has seamstresses for British Wizarding families since way before the first wizarding war. If Madame Malkin's grandmother was to be believed, she was known for her tall tales, Since the first Wizarding families settled in England.
Out of the three girls of them only the youngest was interested in fashion or really anything at all to do with sewing and tailoring. The other two, Gracel and Minnerita, had other careers in mind. Gracel became a lawyer, like Madame Malkin's husband—even though Rictor was from a wizarding family he had always adored muggle culture, particularly their laws and things. Madame Malkin assumed it was because his mother's sister was from the Weasley clan. The middle child, Minnerita heart had always been full of Herbs and Flowers. Minnerita, had gotten all Os in her herbology classes, while only getting As in her other classes, aside from Potions which was all Es. Minnerita thus became a herb mixer there, preparing and growing most– if not all of the herbs and plants (Magical and mundane, alike) needed for potions and all sorts of other cures that the healers use.
Esmerelda, the youngest who had just graduated at Hogwarts was now an official apprentice to her mother. Esmerelda helped redecorate the shop. To make it have a better vibe, according to her. The walls of the waiting room were a sandy tan, pictures of smiling witches and wizards in all sorts of robes hung from the wall. In the corner, there was several wooden toys, coloring books, and puzzles for children to play with.
Madame Malkin, was pleased to see how happy her customers were with the changes. The middle-aged witch had complete confidence in her daughter's abilities to take over the shop after she retired. A daughter was always the head of the Malkins, unlike most who usually choose the eldest son for their heir. It was usually the eldest daughter, and she kept her maiden name, even when married– unless she married the last of a family line, her husband would change his name to Malkins. If that was the case other things would be arranged so that both family lines to continue.
A short lady swept into the front of the shop. She had long, brown, curls that spilled out from under her floral headband. "Hello darling!" She addressed dramatically. "I'm Katrina" She almost tripped over her long, lavender robes. "How can I help you?" She asked in a sing-song voice, looking extremely dazed almost confused with where she was. Hedda thought that she either had a very whimsical personality or she was taking drugs. But Hedda saw none of the signs on her that her mother possessed, or any of the other people who she had seen with drugs. Like needle marks, dark eyes, overly gaunt features, or even itching. She must have had a naturally dreamy personality.
The child asked for the robes that Severus mentioned as Katrina lead her to one of the back rooms. Hedda saw several garments being mended or sewed by needles and thread that seemed to be worked by invisible people as she headed to the back. In one room, there was a sewing machine going at full speed, an older teenage girl sat there reading a catalog with broomsticks on it while the machine worked by itself. Hedda glimpsed her nametag which read Esmerelda.
"Ugh! Who decided Silvery Demiguise fur would be the newest it fashion for broom covers!" She groaned to herself. "Puh-lease! Occamy scales would have been much cuter!" the teen girl lifted a short wand with shiny charms dangling from it, flicking it to the cloth rack. "Accio lavender silk." A large bundle of lavender silk fabric started floating to the machine as the witch pointed it to the machine, where it fell under the needle. Hedda was a little startled but she was only starting to get used to magic. She looked forward to the day when she could get her own wand already, though.
Katrina hummed cheerfully as she had Hedda undress to her undergarments, then measured her. "This one'll look good in earthy tones! Yes. She will!" The day dreamy witch told Hedda she could wait in the lobby for a bit, after her fitting.
Hedda had her head turned, looking out of the window at the book shop across the street. 'Maybe if I ask nicely, uncle Severus will let me go…?' When she bumped into something solid and found herself flat on the ground staring up at a beautiful woman around her uncle's age. She had long blonde hair with black stripes dyed into it to give it low lights. "I'm sorry Ma'am!" Hedda apologized and picked herself up off the floor.
The woman straightened her silver robes, casting the child a tight-lipped smile that was obviously faked. Usually she was much better with her fake smile– most could not tell the difference. She was not in the mood today. Her new gown was supposed to be finished today, but then the head tailor who oversaw her gown fell ill and the gown would not be done until next Saturday. Or at least that was what the filthy half-blood Katheryn, or whatever the shop attendant on duty's name was had explained. It was incredibly irritating to be forced to use this place for her dress robes. Narcissa only came here for her regular robes. The witches here had non of the talent, her personal seamstress Edina did.
Edina March was the only Mudblood Narcissa willing associated with. If for her incredible talent. Alas, too Narcissa's poor luck Edina is on maternity leave. Ignoring the child, the blonde woman strutted over to the corner of the waiting room where a blonde toddler played with "ABC" blocks, that spoke and said the word when a child spelled something.
At the same time the woman strutted away, Severus glided into the shop, "Hedda. Have you been fitted yet?"
"Severus," the woman greeted, holding her child to her hip.
"Narcissa," Severus acknowledged the woman, distractedly looking for his heiress. calming himself only when he noticed Hedda was there. It was the first time that he had left her on her own in public. Hedda was seated in one of the overstuffed, floral chairs that littered the waiting room.
His niece was reading one of the books she had brought with her from Severus's library—She still had a bit of trouble considering it her own. The young witch looked up with a relieved smile when her uncle came back into the shop. Even though she knew it was unrealistic, she still had a strong fear of being abandoned.
"Are you here to get a new set of dress robes?" Narcissa said, checking her perfectly painted silver nails. "It is about time you threw out those old ones. I can assist you in picking out the perfect ones." She whispered conspiringly, "That shop girl, Katheryn—would not know fashion if it flew at her at the pace of a bludger."
The wizard shook his head, trying half-heartedly to keep the pained look from his eyes. This was the third time this week that she had brought up his dress robes. Even going as far as to write him letters, only to offer him her personal tailor for special occasions. "No. I am here to get Hedda new robes." Severus gestured for the child to come to his side. Being an obedient child, she quickly followed suit, almost tripping on her too long jeans.
"Who is Hed- "Narcissa started to say, but then stopped when she saw the child, that had taken up residence at her cousin's side, almost behind him. The little witch peeked out from behind his billowing robes.
Severus pulled the girl in front of himself, "This is newest heiress to the Prince line. Hedda Marie Prince." He lifted his nose, with a pompous smile.
Narcissa Malfoy's eyes visibly widened. 'When did he have a child? Why is she dressed like a muggle? Why did she have an American dialect? Where the mother? Who is the mother?' Thoughts of him having a scandalous affair with some American muggle filled her head.
The blonde witch could not wait to tell all her friends at Madame Loretta's Witch's Salon of All Life's Events. Narcissa had an appointment this afternoon to have her hair permed, and she was in dire need of a pedicure. She was meeting Merethelda Greengrass there, then joining her for tea with several other pure blood ladies for book club. 'They are going to get a kick out of this.' A devious twinkle in her blue eyes. 'This is better than the time Evermorona, wore the same dress robes as Wendrilla to Wendrilla's birthday gala.'
The potions instructor could almost see the gears turning in his distant relative's head. "Hedda is from America. Her parents decided that it would be best for her to live with me. As I do not have an heir and she is another direct descendant." He half lied, trying to avoid giving the nosy witch any ammo for her to gossip with.
Disappointment clouded her blue eyes, she had hoped that it would have been a juicer story. Narcissa offered her pale hand for the child to shake. Hedda stopped nervously twisted her thumbs as she greeted Narcissa, raising her stubby hand to shake the adult's. Narcissa studied the Prince heiress up and down. Her brunette curls were pulled in pig tails. She was dressed in an oversized pink sweatshirt with a chubby red headed cartoon girl that read Strawberry Shortcake and blue jeans. She had obviously transfigured oval shaped, tin metal framed, glasses over her large, brown eyes. 'I suppose she is cute.' When Hedda shook her hand, and told her how pleasant it was to meet her. The older woman's eyes immediately softened, as she was rather charmed by her polite, meek nature. "I must be going; Draco here has a play date with Obsidian Rowlin at their estate." She turned her head to the side to look at the child on her hip. "Yes, you do." She cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice at the young toddler, who looked up at her with creepy, grumpy eyes. Even odder he had an ugly sneer upon his plump face. "Be sure to bring Hulga to brunch next Sunday!" Narcissa called, as she exited the shop.
After Lucius's wife left, Severus checked on the status of Hedda's robes with the shop attendant, whose name was Katrina not Katheryn he figured out when she floated into the room. 'Tsk. Another Lovegood relation.' She had been his sixth-year potion class on his first-year teaching at Hogwarts. 'Katrina had been surprisingly good at potions for someone with so much air taking up residence in her head.' He thought as she whirled around, getting out the proper paper work and bringing it the receptionists desk. "Here you go, professor. Just sign here. And here." Severus followed the instructions, irritated at how much work there was to get them delivered to his home.
Hedda stood beside him, thinking about her meeting with her new relatives. Narcissa seemed okay, if not a bit like the women on the TV show she used to watch with her mom, when her mom was in one of her more stable moods. The Ladies of London, Hedda thought the show was called. When they were finally done with the paper work, Severus lead her across the street and into her desired location Flourish and Blotts bookstore without needing to be asked.
-End of Part One-
More notes: Okay so if you read SeidoTama, or know me personally, you might know I am a fan of Etymology myself! And J.K. Rowling used it in Harry Potter, and even if I did not love it I would use it as a sort of Easter Egg in my fanfic.
Here is a sort of list of Etymology stuff I used for names/ Why I used it in my story for my OCs. Hedda O'Dailey/Prince: Hedda means battle, give or take. They are variations of it. It seems to be Nordic. I choose the name because Yazziyou's real name starts with H. and I enjoy using easter eggs. Also, it's the name of the fascinating heroine and namesake of the play Hedda Gabbler, who has a personality similar to Yazziyou's except Yazziyou is much more straight forward.
Some of the other names mean something special, some do not. If you are curious feel free to ask! Have a good night or whatever time of day it is where you are! Please favorite, comment, like, kudos, comment- please let me know if you like it? Hate it? Think it's okay? I love knowing. Constructive criticism welcome. So is blatant, but honest flattery.
