It hasn't.
At the start of summer, Petunia was so sure she could fix the gap that has grown between her sisters, but as she pulls on her dainty summer sandals for the trip to Diagon Alley – she's making sure to look her best for it – she reflects on the fact she hasn't made any progress.
They still love each other dearly, that's not the problem. And when Petunia remarked to Lily that Haesel missed her, Lily had instantly gone to spend more time with her twin. Haesel, grateful, had insisted on spending days by the pool and making more music together. Petunia also managed to convince their parents to take a week off to go hiking in Scotland. She has no idea where Hogwarts is, except that it is in Scotland and she's fairly sure they've not come close, but the wild Highlands and the city of Edinburgh were wonderful anyway, so she doesn't mind. Her parents also liked the idea of spending time as a family before all three of them would be off to a boarding school, so she likes to think that brought the family a little closer again.
Haesel sits down beside her on the cough to lace up her favourite bright red Converse. She's dressed in a pair of shorts and a casual shirt. It's a simple outfit, but it looks very good on her. Lily is wearing similar clothes and once more the resemblance they share with each other is starting.
The doorbell rings. Lily perks up.
"Mum, Dad, Sev's here!"
"Yes, Sev's here." Haesel mutters under her breath but she smiles at the boy anyway. Petunia is amused by how cold the smile actually is, not that anyone will notice but Petunia knows her sister so she smiles as she settles her sunglasses in her hair.
It's a bright summer day, perfect for shopping. They're leaving for London in a matter of minutes and Severus Snape and his mother are joining them on their trip.
Haesel is suddenly resentful of the family van, because that means they all fit. If they had had a car with only five seats the Snape boy couldn't have come because Petunia would never let this chance to see the Wizarding Alley go – and quite possibly get to meet Haesel's friend Sirius – so it would be family only. Even if they did meet up with the boy, she still would be able to slip off with Sirius and Petunia if she didn't mind. She'd already asked Mum, who by now has a lot more confidence in the whole business than she had back in winter.
They all have. They've known about the Wizarding World for only more than half a year and yet it seems as if it's always been that way. They've all been reading the books they got at the Alley, so they're all up to date with mostly everything magic. Mum and Petunia have been joking about getting some summer robes as well because they look really comfy for lazing about in summer, not to mention that to any question they could just claim some sort of new Oriental thing going on.
Haesel eyes the boy she still silently accuses of trying to steal her sister, even though Petunia getting back from school has made a great deal of difference. Severus – all right, she's just going to call him Snape in her mind because she's maybe not given to hate but she sure as hell isn't going to call him by his name in her mind – wears ill-fitting Muggle clothes, all in black, and she wonders how he can keep breathing in the late August heat. He looks like his mother, she can now say. They've got the same sharp nose and stingy-looking black locks. His mother is not particularly pretty, but she's not bad looking either, just an average face in a sea of strangers.
Haesel can only wonder at the difference as her Mum descents the stairs, trying to fix her hair into a loose chignon to keep away. Ivy is wearing a lovely dress with flowers and having kept the cobble stones of Diagon Alley in mind, a pair of laced up sandals with flat soles. She slings her handbag over her shoulder and ushers them out of the house, making polite small talk with Eileen Prince, as Haesel learns Snape's mother is called. It's clear both woman don't care much for the other, and Haesel can kind of understand why. Her Mum is beautiful, with her fiery red hair and green eyes. She's happily married to a wonderful husband who dotes on her, as is apparent when Dad whistles when he sees Mum, not to mention having three gorgeous, brilliant daughters and living in a great house in a wonderful neighbourhood.
Eileen Prince, on the other hand, has bruises she tries to hide with long sleeves and looks entirely ordinary. She's not pretty or very talented, lives in the less than wonderful neighbourhood Spinner's End. Her only joy is her son, but they're both a touch on the wrong side of the oddness-scale, even for wizards. Haesel can easily see that the woman knows she's not very welcome, but everyone stays very polite instead.
Haesel wonders if she should feel sorry for her, and decides she does. She's sure that she mustn't have had a very easy life, but she's also sure that if that were her, she wouldn't have stayed. She would have fought for her own rights, her own freedom – she's never take any form of beating staying down.
She'd never cower.
Haesel locks eyes with Lily and is, for a moment, utterly sure they share the same thoughts. She remembers Petunia saying Gryffindor and suddenly she's sure that yes, maybe she'll be brave enough.
The ride to London is as dull as it always is. Mum and Dad have the front seats and they've given Eileen Prince the window seat out of politeness so Petunia and Haesel share the rest of the middle row and Lily and Snape take the back seats. When they are parked near the Leaky Cauldron and file out into the heavy summer air, Lily pipes up excitedly.
"You know, we could do this the first of September as well, all go together!"
Snape looks terribly excited. Haesel has to concentrate hard on keeping her face blank.
Robert looks uncomfortable. Ivy, trading glances with her husband, finally moves to answer.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, darling. After we've dropped off you two, we're bringing Petunia to Cheltenham's. We're going to have to take out the back seat for the trunks as it is, I don't think there will be space enough."
Lily looks a bit disappointed, but not as much as Snape, whose face falls dramatically. Luckily, a scene is avoided as Eileen Prince cuts in.
"I'd like to bring my son to the platform for the first time as well." There's a quiet rebuke in her voice and her eyes are stern as she looks towards Lily who flushes at the implication that they'd steal her son away and not let her have any time with him on one of the most important days in a child's life.
Ivy places a hand on Lily's shoulder and unconsciously Haesel moves to flank her twin sister. Scratch the fact she's happy that day will be family only, no one gets to attack Lily and get away with it. She's not so sure she pities Eileen anymore.
"You'll still be able to sit together on the train, won't you?" Robert suggests and he pulls the door of the Leaky open, letting them all enter. "That's one thing to look forward to."
"Thanks a lot, Dad." Haesel mutters under her breath. The twitch in his left eye betrays him and he chances a quick wink at her, bending to whisper in her ear as she enters last.
"You don't have to sit with him the whole ride, Haesel love."
"Thank Morgana for that!" She smiles in return. She's quickly taken to mentioning Merlin and Morgana, picking the up habit from Sirius who frequently uses it in his letters. Suddenly she's excited again. They've agreed to meet at three for ice cream at Florian Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, which is fairly new according to Sirius but sells the best ice cream.
They go to Gringotts first. Robert exchanges pounds for galleons while Eileen and Snape go visit their vault. They're not the only passengers for the cart going down, the other people also being a mother and son duo. Once again, Haesel is startled by the difference the two pairs present.
The unknown woman, a stately older lady with auburn hair that's already growing grey, is wearing summer robes of a lovely blue colour. Her son, of whom Haesel can't see much beside black hair and spectacles, is wearing a pair of shorts and a shirt but it's clear the items are of good quality. She watches them leave for the cart to the vaults with interest.
There are long lines at the tills, so her Dad is only just being handed a heavy sack of gold when both pairs return. Haesel has been idly watching the different people come and go, led by goblin. She wonders where the carts go, because often the faces of those retuning are more than a little green. That's why she spots Snape and his mother returning immediately.
"What the..." she says unbelieving and only the knowledge people can see keeps her from letting her mouth drop wide enough to catch flies. At her exclamation, both Lily and Petunia look over from where they'd been having a conversation with Mum about fashion, something Haesel isn't particularly interested in.
She doesn't have to see it to know their eyes have all widened.
Snape is sporting a bloody nose and his clothes are in disarray, his to big coat missing a button. His mother is trying her best to keep her son calm and out of the way of the other boy, who's trying as hard as he can to wipe the blood on his knuckles on his shirt. His spectacles are hanging sideways, his hair sticks up in the back and he's clearly being lectured by his mum. As they get closer to the stupefied Evanses Haesel can hear part of it.
"– and I don't care if he started it, James, I expect better than that from you! Fighting with a complete stranger the moment I'm out of sight, in Gringotts no less!"
The boy – James – is still trying to clean his bleeding hand on his shirt. His mother pulls him to a stop with an exasperated sigh, pulling out her wand and healing the injury with a wave. Another wave removes the blood and yet another repairs the spectacles.
Haesel can't help but be impressed. The witch is clearly very good, to be able to do all that non-verbal.
The witch turns to Eileen, clearly about to offer some sort of apology and maybe offer some healing as well, but Eileen gives only a curt thank you and continues on, pulling Snape past the Evanses and out the bank.
"What was that?" Robert asks Ivy when he joins them, pocketing the galleons and handing a small pouch to Ivy who tucks it into her handbag.
Ivy shrugs. "I've got no idea."
The witch has seen them standing there and has obviously concluded they know Eileen and Snape. She moves towards them, gesturing her son to follow.
"Excuse me, might you be friends with the woman who just went past?"
"We're more of casual acquaintances, I suppose." Robert says and Ivy agrees with a nod.
"I wanted to, ah, offer my apologies but I don't suppose you'd be able to help me, now." the witch says and she smiles. Although she's getting on in years she's still very beautiful, looking almost regal. She extends a hand. "Lady Dorea Potter. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm still very delighted to meet you."
Haesel's parents shake her hand and introduce themselves. The girls exchange wide glances. Haesel supposes that she's one of those people that Sirius told her about, the nobility of the Wizarding World.
She feels eyes on her and looks away from her sisters to see James looking at her. Considering that he's hit Snape, something she's been wanting to do for some time whenever she felt particularly resentful towards him, she gives him a wide smile. He smiles in return, a bit startled by the brilliance of the one she has granted him with.
Lily has obviously made the link between James' bloody knuckles and Snape's bleeding nose as well, but she's not nearly as happy. The presence of their parents hold her back however and she settles for giving James a good angry glare before dismissing him by turning in for the conversation their parents are having now.
James turns to Haesel, confused. They're the only ones not paying attention now, as even Petunia is pulled into the conversation which has progressed into gushing about their children, as any parent is wont to do.
Haesel leans over a bit. "She's friends with Snape – the boy you hit."
"Excuse me, I punched him. Right in the face." James says and he manages to sound very proud of that. Haesel reckons he's got reason to be and can't keep herself from saying so, glancing furtively at Lily to see if she's not listening, but her twin is smiling at Lady Potter, who she obviously likes despite her progeny.
"You're not, then?" James asks.
"Not at all." Haesel denies. "I think he's a little creepy but don't tell my sister I said that. She insists on hanging out with him."
James gets a look on his face similar to one smelling something bad. "Why would she do that? He's an absolute prick!"
"I haven't got the foggiest." Haesel laments. "But, about that, what happened down there?"
"We were visiting our vaults, mine last because it's quite deep – we're quite an old family and the older the family the –"
"-deeper the vault, yes, I know." Haesel interrupts. James grins and holds up his hands.
"All right, easy there. Anyway, Mum had gone in to retrieve money to buy school supplies and that boy made a snide remark about how money might not mean brains or class, I suppose that was because Mum and I were talking about the prank I pulled with my friends last week, and I couldn't let him say anything about my Mum, so I hit him."
"Sounds reasonable, I suppose." Haesel says and in a copy of James' mother earlier sticks out her hand. "I'm Haesel Evans. That's my family, my Mum, Dad, Petunia and Lily." She indicates each one with a little wave of her hand.
James' eyes go wide. "You're Haesel Evans?" he asks, but completes the introduction with a "James Potter, nice to meet you."
"What do you mean, I'm Haesel Evans?" Haesel frowns. She's fairly sure he can't have heard of her, considering she's Muggleborn and all.
"Nothing." James says with a grin. His mother is saying her goodbyes so he waves at Haesel before saying, with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes: "I'll see you for ice cream at three!"
Haesel gapes at his retreating back.
She's still wondering how he knows that she's having ice cream at three when they exit the robes shop, already laden down with packages. They've visited the bookshop and apothecary already and go for a cauldron and scales next. Petunia thinks it's awfully funny that everything about the Wizarding World is so horribly cliché, with brooms, robes, cauldrons and even cats.
That doesn't stop her from adding a volume about Wizards in the Wide World: An Introduction to Worldwide Wizardry to the pile of books, though.
When they're buying trunks, Haesel is quick to convince her parents to let her have a nice leather book-bag as well. The owner of the shop is nice enough to charm both the trunks and the bag something he calls featherlight and even places an enlargement charm on the bag so Haesel will surely be able to fit all her books inside.
Seeing this, Lily wants one as well and it's a while before she's done choosing "the bag you'll have to use the next seven years, all right honey?"
Lily looks up and down the Alley when they're walking to their last official stop – Ollivander's Wand Shop – but she's unable to spot Snape. She hasn't got much time to be sad about it, because now they'll be getting their wands and Haesel grasps Lily's hand when they enter. Lily gives a squeeze in return.
Inside, the shop is large and dusty. There's a counter in from with a little golden bell on it and a few low chairs in front of it. Although it's only growing close to three in the afternoon, not much light is let into the shop by the almost grimy windows.
Petunia gives the whole place one look and promptly starts sneezing, her dust allergy kicking in with a violence. Ivy hands her packages to her husband and quickly takes her outside.
When they turn to the counter again, an old man with a great deal of white hair is leaning against it and Haesel and Lily jump synchronised in sudden fright. Even Robert can't hide a twitch.
"Welcome to Ollivander's. Off to Hogwarts this year, I presume?" he says, and Haesel likes his voice, dry and soft spoken as he is he seems to fit right in with the rest of the dusty shop. "I do apologise for ...your sister, I presume? When you're as old as I am, you tend to skip the spring cleaning, sometimes."
Considering the flaking gold letters across the door read 'Wand Makers since 382 BC' Haesel is inclined to agree.
"Now, step forward." He indicates Lily and she gives a last squeeze before letting go. It doesn't take very long before Lily produces red sparks with a 'swishy' willow wand, apparently excellent for charm work.
Haesel is next to step up. She watches the funny tape measure the length of her fingers and the distance between her nose and her knees as Ollivander brings out wand after wand, but none of the chose her. She's starting to almost doubt being a witch after all when Ollivander brings out a box which he places reverently in an empty spot between the boxes with wands already tries. He opens it and hands her the wand, holly with phoenix feather and as soon as her fingers grasp the handle Haesel knows that this is her wand.
Invisible wind blows her hair back and somewhere there's a distant melody, almost birdsong but much more beautiful and Haesel knows that melody, that's her lullaby, the one she never learns but could still play.
Everyone is impressed and Haesel barely notices her father paying for the wands or Ollivander reaching for parchment and a quill to pen a letter. She slips the box holding her wand into her new bag which already has most of her books. To lighten the load on their parents, Lily has done the same and they once more clasp hands when they leave.
It's almost strange, stepping out into the sunlight once more. Haesel is surprised to be unable to spot either her mother or her older sister.
Dad has noticed her looking. "Your mother and Petunia have gone to that boutique we saw a while back. They, well, Ivy did, I don't think Petunia will enter here again, nipped in for a moment right after Lily got her wand. I don't think you were paying much attention."
He smiles. Lily, who had been paying about as much attention as Haesel herself, immediately starts asking to go there herself. Robert notices Haesel's reluctance and looking between his two daughters thinks of a solution. He needs to go see if Ivy still has enough galleons and he doesn't quite trust Lily not to get too distracted with something new and marvellous on the way to the boutique, so he'll have to go down with her. Haesel has already proven herself able to navigate the Alley on her own and in her own way she's just a little less exited than Lily can be. Not to mention she's mentioned wanting to go somewhere?
"All right. I'll accompany Lily to where your Mum and Petunia are and Haesel, you're free to go look at that shop you were talking about." He ignores Lily's pout and fishes some sickles and Knuts out of his pockets that he hands to Haesel, who's surprised but delighted.
Robert checks his watch and tries to calculate how much time the girls will want to spend fitting clothes. Lily notices him looking and guessing the reason why, nudges him and whispers "An hour at least, Dad!"
He's always found it hard to say no to his daughters - that's part of the reason they have a pool now - and this time is no exception. He gives in, making Haesel promise to meet them at the boutique if she's done before four and if she isn't she's to find them at Eylops Owl Emporium where they're going to maybe look for an owl for the girls.
They split up and Haesel cheerfully makes her way to Fortescue's. She's early and she can't see Sirius anywhere, so she goes ahead and browses the different tastes.
"Chicken with roasted potatoes? People actually like having that sort of ice cream?" She exclaims upon noticing a really weird flavour.
"Not sure... Sounds all right anyway, though my favourite is chocolate." A boy's voice says close to her left ear. Haesel jumps what feels like a mile high in sudden fright. She twists around to catch a glimpse of who scared her so, but ends up tripping over her own feet and falling down in a tangle of limbs.
She's caught before she can touch the ground, and familiar hands set het back on her feet. She sees a familiar face set into a familiar grin and moves to hug Sirius even when a little voice in the back her head remarks on his strength, to have caught her so.
"Easy there." Sirius says but he hugs her in return, carefully patting her back to check she's not hurt.
"I'm fine." Haesel dismisses. "Happens all the time. All the graceful genes went to my older sisters, so there were none left for me." She pouts excessively making clear she's just joking.
"Poor you." Sirius says and as one they turn to the ice cream. Neither of them remarks on the arm that's still around Haesel's shoulders as Haesel ends up asking for raspberry and mango and Sirius just goes with chocolate after all.
They find a table outside just inside the shade provided by a big potted plant placed there, which is more like a small tree in a pot than anything else, Haesel can't help but notice.
"Say, you don't mind if I invited an acquaintance of mine, do you?" Sirius says finally when they've covered everything from the last letter somewhere in July before Haesel went camping to today.
Haesel shakes her head. "If it's really that boy I met in Gringotts today, then no. He punched Snape in the face, so for today he's my hero."
"I am?" A pleased voice says from beside their table. Haesel, once again, can't help a squeak of surprise.
"What's up with you people, I'll have a heart attack at this rate!"
"Isn't a little fright supposed to be good for the blood and such? Mum was telling Dad that yesterday, after I'd caught him - finally! - with a, if I may say so, bloody brilliant one." James says and it's hard to be mad at him when he looks like a cat who was caught with the cream after eating most of it, so even scared away it's secure in its victory.
"So it worked then, did it?" Sirius asks and James nods.
"That idea was just ..." He motions with his hands as if no words can describe how good it was.
Sirius nods like he'd expected that all along. "It was Haesel's plan, actually."
James rounds on her, eyes wide. "It was?"
Haesel's starting to get an idea what they're talking about. "Is this about the 'set traps with magic and then catch them like a Muggle'?"
Both boys nod.
"Ah, yep, that seems like it would work." Now it's Haesel's turn to be smug.
"Please, Mistress, teach me!" James looks like he's about to fall on his knees to beg and Sirius jabs an elbow in his side to keep him quiet. He's just noticed James' Mum coming up behind them with two cones.
"Here you go, darling." She says and James groans "Mum!"
Dorea Potter merely looks amused as she floats another chair over to the little table and seats herself elegantly.
"Now what we you children talking about?"
As one, the three say: "Hogwarts." without ever having to look at each other.
"We were telling Haesel here some more about what to expect, Lady Potter, because she's Muggleborn." Sirius adds.
"How many time do I have to tell you to just call me Aunt Dorea, dear? We're related, after all. And I already knew that, seeing as I met her parents at Gringotts." She turns to Haesel. "We've met, but I don't think we've been introduced? I am, as Sirius so sweetly mentioned, Lady Dorea Potter, but you may call me Aunt Dorea as well."
Haesel blinks. She can see why her Mum and Mrs Potter got along so well. "Ehm, sure, thank you? I am Haesel Evans." She's not sure if she needs to shake hands, but Dorea solves the problem by leaning over and giving her three kisses in the air. She ends up sitting there a bit stupefied, but with an honest smile on her face.
"I'm most pleased James finally made a friend of the other sex! He's usually so shy around women, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get grandchildren!"
Sirius and Haesel studiously avoid looking at each other as James bangs his head on the table with a muttered curse of "Mum please!"
Dorea just sits and smiles and enjoys her ice cream.
It's with regret Haesel announces that it is time for het to meet up with her family. Sirius insist on going with her, saying he's still got time before his uncle will be looking for him. They say goodbye to James and Dorea. Haesel promises to meet up with James as well on the train, and when they're in the middle of a goodbye hug James whispers he'll write to her about pranks because that's the first time he's gotten one over his father, who's Head Auror and battle trained. Haesel is laughing the whole way down to the Emporium.
Her cheery mood is gone the instant she spots both Snape and his mother with her family. She grabs Sirius and yanks him behind a sign proclaiming something about kittens.
"Is that..?" Sirius asks and she nods glumly.
"I was sort of hoping they'd gone home on their own, but seems like luck's not on my side today." Haesel sighs.
Sirius chuckles lightly. "Well, good thing I am, then." He says and he takes her hand before pulling her forward.
"Afternoon!" He says, cheerful like only he can be approaching Haesel's family seemingly without fear. "My name is Sirius Black and I'm a friend of your daughter's."
Haesel gives a little squeak and pulls on his hand but Sirius refuses to let go and it's then she notices the strong grip he has on her hand, the most sign of nerves she's ever seen him have.
Ivy can only keep herself from squealing in glee with a herculean effort. Robert is significantly less pleased and Petunia looks on, certain of her amusement. Lily is staring down at their joined hands and up at her twin's face in a repeat motion, while Snape's face is a study in surprise. Haesel is sure even Eileen Prince looked surprised there for a moment and she tucks the knowledge away they know which family Sirius belongs to and how significant it is he's willing to declare himself a friend to a Muggleborn girl.
"So nice to meet you! Haesel's been talking about you for ages now! I'm Ivy Evans, Haesel's mother, and this is Robert, her father."
Robert grunts something that sounds suspiciously more like 'I didn't know that friend was a boy!' than 'Nice to meet you.'
Petunia and Lily introduce themselves next, but Snape and his mother keep to themselves which is, Haesel can't help but think, terribly rude.
Robert, finally having gotten over his shock, ushers them into the Emporium. The fact she's being introduced to Haesel's friend means Lily is almost unable to tear herself from Haesel's side and she's almost entirely ignoring Snape, who trails after her like a lost puppy.
There are many beautiful and impressive owls, but none Haesel really likes. She's not sure what she's looking for, but she keeps thinking 'nah, not white enough' or 'too small' so when she's finally seen them all there's no owl that keeps her attention. Lily finds a lovely barn owl she decides to call Archimedes after Merlin's owl in Disney's The Sword in the Stone, which was her favourite film growing up.
They're both disappointed until Petunia suggests taking a look in the pet shop right beside the Emporium.
It's there that Haesel meets the mischievous kitten she falls in love with the moment it's handed to her. The kitten is almost a mirror image of her with black fur and green eyes and Sirius insists she gets that one, saying it would be bad luck not too. The only difference is the one white paw it has.
Haesel considers and then says: "Welcome to the family, Boots."
There's a strangled sound behind her that Sirius will forever deny producing. He'll also deny to his dying day having laughed at how she named her cat.
Hi!
So I'm almost finished (but to be honest, I'm rather looking forward to my oral English final) and I thought I'd celebrate by going for a really long chapter! ^^
A very big thank you to everyone taking the time to read this! I love reviews, and I love favourites and I love followers! And, most of all, I love all the people who take the time to read what I write. I don't need to have proof – and I'd never dream of asking for reviews – but even so, watching the stats for this story makes my day, just the same as when I get a review or a fav/follow. I keep looking at it! I'm so bloody happy about all of it ^^
So thank you very very much, whoever reads this. You read that? You make my day!
PS: Dear Lizzy B – I urge you to make a profile so I can talk to you, because you leave brilliant reviews (you prove to me that keeping the guest review function on is a good thing) and I really want to be able to talk to you too! It's easier to keep track of your fav fics as well ;) keep in mind you're more than welcome to join the community!
