Disclaimer: Harry Potter is Rowling's, not mine. I'm sorry this chapter is so late. I could probably have gotten it out earlier had I been more disciplined. But I also didn't anticipate how many details I'd have to look up and create for this part of the story. I hope you enjoy it. Leave a review and tell me what you think of it.
I had loads of fun imagining what wizarding fashion would look like. Rowling said the wizarding world was still stuck in the 17th century. I used creative license and gave it elements from the Middle Ages as well as later centuries. But I still think that the wizarding world should feel a bit frozen in time, given that they are an isolated small community. - Beula
Chapter two: Making Friends
Albus Dumbledore was a very bright and powerful man. He knew this too. Unlike some people who would flaunt their intelligence and station in front of others, he did not. He was respected and well known for his wisdom. Important decisions would often fall on him to make. It was a great responsibility, and one he did not take lightly.
For the most part, the decisions he had made over the years were good.
But of course, he was not infallible or all-knowing.
Albus sat at his deck in his office, feeling the weight of his years and then some. Perhaps I am getting too old for this, he thought.
Fawkes, who was perched next to him, seemed to sense his master's inner turmoil and sang a few encouraging notes.
"Thank you, Fawkes," he said. He reached out and stroked the phoenix's feathers.
He recalled the events that had disturbed him so.
He had been standing in his office, contemplating a request from his old friend Nicholas Flamel, when Severus had burst in through the door, clearly upset...
"Severus," Albus said, shaken from his musings. "What has brought you here? I assume it is not for one of my lemon drops."
The potion master's stony facial expression did not change. "I expect you will want to sit down for this," he said.
Albus looked into his eyes and could sense that something serious had happened. He waved his wand and a tray laden with pot of tea, two tea cups, and a small plate of scones appeared on his desk.
The two sat down. Severus did not meet the headmaster's eyes. "Did you know," he said, his voice low, " - at least, please tell me you did not know - that Alice Potter was being abused? Lily's child, Albus?"
Very serious, then, Albus thought.
Albus was normally a composed man. He had seen and experienced too much in his lifetime to be surprised.
The papers in the room now fluttered with magic.
Severus spoke with barely reigned in anger. "They order her around like a house elf. She does everything for them, Albus. She cooks for them, even though she only gets scraps - if they are feeling gracious. She clearly suffers malnutrition."
He paused, letting this information sink in. "They make her sleep in a cupboard," he said with venom.
For a moment they were both silent, not acknowledging each other. Severus directed his anger at his cup of tea, staring at it with such a look of hate that Albus was surprised it did not spontaneously combust.
Albus studied the man sitting across him. Severus was a good man, but hardly let his good side be known to the people around him. He grew up in an environment that made trust near impossible for him. No, Severus did not trust people. Albus knew he might be the only person Severus trusted - and he did not take that privilege lightly.
Albus grew very grave, his blue eyes piercing through the potion master's facade. "You must think I knew about this and allowed it to happen," he said.
Severus looked up abruptly. "Did you?" he challenged. "Didn't you have someone watching her in that damn neighborhood?"
Albus found that honesty in situations such as this were crucial. "I did not think -" he began and felt his voice catch, thinking of the little girl Alice Potter growing up denied affection and a normal childhood.
He cleared his throat. "I did not think Petunia would treat her own flesh and blood so cruelly. She was the child's only living family. She was but a young girl when I met her, you know. I did not think..." He trailed off. "I am sorry, Severus." He also knew excuses in these situations were not useful.
There was another pause. Albus could tell his colleague, whose gaze had gone back to the tea cup, was feeling immensely frustrated at the situation and wanted answers. Wanted justice. It was only human.
"I fear I am not infallible, my friend," he said gently. This was a fact many seemed to forget."I stationed Arabella Figg there to check in on her and report back to me. She never reported anything that seemed suspicious."
Severus sank back into his chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "She can't stay there, Albus," he said finally.
Albus stood up and walked to the window. He looked out of it, his hands clasped behind his back.
He had hoped the blood wards would protect Alice from anyone intent upon harming her from the outside. Alas, he did not anticipate that the people who would cause the most harm would be the people she lived with.
"While at Hogwarts she will be safe. We will have to think about where she will stay during the summer holidays carefully," he said finally. "She needs to be somewhere with protection, but we do not have to decide this now. In fact, I think it best if we give Miss Potter time to settle into the wizarding world before we discuss the summer holidays with her."
Severus nodded slowly in agreement, coming out of his thoughts. Yes, while at Hogwarts she would be away from her relatives.
"Where will she stay between now and the start of school?" Severus asked.
"I could not give her to Molly, though she would gladly take Alice," Albus said thoughtfully. "The poor woman has a hard time enough taking care of all her children. Perhaps..." He trailed off, eyeing Severus.
Severus started getting a suspicious feeling. "Perhaps what, headmaster? What idiotic plan have you concocted now?"
Albus allowed a smile. "Perhaps, dear boy, Alice could stay with you at your house."
Before Severus could protest, Albus continued. "It is, aside from Hogwarts, the most heavily warded place I can think of."
Yes, Severus knew this. He liked to keep his house warded. Being a former Death Eater and an unpopular teacher, he didn't have many friends.
Albus's blue eyes grew serious. "Most importantly, you have already developed good rapport with the girl. Yes... Yes, I think this is the best course of action."
"Surely someone else is better suited," Severus protested. Just the thought of becoming an eleven year old girl's caregiver was giving him a headache.
"Who would you suggest?" Albus asked. "Sirius is currently in Azkaban and Remus has not shown his face ever since James and Lily's death. Perhaps you think the Malfoys would be a better choice?"
For once the potions master was speechless. "I cannot take care of a... child," he said when he had recovered. "No child would want to stay with me at my house, Albus. It is no home." He thought of the drab place awaiting him in Cokeworth.
Albus just shook his head. "Dear boy, you know as well as I those are fabricated excuses covering up deeper truths. I am quite sure this is the best way of going about it." The look he sent Severus was one of finality.
Damn the old man, Severus thought. He could refuse. But as much as he hated to admit it, the old fool was right more often than he was wrong.
He wearily stood up. The conversation was over. "Of course," he said shortly. He turned around and exited the office.
After Severus left, Albus thought of all that would have to be done to heal Alice Potter.
Severus silently cursed Albus Dumbledore for what must have been the millionth time. He stood outside his dreary house. It was in a wretched state. It was connected to the house next to it, part of a whole row of other grey wretched homes.
The house had two levels, but the upstairs was merely an unused attic. The first floor had one bedroom, a small but serviceable potions lab, a small bathroom, and a tiny kitchen with a little breakfast nook. Everything in the house looked very worn and old.
Severus spent most of his time at Hogwarts, so he'd done little work on the place.
Though he had gotten rid of all the photos of the relatives he hated.
That meant everybody except for his mother.
Still, the house was long overdue for a facelift.
I can't leave it like this if Lily's daughter will be living here. He pondered what to do. Perhaps just giving it a fresher look...
He cast a Notice-Me-Not charm on himself. His house was already quite heavily warded. Most muggles would hardly notice the place or anything that went on. And if they did, after passing it they would find it hard to recall anything distinctive about it.
A simple colour change charm applied to the outside turned the face of his house Slytherin green. Yes, that would do quite nicely.
As for the inside, dull walls were lightened and adjusted until they looked more a very light blue-grey than the dreary dark colour it was previously.
A few cleaning charms and it looked a new place.
Severus thought of how to create a bedroom for Lily's daughter that would be acceptable.
He was struck with an idea.
Now, for the attic...
Hopefully, she would approve of it. Severus got to work.
Light was pressing through Alice's eyelids, and she was starting to get that sinking feeling that she had slept in and forgotten to do her early morning chores.
She opened her eyes and felt disoriented. This isn't my cupboard, she thought, puzzled.
Then she remembered.
She was a witch! She was supposed to go to Diagon Alley today with Professor Snape to get her school supplies.
And she was sleeping in the newly cleared out bedroom that had previously been Dudley's second bedroom after Severus had "talked" to her aunt and uncle.
No chores today, she thought, smiling.
She sat up in her bed and looked at her hands. It was strange to learn she was somehow magical.
She wondered what she could do with magic. The professor had turned her dress blue. It was now her favourite article of clothing. Before it had been a rather faded pink, and the blue he had changed it to was new and bright. She picked it out of the shabby wardrobe and put it on.
She could not stifle the light feeling of happiness welling up inside of her. She had her own room now.
Once the junk had been cleared out of it, Aunt Petunia had set up a cheap metal bed frame with a spring mattress that had to be about a hundred years old and put an old black wardrobe with peeling paint against one of the walls. There was one window, which had very faded purple curtains hanging from them. To anyone else, the room would look absolutely dismal. To Alice, it was amazing. She'd never slept in a real room before.
Once she was dressed, she tiptoed lightly down the stairs, not wanting to wake her relatives. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she looked carefully around.
Yes! The kitchen was empty and no one else was awake. The kitchen was all hers. And for once, she was going to make her own breakfast.
She opened the fridge and was overwhelmed with how many choices she had. Usually in the morning if she got anything, it was a piece of toast. The fridge was laden with bacon, eggs, fresh whole milk, cream, orange juice, marmalade, bread...
She stood still for a moment, then hesitantly took out the carton of eggs, bacon, and milk.
She smiled as she began making breakfast. In a flash she had bacon sizzling on a pan and she only took them out when they were just crispy. There were no egg shells in her scrambled eggs, which were cooked to perfection and seasoned with salt and pepper.
She set everything carefully out on the table and sat down. It was so strange, getting to eat what she had cooked. She took a bite of eggs and washed it down with a sip of cool milk.
It was delicious.
She found that she couldn't finish her milk. It was too rich. But she ate the rest and felt blissfully full.
At long last, at eight o'clock sharp, there was a knock at the door. Feeling nervousness and excitement flutter inside her, Alice opened the door.
Standing there stoically was Professor Snape, and this time he wasn't wearing muggle clothing. He was donning very smart black robes over a loose fitting linen white shirt tucked into slim black trousers. His shoes were all black leather. The effect of the look reminded Alice of some fashion from a previous era. But then the whole idea of witches and wizards felt old, too, she supposed.
She felt quite nervous now, realizing that she might look quite different than other witches and wizards.
Professor Snape interrupted her course of thoughts. "Are we going to stand here eating twiddling our thumbs, Miss Potter?" he asked. Had she known him better, she would have realized he was amused.
Alice looked down at her feet. "Sorry, Professor." She stepped out into the yard. She peered up at him hesitantly. "Professor, sir, may I bring Ruth with me? She wanted to come."
"Your snake friend? So long as you are careful not to be seen communicating with her. Some wizards feel parseltongue is Dark," Severus said after deliberation.
Before Alice could even ask why, Snape explained. "The ability to talk to snakes is an uncommon gift in the wizarding world. As fate would have it, the Dark Lord had this ability and often used it for ill rather than good. In the magical community it is perceived as a feared and Dark quality."
Alice thought that was rather strange that in a magical world, talking to snakes was somehow deemed feared or evil. But then she was used to people treating her as though she was different in some way that made her freakish. She nodded. "I'll be careful," she said. She bent down and hissed into the rosebushes. "We are leaving, Ruth."
The thin dark olive coloured snake slithered from out of the shadows of the bushes. "It is too early. I have not basked in the warmth enough yet. But I will come for you, young one," she hissed.
Alice smiled. "Come wind yourself on my arm. I am warm." She held her right hand out low to the ground, and soon enough Ruth was winding herself around Alice's forearm where she settled happily.
Severus waved his wand and cast a silent Notice-Me-Not charm on the snake.
He paused. "Before we go, I want to bring something to your attention. The headmaster seems it a good idea - though mark my words, it is not - that you stay with me at my house in Cokeworth -" he said this part with a sneer, " - for the remainder of the summer holidays. If you are foolish enough to want to spend the rest of your summer holidays with me, you may." He waited for the girl's response. He was no good at these sorts of conversations.
Alice did not trust herself to speak. A very fragile feeling of hope rooted itself in her heart. She merely nodded.
"Very well then," said the professor, not wanting to linger anymore on that subject. "We will go to Diagon Alley and then return here to gather your belongings. It is getting late. Are you ready to go?"
Alice nodded. Severus checked to make sure no muggles were around.
"Take my arm. We'll apparate directly there. Clothes first, I should think?"
Alice assented and soon the two (and the snake) were whisked into a flurry of spinning and colours and lights.
-x-
A kind looking round-faced boy tried to keep up with the fast pace of his grandmother as they strode through the busy streets of Diagon Alley.
"Gran, wait -" he said, getting pushed away from her by the crowd.
"Hurry up, Neville," the woman said sharpy. She grabbed behind her and tugged on the boy's wrist. He winced, but said nothing. The woman paused for a second and looked down at the boy critically. She sighed and shook her head. "Come on, hurry up," she repeated and kept walking briskly.
Neville knew what she was probably thinking. She was probably thinking about how he would never make Gryffindor, his father's house.
I'm sorry, Gran, the boy thought. He keenly felt how he was not as talented or smart as his parents. But he was looking forward to going to the school where they had met.
He only hoped he would find a place where he could belong.
-x-
Because of her relatives, Alice never did have much of a chance to explore the world that was outside Privet Drive.
And this. This was -
Well, it was magical.
The street they were on was cobblestone and it twisted and turned as far as Alice could see. All the shops were lined shoulder to shoulder on either side of it. Some of the shops were built peculiarly and Alice felt magic must be holding them up.
And the best part, in her opinion, was that everywhere witches and wizards bustled about, busy with their everyday lives. Once again she got the feeling that the shops and the people were a picture of some bygone era. It reminded her of something from Medieval times.
The men seemed to wear long billowing robes like Professor Snape, which was often worn over some loose fitting linen shirt and more fitted trousers. Some of them didn't even wear trousers with which Alice was familiar, but wore stockings.
The richer and more important they looked, the more decorative their garb seemed to be with frills on the sleeves of their dressy robes, complete with a fancy cravat tucked into a waistcoat.
The women seemed to floor-length gowns with bell-like flowy sleeves over which they wore colourful robes or cloaks.
Alice suddenly felt strange in her muggle-style clothing. She peered up nervously at Snape.
She saw he was studying her amusedly. "This time of year, Diagon Alley is swarmed by incoming First Years getting their school supplies. It is not unusual for muggleborn children - those who who come from muggle families - to shop here," he commented.
Can he read minds? She wouldn't be at all surprised. She smiled back at him nervously.
Soon the two were walking into some kind of clothing shop. The sign outside read "Twilfitt and Tattings".
Severus privately thought that normally he would just take First Years to Madam Malkin's. Twilfitt and Tattings was mostly known as a shop that catered to rich pureblood families.
Still, Severus thought, after years of living in nothing but cast offs, the girl deserved a wardrobe full of the best quality clothing to make up for it. He refused to think that he was merely growing a soft spot for the child. He watched as she took in all of her surroundings. Her eyes were wide as she looked wonderingly at all the people and shops.
Lily also was full of such childlike wonder, even as she got older, he thought. He remembered people used to think her naive because of it. And in some ways, perhaps she had been. But then the War -
He closed that thought off quickly.
A pretty witch with sharp brown eyes greeted them just inside the shop and bowed to them. "Good morning, Sir and Madam," she said. "What services are you in need of today?"
Severus gestured to Alice. "The young lady requires her Hogwarts robes as well as a full new wardrobe for everyday wear," he said.
The witch's eyes widened as she laid eyes on who was next to him. She stared for a second and then seemed to realize what she was doing. She bowed again. "It is a pleasure to be of service to you, Lady Potter."
Alice felt awkward, but didn't know what to say. Her cheeks became a bit rosey and she looked down at the floor.
"Please follow me," the witch said and led them to where different sorts of robes were hanging on display.
There were silk robes and velvet robes and cotton and wool and more - all in differents styles and colours. Some were gossamer thin, made of a light floaty material.
Alice was asked to choose a few that she liked so they could be tailored to fit her.
Never having been asked to choose what she liked before, this was a monumental task.
In the end, she picked out three silken robes and one made in the floaty material that she found quite pretty for everyday wear. "I like this cloth," Ruth had hissed quietly when she was attempting to choose. "It does not scratch against my scales."
She also got a set of three plain, but good quality black robes in a feminine cut.
"Perhaps a warm cloak for winter," Severus suggested.
Soon enough, Alice was fitted with a scarlet cloak with a fur-lined hood ("It's a classic, every Lady needs one," the witch helping them had said). The inside of it felt soft and warm. Alice agreed it would be nice to have this when the weather turned colder.
She remembered many winters working outside until her fingers got stiff and cold, but Aunt Petunia didn't think it important to get her gloves. She would come back inside hours later and plunge her hands painfully into warm water, tears pricking her eyes...
Then there were the gowns.
The witch helping her and Severus had eyed Alice's muggle clothing distastefully and helped pick out six new simple gowns for Alice to wear underneath her robes.
Do witches always wear dresses? she wondered.
Severus put an end to the clothes shopping. "I think that will be all we require here today," he said.
It was then with a dreadful sort of sinking feeling that Alice remembered she had no money.
"Sir, I don't think I can pay -"
He cut her off. "I will be paying for your school things today, Miss Potter," he said. He imagined Lily looking as uncertain as the girl before him and was sickened. He would show the child she didn't always have to pay for what she needed.
He said in a lower voice to Alice alone, "Your mother was a good friend of mine when we were children. Think of it as a gift from a family friend. Not that you need it. The Potter family had quite the fortune. Once you are of age, you shall undoubtedly inherit it. Tomorrow if you like, we can visit Gringotts."
"Gringotts?" Alice said.
"A wizard bank," Severus explained. "It is run by goblins."
Alice's eyes grew wide. Goblins are real! She tried to imagine what they were like. She also felt warm with the knowledge that her parents had left her something when they had died. And she'd never known! Aunt Petunia had always been complaining about what a burden she was to them, and now she had money of her own.
When they finished paying, a much finer looking Alice emerged from the store. She wore a simple flowing green gown. Her new silken black robes covered her shoulders prettily. The red in her auburn hair stood out against the green and her eyes were shining.
If Lily had been a Slytherin...
Not that she ever could have. Lily was fearless. A Gryffindor, through and through.
The two continued to shop around Diagon Alley.
Severus made sure Alice got a wand holster ("A good witch always keeps her wand at the ready - remember that, Miss Potter-") and an emergency portkey ("Practical for when there are anti-apparition wards in place-") and on top of her school books, a few extra on potions ("It's always good to go above and beyond what is expected of you in your classes-") and ancient runes.
Now it was time for what Alice was looking forward to the most: a wand.
As they were walking towards Ollivander's, Alice grew curious. "Do witches and wizards need wands to do magic?" she asked.
Severus thought for a moment, recalling what he had learned from books on magical theory. "They do not, at least for simpler and less specific spells," he said. "Think of it like trying to paint with your fingers than with a brush or writing with your fingers in the sand instead of using pen and paper. A wand helps channel magic more precisely."
While she was contemplating this, she tripped on something - or someone - and fell down. Another person fell down with her.
"Oh dear." A sigh from above. "You'll have to forgive my godson Neville... really, he's such a pity."
"Are you all right?" a soft voice asked.
Alice blinked. The boy who had fallen with her had light blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair. He scrambled up quickly and offered her a hand. She took it.
"Stupid boy," said a short but imposing looking lady to Alice's right. She wore a red pointed hat that had fruit decorations all over it and carried a small red handbag. "You should look where you are going. Really, your father -" she sighed again. "- Well, it's too much to hope for, I suppose."
The boy's face burned red. He looked down at his shoes and didn't say a word.
Alice felt badly for him. "It's okay, truly. Nobody was hurt. My name is Alice Potter," she said to the boy gently and offered her hand. "What's yours?"
"Neville Longbottom," he said nervously. He shook her hand uncertainly. "Nice to meet you."
He was timid and polite. Alice instantly liked him. She smiled.
"I am Neville's grandmother," the lady said, introducing herself. She drew close to Alice, making her flinch a bit. "Your mother and my daughter-in-law were close friends. You have the same name as her, you know. Bound to be a powerful witch too, unlike Neville. Clearly you have much of Lily in you. Neville's got absolutely none of his father in him."
Alice felt a wave of pity for Neville, who looked as though he wanted to melt into the cobblestone street. "I don't know any magic yet," she said, "so I don't know if I'll be any good at it either."
Neville brightened up at that.
Before his grandmother could get another word in, Severus interrupted. "I am sorry, Augusta, but we were just on the way to get a wand for Alice."
Alice was excited to make a new friend and did not want Neville to leave just yet, though.
"Would you like to come with us? We can get our wands together - if you haven't already gotten yours," she said in a rush.
Neville reached into his robes and pulled out a dark wooden wand. "It's my father's old wand," he said quietly.
Alice looked at it admiringly. "It's beautiful," she said.
Severus eyed the wand critically. "It is best not to get wands second-hand. It could seriously impede one's magical education," he said. "The wand has to choose you in order for it to work for you, Mr. Longbottom."
"You should come with us, then," Alice said. She took his hand. "Can he come, Mrs. Longbottom?" She looked up at the old woman imploringly, emerald eyes brimming with hope.
The woman opened her mouth as if to refuse, but then caved in seeing Alice's expression. "Oh, I suppose."
Severus sighed. Of course this day would not go as he had planned. Now he had to deal with two eleven-year-olds instead of one. Although he had to admit Alice looked happy to be with someone her age.
Maybe he could ask Augusta if Alice could come over to visit Neville before the school year began.
As for Neville, he looked shocked that his gran's mind had been changed. Alice tugged at his hand gently. "It's all right," she said softly, just to him. "I don't know if I'll be any good at magic either. We'll just have to work hard together."
At that, the timid boy looked up with surprise.
A root of hope planted itself in his heart as well.
He gave Alice an uncertain smile and the two headed into Ollivander's to get their new wands.
