Lorna

Chapter 4 –

It had been two weeks since Lorna had come to live at Grimmauld Place, currently she was sat in the window of her room looking out on to the street; today was the day Harry would be coming home. Lorna leaned back against the wall and sighed, no matter how much Severus and Remus tried to convince her, she was still worried about how Harry would accept her.

Lorna knew that her godfather and Harry had never got on but she hoped that neither would let that hinder the siblings reunion. In addition, from the books she had read about Hogwarts she was beginning to realise that she was most likely going to be sorted in another house to her brother; she had her suspicions as to what house but she didn't want to voice them just yet.

Her thoughts swapped to her muggle friends, she had sent them a text message from her mobile about her situation but she was desperate to see them so that she could explain in person but she was not sure that would be possible. She was really beginning to miss them and the thought of starting a new school and having to make new friends was plaguing her mind.

Lorna had always enjoyed school, she had excelled in her languages as well as the sciences but had never had an interest in physics; things worked and she couldn't understand why she should have to learn why they worked – couldn't people just leave it be? Lorna felt most at home in Chemistry, everything happened as predicted unless you were mixing obscure chemicals, if you mixed an alcohol and a carboxylic acid then you would get an ester, end of. Everything was mapped out in chemistry and similarly Lorna excelled in potions and spent time helping Snape mix potions for his stores ready for the new school year.

Now Lorna was filled with excitement at the chance to actually study magic every day and to live amongst those that used it casually, never seeing how unique it was. She was in two minds; sadness for leaving her muggle life behind but joy at the chance to live the life she was born to lead.

Suddenly Lorna saw Remus return with a large crowd of people, she watched as they all gathered themselves on the street before heading inside. Lorna could instantly spot her brother with his unruly black hair and felt butterflies in her stomach, this was it, she was about to see her brother for the first time in fifteen years. She suddenly felt increasing nauseous with worry that her brother would reject her. As if he could sense her feelings, Snape silently glided in and swept Lorna up into his arms and held her close trying to comfort her.

"It'll be ok Lorna." He said softly,

"But what if he hates me, hates me for being so close to you." Lorna whispered.

Snape suddenly held Lorna by the shoulders and made sure she was looking straight at him, "Now you listen to me Lorna, if your brother is stupid enough to ignore his only family because he can't get along with me then he isn't worth having in your life."

He held up a hand as he saw her open her mouth to protest. "It won't come to that but I can assure you, although he is incredibly stubborn, he will not hate you. He may take a while to get used to the idea but he'll never hate you."

Snape turned to leave but Lorna spoke, "Can I arrange to meet my friends from school? As kind of a last goodbye?" She smiled weakly which made Snape's heart melt.

"Of course you can, now let's get you some lunch eh? You're wasting away Lors, I'm beginning to worry about you." Snape said as he guided her towards leaving the room with a protective arm around her shoulders.

Just then Harry came along the corridor and at first walked straight passed Snape and Lorna but a second later her spun on his heel and stopped to stare. This girl... looked just like his mother? What was Snape doing, was he having it off with some underage girl who looked just like his mother? After all he had been obsessed with his mother, it wouldn't surprise him.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Harry spat, "Having it off with an underage girl who looks just like my mother? I always knew you were twisted!"

"Harry James Potter!" Remus cried as he came up the stairs not far behind Harry. "How could you make such disgusting accusations?"

"Then who the hell is the girl?" Harry seemed angry for no apparent reason, Lorna was suddenly fearful and moved closer into her godfather's comforting arm.

"I told you uncle Sev, I knew this would happen." Lorna had a tear in her eye as realisation dawned on her.

"Uncle Sev?" Harry smirked. "You have family?"

"Harry! I didn't want to tell you this way but..." Remus began but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"I'm your sister Harry, I was barely a month old when our parents were killed." Lorna explained quietly, not looking at Harry. "Uncle Sev here is my godfather, like Sirius was yours."

All four of them looked at each other, each hating the awkward silence as much as the next. Lorna waiting anxiously to hear if she were to be accepted by her big brother or cast down like a good for nothing muggle. Snape was waiting for Harry to start his spoilt-brat hissy fit about not wanting a sibling to spoil his limelight of being the boy who lived. Meanwhile Remus wasn't sure what he waiting for, he desperately wanted the siblings to get along but he knew that Snape and Lorna being so close would be an issue for Harry. From experience Remus, know Harry would either feel threatened that his own family was being intruded on or bitter that his sister had a bond so close with her godfather when his was so cruelly taken away.

Because of this Remus decided to break the silence and all he could do was pray Harry would not ruin this opportunity of having a real family. "Dumbledore ordered Severus to say nothing about Lorna, an unbreakable vow which could naturally not be broken unless he was directly asked. He even forbade him from seeing her, so she would live the life of a muggle but Severus couldn't allow that to happen so he took her to his home every summer. Severus is not the bad guy here, if anything it is Dumbledore."

Remus held a breath, well he'd said it now all they had to do was wait for Harry's reaction.