Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter, if I did Teddy would still have his parents.

Please take note that some of the phrases used are from the book, as are certain references that can be compared to events that happen later on in the books.

Looking for a Beta if anyone is interested.


I hesitantly stepped through the door after Professor Dumbledore, my eyes scanning a long narrow hallway in front of me. I huddled close to the Professor, feeling unsettled in this gloomy place.

I quickly reprimanded myself for feeling this way; clinging to him like a frightened child. 'What's next? Am I going to need my nappy changed?' my thoughts were sardonic, my hair taking on more shades of red than any other color.

'I'm going to have to work on that too.' I examined the different crimsons in my choppy layers. Dumbledore seemed to notice my mood, or rather my hair and patted my arm comfortably. I glanced at my cousin who stood off to the side to see him scowl at my rather pathetic self. I shook my hair morphing it to normal, and stood to my full height of five feet, squaring my shoulders and casting a haughty look back at him. The same look I gave to the children at the orphanage when they brassed me off. My cousin's lips quirked as if he was suppressing a smirk. I refused to be intimidated by a member of my own family if I was to live here. I also chose to purposely ignore the fact that I only just met him.

We arrived in the sitting room or what I assumed was the sitting room, for it was a dark place. I got the distinct feeling of being in a padded cell of an asylum. The room was sparsely decorated with threadbare furniture; and as I looked around the walls were covered mostly with books. I curiously noticed an item sitting on a shelf. My hand reached for it on its own accord; but before I could touch it a pale hand grabbed my own. "So curiously like your mother, touching things that aren't yours." The emotionless drawl that somehow seemed mocking caused me to bristle.

I yanked my hand away, my hair and eyes turning red, "I am nothing like her." All he did was raise an eyebrow turning to look at Dumbledore who was watching the scene with sad eyes.

"I see you told her headmaster." He uselessly stated, still staring at the Professor. We all knew what he meant.

"She had a right to know Severus." Was all the explanation he gave.

"My cousin scoffed, "Not if she's going to insist on acting like a child. If her mother knew what she was she wouldn't hesitant to kill her." My blood froze, the color draining from my face as I pondered the words he spoke wondering what he meant. Surely my own mother wouldn't kill me?

"That is why she is with you Severus. Bellatrix would never look for her here." Dumbledore spoke with such conviction that I implored for a moment what my mother's relationship with my cousin was like. Did she have something against him for her to never venture here? But then I remembered that she was safely locked away in Azkaban was it?

"You do know Azkaban can not hold her forever, especially if the dark lord were to rise again." The way Severus spoke of this dark lord person was grim, and I got the feeling it would not be pleasant to meet him.

"The dark lord has fallen, and even if he shall rise again it is unlikely that Bellatrix would seek Miss Prince out. Voldemort's main concern would be Mr. Potter." Severus's lips curled with distaste at the other named mentioned. But I paid no heed; my mind was still reeling with Severus' words.

"Why would my mother want to kill me?" My question seemed to remind the two men that they were not alone. Severus turned to me studying me.

"You didn't tell her headmaster." it wasn't spoken as a question. My cousin was stating a fact. He looked me in the eye as he spoke, the words sending a chill through me. "Because you are a metamorphmagus" the way he said it, as if I had a disease. I turned to Dumbledore hoping he would be able to elaborate.

"Some witches and wizards look at metamorphmagus as if they are abomination" I winced at that word. "Your mother is one such individual who shares in this prejudice." His words left me speechless. She would kill me because of what I was born as? What sort of people were magical folk if they were so prejudice against others for what they have no control of?

"So because of what I am, she would kill me? Even though she's the one who gave birth to me?" My voice was slightly hysterical. My usually calm demeanor was broken as I pondered the seriousness of all the information I have received. "Is there anything else I should know about?" It was spoken as a rhetorical question but the two men shared a look.

It was Severus who answered his voice slightly hesitant as if the next words he would say would have me flying off the handle. "Your mother was the one who murder your father, my uncle."

I gasped, I couldn't help it. My mother followed some tyrannical fellow who was more than a little round the bend. She murdered innocents because of their blood status. Her name is Bellatrix. And she murdered my father. I wonder if the rest of my family is as insane as she is.

"I think that is enough talk about your mother Miss Prince. I'm afraid I must go; I've got a meeting with Fudge, so I shall leave you and Severus to bond." He shot a meaningful look to my cousin, before walking towards the door.


The sound of the door shutting was the only thing to fill the silence. I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, avoiding the gaze of my new guardian. I could sense he too was unsure with how to proceed and was probably waiting for me to break the ice. "The headmaster said you would be able to take me to gather my school supplies." At his nod I asked the question I had been meaning to before, "What is a vault?" At his blank look I produced the key that Dumbledore had given me.

His eyes lit with recognition before explaining, "The wizarding world's currency is secured in vaults located underneath Gringotts Wizarding Bank."

I nodded. That explained all the need to know questions I had. I decided to tempt fate and ask about my family. "Are there any others I'll be able to meet?" He paused and seemed to be deliberating with himself on how best to answer.

"You aunt, my mother, has been dead for quite sometime, and seeing as how I was not told of my uncle till recently it is safe to assume that they were not close. Your other aunts from your mother's side are not aware of your existence either." That left me a little confused. Why would he be the only relative to know about me? "Not many people were fond of your mother." It seemed reading minds was common to do.

"The correct term is legilimens or Legilimency. The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing. To say it is mind-reading is incorrect and a falsehood nor is it a common practice. Perhaps we should have you practice Occlumency to shield your thoughts from unwelcomed visitors. That is if you are able to live up to your mother's legacy." The last part was spoken with disdain and mockery.

"I am nothing like my mother." I knew it was childish and he was baiting me, but I refused to live with this man if he was not going to respect me.

"There is no doubt that you are your mother's daughter. Besides the ridiculous hair color and eyes, you are a splitting image. She was also a brilliant and talented witch and Legilimens. If you were to go up against her in battle I've no doubt that she would kill you where you stand before you even had time to whip out your wand." My anger increased at his words. His belittling me. I remembered Dumbledore's expression when he saw me for what I truly looked like when I broke down during my fit. My mind made up, I let my hair fade to its black color, the messy curls reaching my back. My eyes changed to gray and took on a cold look due to my fury.

Severus took a step back once I was done. The same look Dumbledore had was mirrored on his face.

He regained his composure not a moment later, and leveled me with a lethal glare. "That is enough!" He roared. It was the first time I heard him speak without monotone. It seemed that the likeliness of my appearance to my mother's made something within him snap. I morphed my hair back to the choppy layers, and let the colors come back, keeping some of the black underneath. My eyes returned to the caramel color I was fond of. My guardian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he reopened them there was a look to them that had me feeling somewhat guilty. It was a haunted expression that visibly aged him.

I wondered what he had seen, but didn't press. I lowered my eyes, toeing my scuffed trainer against the floor. "I'm sorry." The words were spoken quietly, but I was sure he heard them.

He turned around without acknowledging me. Walking towards the wall of books, he whipped out his wand and they moved aside allowing a staircase to be seen. I took that as a queue to follow him and was led up the creaky stairs.

The landing had three rooms. Two bedrooms and a loo. "The first door to the right is my room. Do not open the door nor come in at anytime. Is that understood?" I nodded, Dumbledore's words of my cousin being a private man filtering through. "The second door on the right is the lavatory. Your room is the one on the left." Without looking at me, he opened his door just enough to get in, but not enough for me to get a clear view of what was in there.


I went to my door and turned the knob. I was greeted with a modest sized room that was equipped with a bed, nightstand, and wardrobe. A fine layer of dust allowed me to know that no one had been in here for quite some time. I settled my satchel with my few possessions on the bed, and moved towards the wardrobe. Opening it I found it to be empty save for a torn piece of parchment on the ground. I picked it up, and carefully unfolded the letter. Inside a picture fell to the floor, I bent down to retrieve it and notice it was of a beautiful red haired girl whom seems to be around fifteen. I looked to the letter still in my hands and read the words, "Lots of love, Lily." I looked back to the photo still in my hands. Upon closer inspection, I could see the girl waving happily to me. I cautiously waved back, when I heard a voice from my entryway, "It's a photograph you stupid girl, she can't see you." He came strolling in and took the letter from my hand and the picture.

He looked at the girl with a soft look and took in the words on the letter. A bittersweet expression stole his face. "I loved her, but she chose that utter fool Potter over me." The raw pain in his eyes caused me to do something completely out of character. I sat next to him on my bed and embraced the man who took me into his home. He allowed the contact for a few minutes before he stood. "I trust you won't mention this to any of your schoolmates." I nodded. I could tell he was not the type of person who willingly admitted his love freely. Or ever. I was the same way.

"Could you tell me more about her." He looked hesitant as if he wanted to keep her a secret to himself. Eventually he relented and sat back down. Telling me the tale of the young red-head he met when he was a child.

When he finished I spoke the first thing that popped into my head. "You were a fool." He jerked out of his stupor the storytelling brought and scowled at me. I elaborated, "You should have told her how you felt, and you never should have behaved like a complete berk." His face lost the scowl and he let out a weary sigh, as though he had been carry a burden on his shoulders for a long time.

"Just so you know, I promise I won't tell anyone. As long as no one finds out who my mother is." I admired his strength to go on, and let the love of his life marry another. I could also see his hatred for the same man who stole her, and his envy. His willingness to be a double agent because of his lost love, and sacrifice himself.

"The entire teaching faculty has been informed of who your parents are. The students who come from old pureblood families will be able to see your resemblance to the black line, not to mention the Prince line only has two surviving members. None of which the students are aware of include me."

'There goes that theory.' I did not want the whole student body to know I was related to an insane lunatic. Imagine all the friends that would get me. "Do I have any relatives that will be joining me at school?" I was curious to know if any were my age.

"One. Draco Malfoy a fellow first year." He got up from where he sat on my bed, and headed towards the door. "We will be going to Diagon Alley next week to gather your school supplies and to replenish my stores." And with that he left.

I lay down on my bed thinking about all that had transpired and realized that for once in my life I felt content. Sure Severus wasn't the idea guardian I dreamt of. But he has his moments. And I found out that I'm a witch. I couldn't help but to wonder what events will occur when we go to Diagon Alley he spoke of next week.