There's no other option, Harriet calmly told herself, staring at Severus Snape. I just have to kill myself. There's no other option. I'll see you soon, Mom, Aunt Petunia. Sorry about the short lived life. There was no way Harriet was going to live with this man. This man who had been so cruel to her. This man who wouldn't even look at her in any way other than a sneer. There was simply no way.
Pretend she was a witch? Sure, why the hell not. The thought seemed fun. Go and live in a castle full of other kids waving sticks and wearing robes? Alright, she's had to deal with worse. She was even okay with the idea of never seeing London again. But, to live with this man?
They were insane.
She had lost track of how long she simply stared at the man. It was the first time she truly looked at him. He was tall and his shoulders were broad. His face, a pale white, donning a long, hooked nose. His eyes were as beady-black as she had remembered the first time she saw them. His hair, a let jet black, was down to his shoulders and greasy.
She hated him.
"I'm not going to do it," she announced quietly. "Be your ward, or whatever. I'm no one's responsibility but my own."
"It's good to know you don't require coddling," Snape snickered. "Living with me, you will be responsible for yourself, naturally. And," he added, "most certainly your marks."
"Don't fuck me with, Batman," she raged. She balled her fists and sent a heated glare at the man. Draco stood rigged next to her, following his parents' examples and choosing to not interfere. "I've basically taken care of myself since I was one. I don't need a parent in my life. I can take a roof over my head, but if you think for one second I'm gonna call you daddy, you're wrong. You mean nothing to me. You will always mean nothing to me."
Severus kept his voice void of any and all emotion. He didn't care what this girl thought. He didn't care what her opinion was of him or the Wizarding World. As long as she did as she was told.
But, at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder what made her so vicious. He'd never met someone so young but so angry at the world. Teaching at Hogwarts, he's met plenty of children her age. Some younger, some older. Some who have gone through more in their lives, some who have been coddled their entirety. Snape remembered his own childhood and evaluated it. Had he been angry the way she was? He certainly didn't live a meaningful life-not as a child at least-and spent most of his life scorning this young girl's father, the wretched James Potter. While he wasn't foolish enough to think he would encounter a miniature James, because even Snape wasn't blinded enough to think that someone living with Petunia could come out the way James Potter did, but he certainly wasn't expecting this.
He'd never met someone as angry as Harriet Lillian Potter. It was obvious to tell that she had to grow up faster than she should have. She was bitter and with a sharp tongue, looking at the world with calculating eyes and judging quickly and accurately.
But, that didn't mean she wasn't brave and foolish. He could see that in her, also. He was sure that she knew who the Dark Lord was. Maybe she didn't know who he was, but without a doubt she had seen his importance the moment he walked into the room; however, that didn't stop her from challenging him. Like a foolish Gryffindor, he thought.
He stared at her lively, angered green eyes.
He was sure he should have thought something like, Don't be an arse like your father, or, I can only hope that your father's stupidity wasn't hereditary. He should have thought these things, but he could only find himself mulling over one concern.
He prayed that she wasn't as stubborn as her mother.
They let her stay even longer at the Malfoys than she thought. The night had dragged on, but with it she was told that she would actually spend the following days there as Snape prepared his house for her. She was sure this meant something along the lines as bear traps in the front yard and an electric fence.
She didn't mind staying with the Malfoys, with those thoughts swimming in her head. She'd take the blonde git over the vampire any day. At least Draco was someone she could outsmart. With Snape she just felt like she was constantly walking on eggshells. She wished she could appreciate people with intelligence, but it was only those people who still held the power to hurt and outsmart her.
She ended up staying with the Malfoys for the three following nights. She spent the entire time ignoring them. She didn't attend any of the meals, instead opting to have them in her room. No one objected. None of the Malfoys knew how to deal with her, and since their Lord hadn't made any explicit details about what to do with her, they left her on her own. As long as she behaved.
The girl was beyond strange. Draco Malfoy was taken by surprise by no one . . . Except her. The first moment he saw her, he felt his insides do some weird somersault. She had looked and spoke like a complete muggle. The curse words didn't fly out of her mouth, they ran out at high-speed. She wasn't necessarily beautiful, either, like most witches. Excluding the few mudbloods occasionally, most wizards and witches had a certain look about them. They all ended up gorgeous, in the end. Draco would, most certainly. It was pure-blood nature-they were born to be smart, powerful, and gorgeous. Both his parents were from strong magical families, both were smart, and both were (and he blanched thinking about this) beautiful.
But, this Potter girl was different. Like he had mentioned, she wasn't necessarily beautiful. Her hair was a rat's nest. It was long and curled awkwardly around her. Her lips were rather thin and, not to mention, always in a frown. She was this strange skinny-it hadn't looked natural and wasn't complimenting in the least. He would compliment her eyes, if he didn't feel like they were always watching him intently.
She was by far the strangest thing he had ever encountered.
It was the day to receive all the necessary items for their fourth year. Draco could see clearly now the distinction between him and the new girl. This was Draco's fourth year in Hogwarts, so it was a normal occurrence to frequent Diagon Alley. He was even one of the few students who have visited Knockturn Alley (though that had a slow rise, due to the influx of Dark families).
Harriet, however, was trying hard to not be bug-eyed the entire time. Normally, Draco would have applauded her attempt at an aristocratic face, but it was at this time Draco was trying to find a chink in Potter's armour.
They were in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions getting fitted for the new year. For Draco it was simply how much he had grown in the last year-which was significantly, apparently. But, for Harriet, her fitting was only just beginning. Whizzing around her were tapes, tightening against her breasts, her waist, her shoulders, and checking her height.
Draco smirked. It was almost hilarious to watch the way she jumped at the tape coming at her, or how rigged her body would become.
It was also terrifying, because Draco would become the first person to truly take notice of Harriet's body.
Of course, she wasn't showing anything private. But, being put into situation where all he could do was watch the tape go around and around on the girl in front of him, he found himself curious. She was thin. Unhealthy thin, he was sure of it. Her waist was tiny, and her wrists were eerily scrawny. Her thighs wouldn't touch for a long shot.
Draco understood that there were some people out there who were simply born this way. He had seen many witches-and wizards-who were skinny or fat and really couldn't help it. Draco, himself, was blessed with a good body. He had his time in his youth where he used to make fun of these kinds of wizards and witches, but now he was fourteen year old boy living through a wizarding war. Still, this didn't seem right. It was off. He watched her flinch again as the tape came towards her again. He was suppose to find that funny, wasn't he? But, he couldn't find himself to laugh anymore. Why would a witch need to flinch at anything?
"Potter-" he stopped. At the sound of her name, her eyes shot straight to him. He felt himself cringe. Her stare was eery. Her eyes, both intimidating and angry, tore at his existence. He couldn't bring himself to ask her what was wrong-not now, not here-because he was sure she would just snap at him. He was a Malfoy, he had to be smart and think through his plan before taking on a beast like Harriet Potter.
"Have you decided on what familiar to adopt?" Draco asked as he, Harriet, and his parents walked towards Magical Menagerie, the best familiar shop in Diagon Alley.
"I still don't really understand what's allowed," Harriet responded. it was the first time she had spoken without sounding like she was ready to murder any and every one, Draco noted.
"And owl, cat, or toad," he informed her. The door jingled as they walked into the shop. Their ears were invaded with the hooting and screeching of various animals.
"Yeah, but you said one boy even had a rat!" she defended. She went to glance over at the spiders. They were huge and creepy, just the way she liked them to be.
"That blood-traitors pet is ridiculous," Draco scoffed. Harriet couldn't help but notice his reluctance to go further towards the spiders. She, herself, scoffed in her mind. Boys were such weaklings.
"I still don't know what that is-blood-traitor-" she clarified at his confusion, "even though you keep saying it."
"It's someone who doesn't support the dark-"
"Oh, no, Malfoy, you're mistaken," she laughed cruelly. "I just clarified that I don't know what it is. That doesn't mean I give a shit." She walked away, leaving a red-faced, scolding Malfoy behind.
This stupid girl will get eaten up by all the pure-bloods. He was sure of it. She was semi-intelligent, he'd admit; however, she didn't have a single care to actually learn. He already hated this about her. She would simply scorn any person that tried to teach her something. Stubborn, really.
Harriet continued to ignore Malfoy for the rest of the time they were in the shop. Malfoy's parents had left shortly. No doubt plotting world domination or something, Harriet thought. With it just being her and Malfoy, she actually had the time to browse over the animals.
It was strange to her, to look at all these animals that she never would have really thought as tamable. Yes, she knew people liked snakes and spiders and whatnot, but to go as far as to call them familiars was simply strange to her.
Harriet stopped at the snakes. She hadn't thought much of snakes. They weren't of any importacet to her. She had ran across a few in her aunt's garden and later at the orphanage, but they always seemed to leave her alone, thankfully. She couldn't help but be disappointed in seeing them through a glass cage.
The snake that caught her eye wasn't the biggest snake in the group, but it was certainly the baddest. The black mamba, a slim two-feet, slithered to the window to stare at Harriet. She simply stared back.
Black Mamba
Most Poisonous Snake in the World
Male
1 year
There was no more information given on the creature. She wondered if it had a name or how the owners of the shop knew its age. Were all black mambas brown? Were they all the same size, a small two feet? The creature was slim and looked like it would sooner take flight than claim to be the most poisonous snake in the world.
"Release me," it whispered. Harriet felt herself go rigged at the sound. No, it couldn't be the snake talking. It had to be her imagination, or at the very least, Malfoy trying to pull something over her. She took a quick glance towards the boy who was staring dully at the birds.
"Who said that?" Harriet repeated, and it was the snake's turn to become rigged. Or as rigged as a snake can become, at least.
"A speaker," it voiced. She could have sworn those were the words coming out of it, but its mouth wasn't moving in the right way to form words. "Release me, speaker. Free me."
Harriet furrowed her brows. "Is it normal to talk to snakes?"
"As normal as it is for me to speak with anyone, speaker."
Harriet smirked. "What a bullshit answer, but, hey, I'll take it. What's your name?" She inquired. "All it says here is that you're a year old, and apparently super dangerous. Cool, by the way."
"Names are not for our kind," it said, raring up, though Harriet didn't feel threatened with the glass between them. "And we have no time for human years.'
"I'm gonna go with a long shot and say it's not common to talk to snakes," Harriet hummed. They seemed quite bitter, like they didn't have very many people to complain to. "I don't think I can have you as a familiar." She would release it either way, considering how much she could relate to prisons. But, she would rather have had it for a familiar. She was sure it was costly, but the Malfoys were already paying for everything. She was sure to only buy what was completely necessary, though. She wasn't looking to owe anyone anything.
But, the snake was pretty damn cool.
"A speaker? For a familiar?" It seemed to consider the thought. "It must be destiny. I accept."
"No, no, I was saying I don't think I could have one, actually. Just owls, cats, and toads."
"I can eat all those things." Harriet held back a laugh. That must have meant I'm better than all those things in snake.
"Yeah, but it's a rule, I guess."
"And if you take me?"
"Someone tells me I have to send you back?"
"Then I'll kill him."
Well, that was a unique way to win an argument. Harriet found herself overjoyed. For once she found something with the same amount of apathy as herself! She couldn't let this opportunity pass.
She couldn't help but falter, too. What if it really was different to speak to snakes in this world? If it was normal, wouldn't Malfoy had come over to say something? Wouldn't he have mentioned something to her at some point? The snake had even called her speaker, which sounded relatively unique.
She felt something turn in her stomach.
Even in this world she was different.
She felt her newly molded world of belonging come crashing down around her.
Despite the negative thoughts she had about it, she decided she couldn't simply let the snake stay here. It would haunt her dreams, to be leaving the animal in a glass cage like that. She would take him, she had settled with herself. But, she would be careful to not let their conversations be overheard until she found out just how common it was to speak to snakes.
"Okay, I'll bring you with me, but on one condition."
"Which is, speaker?"
"I get to name you." She put her poker face on, hoping the snake wouldn't be able to tell her excited she actually was about the thought of having a familiar.
There was a long pause. Harriet realized that snakes were definitely the masters at poker faces.
"What shall it be?"
"I don't know yet," Harriet smiled. "Depends on who you are. We'll find out, eventually."
"Very well, speaker."
If Harriet had thought speaking to snakes was awkward, this beat it by a long shot.
Lucius and Narcissa were staring at her.
Just staring at her.
She wasn't really sure what she had done. The snake thing didn't even seem like a big issue to any of the Malfoys. They had all met back up, noticed she had a snake, and moved on with their lives. There weren't any questions. They weren't her guardians and didn't feel the need to worry over her decisions, so long as they weren't putting anyone at risk. While the paper said only owls or cats or toads, the Malfoys already knew she would be able to get away with a snake, as long as she could master it.
That was the weird part about wizards, Harriet decided. Dangerous things didn't seem to scare them too much, most likely because it was harder for them to die. That was, if her bullet wound was anything to go by.
But the wand shop was apparently a different story.
They had gone through numerous wands. Tom had known who Harriet was right off the bat, and while this unsettled Harriet, she also felt like it was supposed to be a natural thing. He rattled off the Malfoy's and their wands like he was giving off generic childhood memories to them. She was sure that there was more to the man than met the eye, and was sorely disappointed in the lack of amazement the Malfoys had for him.
The wands he had given her didn't even feel right, and Harriet was sure that the man knew it too. She wondered why the man had even given her the stupid wands. She was sure he must have known from his lack of surprise towards every failure.
He wasn't even surprised when she found the one, though.
The sparks at the end of the end of the wand caught her attention. She noted how the drawers didn't burst out of the cabinets and all the lights stayed in tact. She felt something warm shoot up her arm and into her chest. It felt natural. She wondered if this was what perfection felt like.
It simply felt perfect.
"Why is this one different?" she whispered. She was simply astonished with the feeling.
"Eleven inch, holly, phoenix feather core. And because, my dear Harriet," he whispered in a response, the entire room glued to him. "The twin to that wand belongs to none other than Our Lord. It's destined for great things. As you must be, too."
CHAPTER THREE
Normal Is So Overrated
Harriet turned towards Lucius Malfoy just entire to see the complete despair turn into his stoic Malfoy facade.
The feeling of her new companion wrapped up her right arm, and the wand that just happened to be the one, couldn't take away the anger and bitterness Harriet felt.
It turned out that she wasn't normal in this world, either.
A/N: Like I said, I'm really trying to stick to my writing now. Please let me know how you feel about the story. I would love suggestions. I'm also starting a humor blog on wordpress. Check me out under . c o m
I would love the support.
Please review :)
