Chapter 2. Learning about Mia, and revealing the Truth
If some things about the magic world in Australia don't make sense, either ask me, in a PM or Review, or read the Flower Children Series! (I am going to delete it, so go the my Archives of our own profile via my facebook page to read it)
Beta: same as before.
Song: Reflection or Candle in the wind or see chapter one.
Also, if you see any major mistakes or something you think is a mistake, can you bring it to my attention? Same with chap three. I have done some editing of both, and I had a bit of trouble with it and Fanfiction. Also, same character names have changed for those who had started and are reading this chapters again.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
The first thing Mia saw when she woke up was white drapes and sheets. "Must be in Hospital then," She thought loathingly.
"Ah, you are awake," said a woman's voice, and then she stepped into view. The woman looked like a typical Healer. Mia didn't like healers: they did painful things to you.
Mia asked wondering where she was, "Are you my Healer? And is this Ricky's Hospital for Silly Magicals?"
"No, you're at Hogwarts, Miss Lestrange, which means I'm the only Healer. I am Madam Pomfrey," said Madam Pomfrey.
Mia narrowed her eyes and asked suspiciously, "How did you know my name?"
"Parent revealing charm. What's your date of birth? Unfortunately, the Parent Revealing charm doesn't tell us that," asked Madam Pomfrey.
"I suppose you have to know that: twenty-ninth of June," Mia said begrudgingly.
"Thanks. But don't be like that! I need to know it. I'll be right back, I've just got to go and talk to someone," said Madam Pomfrey.
Mia nodded then she said, glad to get rid of the Healer, "Okay, see you."
When Madam Pomfrey was out of sight, Mia sighed: she hated hospital wings! But, as Mia had tried to kill herself in various ways, she seemed to spend a lot of time in hospital areas.
Then Mia wondered if Madam Pomfrey knew about her tendency, which always failed, to just end her suffering. Sometimes Mia felt as though she would be fine, then other times, the easiest option for Mia was to just end it. However, everyone else seemed to think differently.
When Madam Pomfrey came back, four others were with her: a tall black-haired man, -who smelt of herbs- an elderly man wearing bright orange and fuchsia robes, a stern black-haired witch, and an elderly lady with white hair who looked the sporty type. Madam Pomfrey said, "Miss Lestrange, this is Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, and this is Professor Snape, Potions Professor, and head of Slytherin house."
Then Mia interrupted not being able to help herself. She asked, "Umm... excuse me, what's Slytherin? And why don't you call me Alstroemeria, like all my teachers at Southly?"
"Hogwarts has four houses, Slytherin is one of them. It is for the Witches and Wizards who are cunning, ambitious, and will use any means to archive their ends. And calling you by your surname is the Professional way of doing things, Miss Lestrange," said Professor Dumbledore sagely.
Mia frowned, then said thinking the English were strange, "ALL schools in Australia, except for the single-sex ones; use first names. Which was very confusing when there were three Rose's in my class, and two had the same surname. Mind you, they were Rosa, Rosetta, and Rosalie: so, the only confusion was caused by them. Okay, so Slytherin is like Fox."
"This is Professor McGonagall, and this is Madam Hooch. What's Fox?" asked Madam Pomfrey, curious.
Mia explained knowledgeably, "Fox is a house, silly! Fox is the House of ambition, proudness, and sneakiness. Like Hogwarts, Southly has four houses."
"Right," said Madam Pomfrey nodding. She hadn't heard much about Southly, but she knew it was a prestigious school; and to her at least, it was not surprising it had houses.
"Can you tell us how did you get here?" asked Professor McGonagall, who was dying to know; but wouldn't anyone?
Mia thought for a moment, then said with a sad sigh, "I was getting chased by some bullies, and I just wished to be safe. The next thing I knew, I was on top of a high tower. And because I am afraid of heights, that was never going to end well."
"Miss Lestrange, how much do you know about your family?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
Mia glared irritably at him, then said, "The only thing I know is I look kind of like Bellatrix Lestrange, which is why they gave me the last name of Lestrange. Why?"
"Well, while you were not conscious, we needed to find out your name, so we did a Parent Revealing Charm on you," started Madam Hooch when none of the others looked like they were going to speak.
Mia looked interested, and she asked, "Oh yes, now I think about it, Madam Pomfrey did mention something about a Parent Revealing Charm. What did it say?"
"It said you were adopted by the Potters, and your parents are: Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape," said Professor Dumbledore, not aware of the fact Mia looked very shocked.
Mia was shocked and happy! Her father was standing in this very room if she had heard right, and her mother was at least alive! When Mia snapped out of her stupor and she realised who Bellatrix was, she said quietly, "Okay, Wow. Oh… I better not let blasted Sycamore Kannon here this, or I am going to be in for even more teasing this year." Seeing the funny looks the teachers were giving her, she said glaring, "Oh, just a classmate from magic school."
"Aren't you eleven?" asked Professor Snape, raising an eyebrow.
Mia nodded, then said, "The youngest you can start at Southly is ten. So, this coming school year is my second year. Speaking of which, do I have my wand?" After fumbling around her clothes, Mia groaned, and then said, "Nope, must have left my wand in my room."
"Where do you live?" asked Professor McGonagall, getting ready to charge out.
Mia said shaking her head and think the stern Professor was very strange, "Don't worry, Southly will be doing their student check-up soon, so just expect a visit from the Headmistress or the Deputy of Southly."
"Right, okay," said Professor McGonagall nodding, and then she relaxed, for she didn't need to go across to go the other side of the world for Mia's wand, or that was at least what Mia thought Professor McGonagall was thinking she was going to have to do.
After hanging around asking Mia various questions, they all left except (thankfully) for Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey. However, Madam Pomfrey went to her office after making sure Mia was all right; which left Professor Snape and Mia alone.
Mia and Professor Snape sat in silence for a while, then Mia finally asked, trying to break the ice between them, (even know it sounded more like she was accusing him), "Did you know about me?"
"No, I didn't. If I did, I would have come and got you. And who's Sycamore Kannon?" said Professor Snape. He knew what Orphanages were like, and despite what people said, he did have a heart.
Mia asked, "Do you live at the castle? I've been told it's not normal for teachers to live at their place for teaching. Sycamore Kannon is an arrogant boy in my class, who thinks just because his father is second in command in the ministry, he can tell us all how to act, and get away with teasing us about our parents."
"Yes, I do live here. The only ones who live here out of term are me, Minerva McGonagall, Rolanda Hooch and the Headmaster. But surely they teachers have tried to do something to stop him?" said Professor Snape, wondering if the Kannons were another Malfoy family.
Mia said feeling frustrated about all of these things he wanted to know and she wanted to know, "Since you're my father, I can't really go around calling you Professor Snape, can I? So, what's your first name? You can call me Mia, I guess. They tried for the first two weeks, but then his father got wind of it, and told them to leave his son alone, or else."
"Severus, Mis- sorry Mia. Mr Kannon's father sounds a bit like Abraxas Malfoy," Professor Snape, or Severus said.
Mia nodded, then Severus asked, "So tell me, what is Southly like? I've heard of it, and I've heard it only select students who can attend, but I don't know any more than that."
"Well, many years in the past, two women met four creatures that could speak the human language, and they foundered Southly together, from their shared desire to make people take Australians seriously. The two women were called Lindy and Shelly Wilson, and the creatures were a Fox, a Wolf, a Phoenix, and a Horse. After deciding to build a school and deciding to make it the best on earth, they set off around the world to find the best people to teach, and once they had a Professor for every class they desired to offer, they built a system which would tell them the names and addresses of the student's worthy of having a place in their school. Of course, for whatever reason, not all the best got to go. Like, if I remember correctly, you were on the list, and the other person I can recall, was Tom Riddle," Mia said, feeling sick of talking.
Then she looked at Severus worriedly, as he had frozen up at the mention of Tom Riddle. She was worried she had said something wrong?! What if Tom Riddle was a curse to speak of? She wouldn't know!
Severus said at seeing Mia's worried look, "Sorry, it's just that Tom Riddle disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and I fear the Headmaster was behind it: and every time I hear Tom Riddle's name said, it reminds me of that fact."
"Oh, Okay. I wonder what happened to him? It is a little odd someone just disappearing," Mia wondered.
Severus said, "Who knows? And we might never know. I would have liked to meet him though; he sounded like an amazing person from a few people I've met who knew him. Even Minerva said he was a pretty amazing person! And that's not easy to achieve; she's as proud as a lion, and stubborn as one too."
"Maybe he changed his name! Our Transfiguration Professor had a brother, he wanted to rid the world of people who were good at Transfiguration, and they started calling him an Evil Lord when he started killing, and before that, he changed his name. But, before you ask, Evil Lord is what we call Dark Lords because it is a bit unfair to call evil people Dark Lords, as there are perfectly nice people that get called 'Dark Lord,' because their magic is dark," said Mia. Some people were strange she decided: why did they decide to just do things like that?
Severus commented, "You know a lot. But, maybe he became Lord, Vol-... Sorry, Mia, I can't say his name. But, a bit less than 12 years ago, there was a Dark Lord, and maybe, going on your theory, that is what became of Tom Riddle."
"Well, I had to know all this stuff for my 'Use of Magic outside of School' licence, and a lot of this stuff was in history books, which we needed for our first year, even if I didn't need to know it for the exam. That makes sense, especially if he had a bad start to life. So, onto happier things, am I going to live with you?" asked Mia, looking hopeful. She really didn't want to go back to that Orphanage.
Severus said, "Yes."
"Yay! I have always wanted family. But, are you going to make me attend Hogwarts?" asked Mia, hoping that he'd say no. She was perfectly happy at Southly, and she if Severus did say yes, she would make him regret it: being vengeful was a talent of hers.
Severus shook his head, "No, I won't. But, I will talk to you later, to make sure you're going where you want to."
"Okay. May I ask, can I see my friends before the end of the Holidays?" asked Mia. She had a few friends that she would like to see.
Severus nodded then said, "Yes, of course. I'd be very mean if I say you couldn't."
"Yay!" said Mia excitedly, jumping up and down on her bed. But before too long, Madam Pomfrey came out and told her to be less active, so Mia sat miserably again: why should she get excited about seeing her friends? They were only the first people to be kind to her; no big deal.
Professor McGonagall came in a while later holding some letters. Professor McGonagall said handing them to Mia, "Miss Lestrange, here are some letters which came to my office and are for you. Also, Eliza Slyvia wants to come and talk to you tomorrow; how she find out where you are I don't know, but she did. She also mentioned you're supposed to be taking the anti-Depressant Potion. Why haven't you mentioned your Suicidal before now?"
"Okay: thank you, Professor. Well, it's just it didn't seem important, and I don't find they help anyway," Mia said bitterly as she taking the letters: of course, something that could be useful wouldn't help! That would be way too convenient.
Professor McGonagall stood the looking flabbergasted for a moment before she went to tell Madam Pomfrey something.
Once Professor McGonagall had finished telling Madam Pomfrey what the Headmistress of Southly had told her; Madam Pomfrey said sounding quite weak, "I feel really bad, you know? Because I do get sent Suicide watch lists from all the countries, but I've never looked at them because I never expected to treat someone from Australia. I will do better from now on though because if I don't know of the Suicidal witches and Wizards from all around the world, I could lose everything, and have someone die when I could have prevented it. And even more so with someone like Miss Lestrange: she seems so normal! But, that's just the way some Suicidal people act. Mind you, it is partly Albus's fault, he told me not to read them, and sometimes went as far to take them and burn them before I could read them."
"That's the spirit Poppy! But why do they act like that?" said Minerva, confused. If they were about to kill themselves, why would they seem normal?
Poppy answered sounding depressed and trying not to be, "It's believed because they're ashamed, and don't like people to know they are really very depressed and could just decide to kill themselves any minute. It's really sad."
"Right, that is a slightly scary thought: any person you see could be like that. On that note, see you later, Poppy," said Minerva hurriedly. Then she left and returned to her office before Poppy told her something else sad, and before she got so sad she wanted to commit suicide.
Back with Severus and Mia.
Severus said looking at a clock on the wall, "I have to go miss- err, Mia. But, I will visit later, okay? And next time you have a health Issue that needs to be watched, tell people; okay?"
"Okay, see you. And I'll try. Will Professor Dumbledore and Madam Hooch know about my condition now?" said Mia understandingly. She hoped he said no to her question!
Severus nodded, then he left. Mia sighed sadly: she hated people knowing about her condition! Especially when it usually meant she had to have someone with her twenty-four seven. Mia feeling depressed decided to opened her letters and tried to forget about her annoyance of everyone knowing that she's suicidal.
The first one was Juniper 'June' Timberloff. Mia had met June when Mia's Arithmancy teacher had introduced the two so that June could tutor Mia on Arithmancy. June was sensible and really interesting with her letters.
The next one was from Aurora Dumbledore. Mia had met Aurora on the train to school, and despite the fact they went to different Houses, they maintained a friendship. Aurora like Mia was quite depressed, which made Mia not want to read her letters because they always sounded depressed and she was already too depressed.
The next one was from Cynthia Greengrove. When Mia had arrived in her house, Fox, she had been lonely at first because she didn't know anyone. However, Cynthia had quickly fished her out, and they became friends. Cynthia was very loud, humours and bouncy with her letters; and this latest one had Mia in laughter, which was unusual.
The next letter was from LaNina and Rosetta, or Lani and Rose, as they called them. Lani, Rose, and a girl called Kathryn were the school pranksters of Mia's year, and the one above that, and when the Rocket Twins left, they would be all the years' pranksters. Mia had met the twins after Sycamore had teased her the first time, and they had helped her get revenge. Mia sniggered at the twins: they always made themselves funny! It was the only thing they had in common with Cynthia.
Mia had two other letters as well. One was her exam results: she passed everything convincingly. The other was a reminder from the Ministry telling her she could use magic anywhere in Australia, but if she went to another country, and wanted to use magic before she was of age, she would need to get a permit from them. The letter with her exam results in it had another letter. It was saying she had passed into the second year at Southly.
'Dear Miss Lestrange,
Your Headmistress and I are glad to inform you that you are allowed to attend your second year at Southly. Expect your letter for Second Year Supplies, or a visit from the Headmistress any day. Please also find your License for using magic in Australia attached. (Remember, you need an international on for using magic in other countries before your 16th birthday (And/or 17th birthday).
Have a nice break,
Magus Timberloff
(Head of the Department of Education Magic and Non-magic)''
"Yay!" cheered Mia after reading her exam results, she had done well! And hopefully, her newly found Dad would be proud, too. Mia knew she was a pretty miserable, none talented person; so, she would have to make up for it with school results. And Mia would assure anyone she worked damn hard to get the results she did get. Mia then thought glumly: 'Even though their good; I bet they're not good enough.'
Madam Pomfrey poked her head out and asked, looking confused, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, it's going great! Umm actually, could I have some pen and paper? Please?" asked Mia. She might not get it in a Hospital Wing, but it didn't hurt to ask!
Madam Pomfrey nodded, then went to get some paper. When she brought it to Mia, then said pulling out a vial from her apron, "You need to drink this once a day."
"Okay, I'll have it in a minute," Mia said quickly, upon realising what it was.
Madam Pomfrey said sternly, "No, you will have it now."
"Ugh! Err- okay, okay: I'll drink it," said Mia glumly, taking the Potion and drinking it. There was no arguing with a nurse of any sort, she knew from experience. Once she had drank it, Madam Pomfrey returned to her office, looking satisfied.
Mia was feeling angry at Madam Pomfrey for a few seconds before she quickly remembered that she had letters to send, and she quickly wrote down what she wanted to tell everyone. The first person she wrote to was; Cynthia.
'Hi, Cynthia!
My break was going along very normally, until the bullies were chasing me and I Disapparated to Hogwarts! And guess what, here I discovered I have two live parents! (though I have only met my father, I will have to ask about my mother) my father is Severus Snape, the youngest Potion's Master in history!
I will come to your birthday, I guess. What time do I need to be there?
See you then, Mia.'
Mia wrote something similar to the others, but she changed it to fit with what they wrote to her. She hoped they wouldn't mind hearing from her; especially since her letters didn't really contain anything that would really interested them.
That evening.
When Severus came back that evening, Mia had just finished her dinner. She said upon seeing him, "Hi, Severus."
"Hello, Miss- Mia. Forgive me, please? This is the first time I've had to call a school-aged child by their first name," said Severus, looking embarrassed and ashamed.
Mia just laughed, then she said grabbing her Exam Paper and showing it to him, "Here's my exam results!"
"Didn't you see them before you left school?" Severus asked curiously.
Mia shook her head and said, "Ah, no, they get sent to the Ministry to get added up, and the grades worked out. To train you not to hassle them about your O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S results, is was the older students think it's about."
After reading it, Severus was brimming with pride! Mia was such a good student! Handing the paper back, he said, "Well done."
"Thanks! Umm, it is alright for me to go to my friend's birthday party on the weekend, right?" asked Mia. Severus nodded, then Mia asked sounding hopeful, "Where can I get hold of an owl? It's just I'd like to reply to my friends."
"I will post them for you," Severus offered.
Mia said, surprised, "You'd do that for me? Thank you!"
"That's fine really. I have been thinking, and it's not that I want to get rid of you or anything, but is there anyone you can stay with in Australia?" asked Severus, needing to know for planning and back up plans.
Mia nodded, and said, "The Greengroves have offered. But, why?"
"Well, assuming you want to return to Southly, it would be easier if you stayed with them, for the week and a half before you go back. So, you can get used to the time zone, get your books, and stuff. And do they know about your condition?" said Severus.
Mia nodded, and said, "Okay, I get it. Yes, they do, Mrs Greengrove is a Healer. Speaking of staying, when am I leaving this Hospital Wing?"
"I will ask Madam Pomfrey," answered Severus, and he went off to do that. While he was gone, Mia was thinking about the whole parent-child thing, it was going to take getting used to! And she suspected she would get into trouble a few times, because Mia was not used to relaying messages, and asking permission of someone.
When Severus came back, he said, "She says tomorrow, and she's going to come and check on you soon."
"Does Madam Pomfrey struggle when she's got lots of patients? Mrs and Mr Blue, Southly's Healer's struggle near the Christmas Holidays, because it's the height of summer, and it gets really hot in Australia. But, it's good for learning how to recognise the different breeds of snakes, because on the forty something degree days, we are only allowed to be outside for classes, because of the snakes. Mind you, only two days were over 40 last year, and one of those was Christmas. But anyway, the reason is there are lots of snakes, is because they all come out and lie on the ground in the scorching sun, as they love the sun, we call this 'The Snake Event'. Nasty creatures, really," commented Mia.
Severus nodded, then said, "Yes, they are. I better go, or Poppy will have my head for keeping you up."
"Is that Madam Pomphrey's first name?" asked Mia, and Severus nodded.
"Well, see you tomorrow, I guess," Mia said, sounding depressed.
"Yes, I shall. Good night," Severus said, then he left.
Shortly after Severus left, Madam Pomfrey came out and checked Mia over. When she was satisfied, she gave Mia a potion which she though was a Dreamless Sleep Draught. It must have been, because it put Mia straight to sleep.
Mia had a babyhood memory come in the form as a dream that night, which wasn't supposed to happen with Dreamless Sleep Draughts:
Mia was in pain! The nasty man had sent a spell at her which hurt like hell, and now her head was throbbing. Mia definitely did not like that nasty man now. Right then, Mia felt the world change around her, while her body felt as though it has been torn apart. Mia cried even more. When the pain stopped, she was on the doorstep of a building. Mia kept crying, she didn't understand! Why wasn't her mumma coming and comforting her!? Maybe if she kept crying her mumma would eventually come.
Then a door opened, and a woman stepped out.
Mrs Lively had been enjoying a lovely spring evening with all the children in bed, when she heard a baby's cry! Her sister, Yellow Lively, who worked with her said, "That's coming from the front door!"
"Ugh! I bet that's someone leaving another child! And the rate we're going, we're going to be full before the year's out!" said Mrs Lively as she and Yellow jumped up, and went to the door.
As Yellow and Mrs Lively opened the door, they saw no one was around! Mrs Lively looked down, to see a messy black-haired baby crying there. As the two women looked at her, they could changes happening to the baby! Her appearance was changing! Yellow gasped, "Witchcraft! Do you think she has no magic? And that's why they left her?"
"Then why the changes? Something odd happening here, especially since I thought that most appearance moderating Charms faded after 15 years, or when they castor died. Anyway, that's not important, what is, is that the blasted parents haven't even left a clue with the poor child's name is!" said Mrs Lively angrily. She picked the still sobbing girl up, and started calming her.
Yellow asked, looking at the girl, "Does she remind you of anyone?"
"Well, that Lestrange woman wanted in England springs to mind, but why?" asked Mrs Lively.
Yellow said, "Why don't we give her the last name of Lestrange? And if anyone asks, we can say she looks like one of them, which means there is a 50% chance that she is related to them."
"Your logic is flawed, sister, but all right. And what about Lily of the Inca?" suggested Mrs Lively, half joking.
Yellow shook her head and said, "We can't call her that! It's too bloody long! But, we could call Alstroemeria? That's Lily of the Inca's scientific name. It's a nice and strong name, and something tells me this little girl will need it."
"Okay! Sounds good! Now let's get this little on sorted, and then head off to bed?" asked Mrs Lively.
Yellow nodded, and then they went back inside the orphanage to deal with Mia, before they would go to sleep.
Then Mia woke up sitting upright. Mia asked herself being confused, "I don't understand, what happened? She gave me a Dreamless Sleep Potion, didn't she?"
Then something Professor Siri had said once sprang to mind, "Though, there is a Potion that looks like the Dreamless Sleep Draught, which makes people remember babyhood memories. Though, it hasn't been revealed to the rest of the world yet, but they are using it unknowingly, because if you make a Dreamless Sleep Draught, and add a little extra deer horn then what you really should, you get a babyhood memory reveller. Potion's are amazing, aren't they? I mean that by the fact just one extra bit can change your potion considerably."
"I guess that was what happened," sighed Mia, then she decided to try and get back to sleep. She hoped the potion was out of her system, because she didn't want anymore; and there was already a high risk the Potion would set off a whole heap more.
Things to remember:
There is a really new potion not known by most the world which reveals babyhood memories.
The Parent Revealing Charm reveals parents, the child's name, (If they're born) and their adoptive parents if they have been blood adopted, but not their birthdate.
In case you've been wondering, Magus Timberloff is June's father. Also, in Crazy Lady of Horses and Cats made Aurora Dumbledore the daughter of Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore. I'm not deciding if that will be Aurora's relationship with them, but there will be some relation between them. So, what do you say? Minerva and Albus parents? Or nay?
Ok, also, (I love that word, not) Southly has different subjects to Hogwarts. Their starting subjects are the ones mentioned in Mia's exam results (Excluding the magical License Exam). But flying is only a first year subject, unless you fail.
Next Mia will move in with Severus, and then they will have lunch with the Malfoys, Dumbledore will get up to something, and Mia will try to commit suicide.