Special thanks and credits to my beta, Fire and Starlight for reading through this chapter for me :)
"It is the will of the Ministry," Dolores Umbridge's sweet voice resonated through the Headmaster's office with clarity, "that matters at this school are put into order at once. With the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two–"
"Yes, Ms Under-Secretary, the decree installs you as my new Professor of the Defense Against the Dark Arts, whether I agree or not." Dumbledore interrupted her calmly, the fingers of his hands touching.
"Don't you agree with the Minister's choice?" Dolores cried and Dumbledore gave a defensive smile.
"Of course I do. What I don't agree with is the Ministry's decision to take the power of recruiting teachers out of my hands–"
"And for a good reason!" Umbridge exclaimed, her sweet smile had vanished and she now sat at the edge of her plush chair like an overweight pink budgie. "You have proven to be extensively incompetent – if you pardon me, Headmaster - incompetent at finding the annual replacements for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, having occasionally slipped into the ranks of Death Eaters and even – oh! – half-breeds!"
"I suppose you would like to change your curriculum as the new Professor of the Dark Arts?" Dumbledore asked calmly, as though he hadn't just heard her last sentence.
"Yes, you suppose right." Umbridge retorted and clutched her handbag tightly with her long pink claws as if it were containing her ticket to greatness in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Madam Under-Secretary, I am well aware that the Ministry intends to have the entire school well scrutinised." Continued Dumbledore and watched Umbridge's eyebrows rising higher and higher, "I am not saying I don't look forward to the immense amount of paperwork that awaits me when you eagerly dig in, however, I don't pretend my eyes are not getting weaker and weaker. I can hardly do as much writing as I could before, and it is only reasonable and right that I take a secretary."
"If you desire so, Headmaster," Dolores thrusted her chin proudly forward, "I can arrange for a Ministry-approved assistant to arrive at Hogwarts and be at your immediate disposal."
"No need to trouble yourself, Madam Under-Secretary, I have no desire for any Ministry-approved assistant." Dumbledore retorted calmly, upon hearing that statement, Dolores' cheeks flushed with anger, "I have already chosen the woman suitable for this purpose." Dumbledore gave a polite smile and his blue eyes glistened behind his spectacles.
"I'm astonished, Headmaster, that you haven't consulted her with me, it is imperative that I–"
"Not imperative, Madam Under-Secretary, I didn't have to consult it with you, because you are, as you are surely well aware, my Professor Against the Dark Arts, and as such, I don't usually consult the process of choosing a new member of staff with my employees. Especially when it's such a piffling job as the one of a secretary."
"But still, the Ministry could suggest excellent candidates–"
"I assure you that the lady I've chosen is excellent enough." Said Dumbledore resolutely, indicating the discussion was over. Dolores Umbridge straightened her back even more and with her nostrils flared, she was determined not to have such disobedience passed unnoticed. She would see to it that this greenhorn of a woman got replaced as quickly as possible.
-oOo-
When Miss Henley was arriving towards the school gates in the carriage that had been sent for her to Hogsmeade, she couldn't believe how little the school has changed. The meadows and heaths were just as she remembered them to be from her childhood, the lake was there, the forest was there, the greenhouses, the owlery, the Quidditch pitch, everything stayed the same. She gave a faint smile as she recalled her school years vividly: She was a timid child, she didn't have many friends. But still, those years she considered the happiest years of her life. When she was approached by Professor Dumbledore's offer to become his new secretary, she didn't hesitate a second. Professor Dumbledore had always been very, very kind to her.
Miss Henley got out of her carriage and continued on foot, taking her small travel suitcase with her. The suitcase was charmed to contain all her worldly possessions, which weren't numerous, due to the fact that she was an orphan and had but one living relative, her great-grandfather who was believed by many to be insane, but still, she needed that spell for making it bigger inside. Miss Henley walked leisurely towards the castle, stopping here and there to catch her breath and to enjoy the view, which was truly marvellous.
"Miss Henley, I believe?" Professor Dumbledore was already waiting for her in the Entrance Hall and seemed very content to see her.
"Yes, sir." Miss Henley gave a wide smile, uncovering a beautiful set of white teeth which were otherwise hidden beneath her red-painted lips.
"No problems at the Apparition point, Miss Henley?" Dumbledore asked gently and eyed the woman with great curiosity. She was neither thin nor large, had an ivory coloured skin, big brown eyes and dark curly hair tamed into a delicate bun. She was wearing clothes appropriate for her status and age, which was – if Dumbledore remembered correctly – 25 years old; her white blouse suited her nicely, gently displaying her shoulders and collarbones, and she wore a long dark red skirt. Her plain face bore an expression of great innocence, and – if he could speak frankly – of certain pliable plainness and soft naiveté. He guessed her temper would be gentle and skittish, similar to a rabbit baby in the woods – her behaviour was polite and respectful – she observed her surroundings shily, but with great curiosity. Dumbledore could usually see right through people's characters, and he resolved not to box Miss Henley too quickly – after all, he thought, the quietest people are often capable of the greatest things, either good or bad. He looked into her solemn brown eyes again, offered her his arm and began to ascend the staircase.
"No, not at all sir, Hogsmeade is very quiet at this time of day." Miss Henley answered and sent her suitcase floating behind her, because she needed a free hand to lift her long crimson skirt so that she wouldn't step on its hem.
"Do you feel the sweet pang of nostalgia upon seeing those familiar grounds again, Miss Henley?"
"Very." She gave him another big smile and her brown eyes glistened with excitement and youthful eagerness.
"That's good, very good, Miss Henley." Dumbledore said, giving her an amiable smile, "you'll be overseeing them from my window too many a time. I actually think the view will pall up on you quite soon."
"Oh, never, sir!" Exclaimed Miss Henley and gave a soft chuckle. "My time at Hogwarts had always been as pleasant as it could be, so I'll always look at those grounds with delight and joy."
"You're too kind, Miss Henley," Dumbledore gave another smile, lighter than the previous one, "shall we proceed upstairs to my office? I'll make you acquainted with all the details of your new job."
"By all means, sir." The woman gave a slight nod and grasped her skirts again.
-oOo-
"And that is all there is to it, Miss Henley." Dumbledore concluded. "Do you think you can handle it?"
"Oh, I've handled worse, sir, believe me!" She gave a soft laugh again and Dumbledore couldn't but marvel at the joyful woman, at her round lips, full, rosy cheeks, brown eyes which glistened with little sparkles, at her thick black hair, and at the tendrils framing her face.
"You are all this school has ever needed, Miss Henley. I shall rearrange the furniture in my office for you, and you – why don't you take a walk outside? It's a fine summer day, you'll miss the sun when you are locked up here with heaps of parchments, believe me, sometimes I wish I could just get up and take a walk myself, see Hagrid or go to Hogsmeade for a pint – do you drink, Miss Henley?"
"Oh, no, not at all, sir, I don't feel happy when I do." Answered Miss Henley, and she collected her suitcase.
"Don't worry about your luggage, the house-elves will take it to your room for you."
"I have totally forgotten about the house-elves." Miss Henley gave a soft smile and putting just her laced gloves on, because it was a very warm summer day, she walked past the stone gargoyle and passing through the sun-lit corridors, she was quickly outside again.
She decided to walk to the lake, where she could easily sit on the grass or even have a swim in the cool water – was the giant squid still there? She wondered about the squid for some time and suddenly, she found herself in an unrecognisable part of the grounds. Being alarmed at first, she quickly calmed down when she saw the infamous Whomping Willow nearby. She had just got lost in her thoughts and she had to walk quite a bit now to get back to the lake.
"What are you doing here? This is a school, you know." She could hear the hoarse voice of the schoolkeeper, Mr Filch. She could remember vividly how she hated that man when she was still a student. I'm not a student anymore, she said to herself, and she felt great relief. She faced the schoolkeeper and said:
"Professor Dumbledore has sent for me."
"So you're the new Defense teacher? You seem too young to me." He growled.
"No, I'm not a teacher, I'm the secretary." She said in a clear voice.
"What is the need for a secretary? Go home, girl, and don't trouble yourself more."
"I won't listen to an advice of a schoolkeeper."
"Well, if you won't, then you won't. But I'm telling you, you're not needed in this castle."
"That isn't yours to decide."
"Well, well, well…" He hobbled past her and gave her a nasty grin as he turned around: "Enjoy all the freaks that are in here, Potter in particular."
Miss Henley didn't feel like walking anymore. She had always been a rather shy person, easily intimidated, and she took the confrontation way too seriously. She turned on the spot and marched back to the castle, determined to shut herself up in her room for the rest of the evening. Suddenly she didn't think herself ready to face all the staff of the school after all those years. Many professors who had been teaching her were still there: Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Professor Trelawney, Professor Snape… She didn't feel ready to meet them. They would doubt her usefulness in the castle as Filch had done just a minute ago, and it was in vain to tell them Professor Dumbledore wished her to be there. They didn't know what he asked her to do, and they didn't know she was necessary. They were all ignorant, and their ignorance greatly infuriated her. She was scared. She wished there would be a crowd of fellow students she could disappear into. But she was an adult witch now, an adult capable of facing people and handling the conversation, and it suddenly occurred to her the others would think it weird if she refused to go out of her room. But she really didn't want to go. She resolved not to start a conversation unless directly asked a question, and she resolved minding her plate only and keeping her head down. This really suited her the best. And this was what she did at the dinner. She gave polite smiles to everyone, and answered questions, but really, if she were to choose, she would spend the evening in her little room on the fifth floor with books. At least she got to meet the new professors. There was Professor Umbridge, who seemed somehow fed up and a bit annoying actually, and Miss Henley had a vague notion of seeing her at the Ministry somewhere. And then there was Professor Sinistra, who was really nice to talk to, and she was already looking forward to meeting her now and then. Miss Henley was very curious whether Professor Snape had changed a little – she remembered him as a twelve year old girl when he just started teaching – she remembered him a young man in his twenties who taught Potions knowledgeably but strictly, and apart from that was always deeply immersed in books. The young Professor Snape from her memories never gave detentions unless he had to, was always biased and on the side of the Slytherin house, spoke as little as possible and took every steps imaginable to evade any social activity. Miss Henley looked curiously at his older self: It seemed to her that something has changed, she didn't really fancy him much now, much less than when a student. He seemed to be sulkily meditating and she was wondering whether it was her presence that troubled him. But the others later told her that Professor Snape was always like that, and he seemed a bit more cheerful only when Slytherin won the Quidditch Cup or the House Cup, which hadn't happened in years. This left Miss Henley a bit sad, because she perceived he had changed greatly from his younger, much untroubled self.
She excused herself from the dinner as soon as she could and it was only when she was combing her long curly black hair when the reality hit her square in her face: She was back at Hogwarts, she was Dumbledore's right hand now, as it were, and she had the entire staff to talk to. There wouldn't be any other witch luckier than her. As she crawled into her luxuriously soft bed and could feel her body sinking into the mattress, she gave out a sigh of pleasure. Oh dear, she thought, that's really something, I could sleep for ages in such a bed!
-oOo-
"Miss Henley, I'll be very cordial with you if I may – Lord Voldemort has returned just two months ago and we need you in this castle to–"
"Oh, of course, Professor Dumbledore, I'll gladly do it–"
"Very well, I'll acquaint you with Severus soon, you might need–"
"Oh yes, sir, I'll gladly do what Professor Snape asks–"
"Very well, I'm relieved there's someone in this castle I can count on–"
She tossed and turned violently in her sleep. She considered re-living her day in her dreams the worst form of resting. She woke up in the morning tired and worn-out, as if she spent the whole night running errands around the castle. Stretching her arms and legs tiredly, she managed to find her favourite long crimson skirt and white blouse and put them on correct side up. Oh, dear, she thought, my first day of work and I'll show up as tired as a house-elf. She scooted down the two floors until she stood in the Gargoyle corridor, gasping for breath. The fact was that she was a bit late and she decided to skip breakfast and head straight for the Headmaster's Office. Just as she was about to say the password, a tight grasp of a hand on her shoulder gave her a start.
"I cannot have my secretary skip breakfasts, Miss Henley." Dumbledore gave a kind smile and the fires in his piercing blue eyes twinkled. "You will head to the Great Hall to eat your breakfast with the other stragglers."
"Thank you, sir." She gave him a bright smile.
"However, I would appreciate it if you could be on time tomorrow." She heard the Headmaster's soft voice behind her. She spun around, her cheeks ablaze, and nodded, saying: "I will, sir. I'm sorry."
Sitting down at the staff table, she couldn't see any other straggler Professor Dumbledore was talking about. Just as she had a sip of her coffee, Professor Snape burst into the hall, his cloak billowing behind him, a stern frown on his lips. He sat down at the other end of the table, as furthest from her as he could and began spreading his toast with blueberry jam.
"I'm glad I'm not the only sleepyhead in here." She said good-naturedly, giving him a polite smile and baring her white teeth.
"I have been occupied elsewhere with no time for eating." Snape snapped and glowered at her. "Is it a smudge of lipstick you have on your buck teeth, Miss Secretary?" The Potions Master asked icily. The smile disappeared from her red lips instantly and she checked her reflection at the back of her tablespoon. The smudge was there, across the two of her front teeth. She must have smudged her lipstick while applying it hastily in her room. Her face was as red as a tomato and she began eating quickly to get out of Snape's presence. She felt insulted. Is this his revenge for being called "a sleepyhead" in good humour? Gods, this man can hold grudges! How different he is from his younger, more cheerful self! She thought and hoped Professor Snape's grudges against her won't last too long.
"What's your hurry, Miss Secretary? Don't you spend all your free time caged by Dumbledore in his office? Surely there cannot be anything urgent worthy of gobbling up your breakfast in such a horrid manner, is there?" The black-robed man decided to revenge himself nastily. Her tomato face acquired an ugly shade of beetroot and she started panicking. Better not answer any of his questions, she thought.
"Maybe you could tell me – I haven't had the pleasure to understand this yet – why has the Headmaster such a sudden desire for a secretary?"
"You had better ask him than me." She said softly and took a big gulp of her coffee. Gosh, I feel like a tiny worm of a student again, displayed here at his mercy. Can't he bully someone else?
"Are you available even to other members of staff? As an auxiliary labour, perhaps? Maybe you could write my teaching reports?" He suggested with a bitter smirk, however, upon hearing this, her nerves gave way: She jumped to her feet and ran towards the gate of the Great Hall with a glass of pumpkin juice still in her hand. However, she seemed to change her mind in the middle of her dash and turned around, walking swiftly to the seat of Professor Snape. She stood across the table from him, glaring at him furiously with her deep brown eyes.
"Now it seems that you can never have enough of yourself, can you?!" The intense, deep brown eyes met with the black ones. Her eyes were like two wells, pulling him inside, challenging him, pinning him to his seat. "Turning a harmless beginning of a conversation into a trip-up, what a shame." She glared at him one more time and raising her glass into the air, she turned it upside down. The professor's hair and shoulders were drenched with pumpkin juice. She stood there, still holding her glass in her hand, and her mind was racing. Shite. What did I just do?! Really, Tara? Splashing your ex-professor with a pumpkin juice like a five year old, is that your answer? Her face turned red again, she quickly put the glass back on the table and hurried to the gate before the horrid man could understand the stupidity of her action. She ran through the corridors and deep shame pulsed in her earlobs. Merlin's beard! Gods, what have I done?! Shite! He'll hate me! He'll poison me! Well done, Tara, she congratulated herself as she ran through the empty corridors, you're a complete idiot. You're as dumb as a troll. She reached for the door to the Headmaster's Office, feeling more stupid than ever. After opening the door, she found herself in a completely new office. The whole area was completely changed. She gasped, awestruck, and looked around the new office – her new office.
There was a very nice writing desk, a stock of quills and parchments behind the desk, there were shelves and cabinets, some already stocked with books and another rolls of parchment. A candelabra stood at one corner of her desk, providing enough light even for late night work, and in front of the desk there were several comfortable chairs and a coffee table. The door opposite the entrance led, as she imagined it, into the Headmaster's Office.
"Ah, Miss Henley, how do you like your new office?" Asked the Headmaster, opening the door, which indeed lead to his own office.
"It's beautiful, how did you– I mean, I hope organising it has not caused you much trouble, sir." She breathed out in amazement.
"Miss Henley, I need you to review the old contracts of all the professors of Hogwarts for faults. I promised professor Sprout a raise, that would need to be tackled– And I need you to write the contracts for yourself and Professor Umbridge, of course, it's a bit of a last minute issue– In fact, I would appreciate it if you could write the new contracts first and see the others afterwards. The students come tomorrow and I really cannot justify to Professor Umbridge why I kept so long writing these…"
"Of course, Headmaster." Tara smiled and reaching at the shelf, she pulled out the rolls of parchment which she assumed would be the old contracts. To answer Dumbledore's quizzical look, she blurted: "I will model the new contracts on the basis of the old ones, sir."
"Very well." Dumbledore turned on his heel and disappearing into the depths of his office, he said: "I need to start exploring a very delicate matter of utmost importance, Miss Henley. This is why I have you here, you'll refuse anyone who comes into your office asking for me unless it is absolutely urgent. People keep calling here whenever they wish and I'm constantly being kept from my work."
As he closed the door behind him, there was a green flash in her small fireplace and an envelope appeared, drifting to the ground like a feather.
"Oh, Miss Henley, this is the main hub for the post, any owl that carries a letter for me is used to drop it into the chimney. Otherwise I would be standing at the window all day, opening and closing it like a fool. You'll deal with my post for me."
"Certainly, sir." She got to her feet and picked up the envelope. However, it wasn't for Professor Dumbledore, it was for her. Curious about who could be writing to her, she cut it open. There was a little piece of parchment that said: "We're not done yet. I won't put up with such insolence."
"Oh, God…" She mumbled shyly, a crimson blush spreading across her cheeks. She didn't want to begin with Professor Snape like this.
"Was that an important letter for me, Miss Henley?" Dumbledore called.
"No, sir, it was for me." She bellowed back.
"Interesting, from whom?" His voice was curious.
"Fanmail, sir." She gave a bitter smile and sat down to drafting the new contracts. She spent a nice calm morning writing the contracts, when–
"Dumbledore, I won't–" Dolores Umbridge barged into the office. Looking confusedly at the secretary, she halted: "Oh, are you the new secretary? I would have suggested someone else, but the Headmaster wouldn't hear of it."
"I see." Miss Henley said bitterly and put on a fake smile: "What can I do for you?"
"I want to see the Headmaster." Dolores Umbridge's forced sweet smile showed she won't take no as an answer. Yet, Miss Henley was daring.
"He cannot see you in the moment, can I take a message?"
"What– How do you mean he cannot see me in the moment?! Do you know who I am?!"
"Yes, ma'am– Madam Under-Secretary of the Minister for Magic." Tara answered smiling. "However, the Headmaster gave me his explicit orders he didn't want to be disturbed. I can take a message, or if it is about your contract, we can review it together, I have it here."
Umbridge cast Miss Henley a furious glance, hissing: "As early as I can, I swear I'm going to hound you out of here, miss secretary!"
"Lovely." Tara casted the teacher a small smile, rather a smirk than an actual smile, not worrying about her threat one bit.
Umbridge snatched the roll of parchment and marched out of the office without uttering anything else, only an angry 'Hm!'.
Tara shook her head and started reviewing all the other contracts with a smug smirk spread across her lips. Apparently, the times have changed at Hogwarts… She felt her euphoria ebb and she wondered how many unpleasant people she would have to endure in the castle. Being served a quick lunch in her office, she continued reviewing the school's balance and budget until well into the evening. Then she went into the Great Hall for dinner, not looking at Professor Snape once.
While Tara was helping herself to some soup. Professor Sinistra sat down next to her and seemed quite interested in her. Situations like these always made Tara really nervous.
"Hm, Tara Henley, I wonder where I heard your name… Nevermind, the Henleys aren't a pureblood family, are they?"
"No, my father was a Muggle." Tara gave a soft smile. She didn't like talking about her father much.
"My mother was a Muggle, too. There's nothing wrong with being a half-blood, personally, I think it's necessary for the preservation of wizardkind, whomever says otherwise is a fool…"
But Tara was too lost in her own thoughts to listen to Professor Sinistra properly. With the corner of her eye she could glimpse Professor Snape glowering at her angrily. Her heart started racing. He's not done with me yet. Will he want to wreak vengeance on me? Oh crap, what will he do?! Great, Tara, two enemies in your first day, you're truly exceeding any expectations. What happens if Professor Dumbledore notices? Won't he fire me? He said he wanted me to work with Snape. What shall I do?!
"Nervous around Professor Snape, are we?" Aurora caught up with her glimpses. Tara nodded, blushing: "He's quite terrifying."
"Nah, he's mostly scaring the kids. He was once a Death Eater though, so he has that aura stuck with him I suppose, but other than that– Professor Dumbledore trusts him, so I suppose he's alright now."
Tara was contemplating telling Aurora about the morning incident with the pumpkin juice, but she resolved not to. She didn't believe in the friendship-on-the-first-sight kind of thing, and she feared Professor Snape might get even angrier with her upon learning she gave the story away to everyone – Tara was sure Aurora would spread it around as a harmless joke. She didn't want anyone to laugh at it, not when she considered it a more embarrassing situation for herself than for the unlucky Potions Master.
"No, seriously, don't worry about him." Aurora assured her, giving a warm smile. Upon seeing Tara deeply blushing, she hissed: "You– You don't fancy him, do you?!"
"N-No!" Squealed Tara and hid her crimson cheeks into a tablecloth napkin. Several teachers glanced at her, Professor Snape being one of them. He watched her intently with his cold black eyes. He seemed to be searching for something in her face. Tara turned around, preferring to talk to Aurora and to hide her tomato cheeks from him. When the Headmaster rose, she stood up quickly too, preferring to walk with him to the third floor on the pretence of discussing work, in front of the Headmaster's Office she quickly said good night and ran up the two floors to be in her own room away from all inquisitive stares.
Her room was small, but cozy and nicely furnished. Opposite the door there was a dressing table with large mirror, next to it there was another door leading into the bathroom, next to it there stood the bed with violet covers, next to the bed there was a bedside table, in front of the bed was a violet rug matching the covers, and opposite the bed next to the entrance there was a wardrobe. The room was tiny, but it had a window overlooking the school grounds, and Tara was grateful for it. She opened the window and sat on the windowsill, the soft summer breeze ruffing her black locks gently. This is Heaven, thought Tara and closed her eyes with delight. The feeling of embarrassment of the day left her completely and she now felt totally free, unstoppable. A wide smile spread across her lips.
-oOo-
"Harry, I wanted to talk to you about one more thing." Sirius said. They were talking in a waiting room in King's Cross and he knew they didn't have much time left. "How about your aunt Rose? Is she safe? Shouldn't the Order move her to a safer place?"
"Petunia?"
"No. Your aunt Rose."
"I don't have any other aunt besides Aunt Petunia, Sirius." Harry had no idea what Sirius was talking about and casted him a disbelieving look, as if he thought his godfather had gone mad from the long time spent in captivity of his old family house.
"No, you don't understand, I'm talking about Rose here – you know, your mum's twin sister. That could be dangerous for her, Harry, looking exactly like Lily – we should move her somewhere–"
"Is there my mum's twin sister?" Harry felt completely void of air. As if somebody was pressuring him to death. There was a woman. There was a woman who looked exactly how his mother would have looked were she alive. There was another aunt besides Petunia. Maybe she had children, and maybe he had another cousins he had no idea they existed.
"You didn't know?!" Sirius barked, his eyes popped out. He grasped Harry's shoulders and shook him. "You didn't know you had another aunt? Merlin's beard!" Harry looked at his godfather in disbelief and thought that either of them had to go completely insane. His godfather started to laugh wildly, his short barks filling the empty waiting room. But suddenly it occurred to Sirius that there could be a good reason Harry didn't know about his other aunt. Maybe she was dead, or ill, or otherwise incapable of meeting his godson – because why else wouldn't she discover herself to him? Maybe she didn't know about Harry at all, it occurred to Sirius now, maybe they made some sort of protection for her so that she wouldn't risk being in the same danger as her sister once was. Could there be any danger? Lily's sister was an ordinary Muggle, too, there was no chance she would have been endangered by Harry's presence. But it was too late now, Harry knew about her now, and Sirius could do himself justice to tell him all that he knew.
"I don't know where she lives, or if she lives at all. She was your mother's twin, her name was Rose, and she used to live with your mother's parents in Cokeworth before I went to Azkaban. I don't know anything else about her, I'm sorry." Sirius looked he meant it, and this new discovery set Harry's thoughts racing. He had another aunt. He had an aunt that looked exactly the same as his mother. If he met her– If he found her, he would see how his mother would have looked like in her thirties… Maybe he could live with her, if he couldn't live with Sirius, maybe he could stay over for holidays and spend time with his other cousins… Harry was now resolute to find Rose and form some sort of a family from the bits and pieces that remained… She could perhaps come for Christmas, and he could befriend his other cousins who were surely better than Dudley…
"She loved you, she really did… I remember you two vividly, she played with you when you were a baby and always took ages to leave, she always said good bye and talked with your mother on end with her hand at the doorknob." Sirius gave a barking chuckle and there was a light knock at the door.
"We have to go, Harry." Said Sirius gently and turning back into a black dog, he accompanied his godson to the platform. But Harry's thoughts were somewhere else. The very notion itself, that there once was someone who loved him, and who once truly wanted to spend time with him when he was an infant, that notion was wholly new, unexpected, incomprehensible, and beautiful. He wanted to meet this new aunt now, whomever she was and whenever she would be, just to call this once felt sentiment of love back again. He pictured her vividly, sitting on a sofa, reading. Or cooking the Muggle way. Or doing her Muggle job, whichever that could be.
"An aunt? Harry, are you sure?" Hermione cried and dropped a book she was reading. "Oh my- Harry– an aunt!"
"There must be a good reason Harry didn't know about her." Ron said grimly. "Maybe somebody didn't want him to know. Maybe she's dead as well, and they just wanted to save Harry the pain."
"But, is there any way of knowing?" Hermione asked, gasping.
"I'm going to ask Dumbledore." Said Harry resolutely and looked out of the window. There was his aunt somewhere and he intended to find her.
-oOo-
"Miss Henley, it's up to you to set tonight's feast menu." Dumbledore's face appeared in the doorway, blinked at her and then his door closed again.
"Couldn't you have told me yesterday, Headmaster?" Tara asked, exasperated. She was reviewing the budget for the school year and she seriously didn't have time for this. The feast would begin in few hours and – was he trying to suggest that they even didn't have a dinner plan? Tara turned around and began searching in the cupboard behind her frantically. She would just quickly repeat the same dishes as were served the year before. The sooner she did that, the sooner the elves could start working – and really, they should have been working already. She quickly scanned the list – pumpkin juice, butterbeer, twice-baked potatoes, chocolate frogs, kidney pies – she crossed those out, she didn't like kidney pies – roasted chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, roasted beef, steamed rice, pork sausages, roasted bacon, pork ribs, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, buttered peas and carrots, assorted soups… Tara's mouth started to water and she had not reached the dessert section yet. Being the Headmaster's secretary meant that she had the power to decide which dishes were to appear and which the Hogwarts students wouldn't taste that night.