So, I went back and edited some things, mainly who the teachers are, as well as the houses and ages of some Weasleys and Potters. To make things easier, here's a little cheat sheet (I might get things wrong in the future, you know, mix up ages and forget years, so just go back to this to get the real real information):
POTTER AND WEASLEY FAMILIES
1: Harry Potter (38 yrs old: July 31st, 1980) and Ginny Potter (37 yrs old, August 11, 1981) have James Sirius (14 yrs old, February 7th, 2004) in Gryffindor, Albus Severus (12 yrs old, April 21st, 2006) in Gryffindor, and Lily Luna Potter (11 years old, August 31st, 2007) in Gryffindor.
2: Ron Weasley (38 yrs old: March 1st, 1980) and Hermione Weasley (39 yrs old, September 19, 1979) have Rose Weasley (12 years old, February 15th, 2006) in Gryffindor, and Hugo Weasley (11 yrs old, June 1st, 2007) in Ravenclaw.
3: George Weasley (40 yrs old, April 1st, 1978) and Angelina Weasley (41 yrs old, October 17th, 1977) have Roxanne and Fred II (both 13 yrs old, March 7th, 2005), who are Gryffindor.
4: Percy Weasley (42 yrs old, August 27th, 1976) and Audrey Weasley (38 yrs old, December 11th, 1979) have Lucy and Molly (14 yrs old, January 3rd, 2004) who are both in Hufflepuff.
5: Charlie Weasley (45 yrs old, December 12th, 1972) has no kids, but is married to Elena Dragavei, muggle woman from Romania.
6: Bill Weasley (47, almost 48 yrs old, November 29th, 1970) is married to Fleur Delacour (41 yrs old, May 23rd, 1977) and has Victoire Weasley (18 yrs old, May 2, 2000) in Gryffindor, Dominique Weasley (17 yrs old, February 9th, 2001) also in Gryffindor, and Louis Weasley (14 yrs old, July 7th, 2005) in Hufflepuff.
NON POTTER OR WEASLEY FAMILIES
Neville Longbottom (38 yrs old, July 30th, 1980) and Hannah Longbottom (38 yrs old, June 28th, 1980) have Frankie Longbottom (12 yrs old, April 16th, 2006) Gryffindor, and Alice Longbottom (11 yrs old, September 1st, 2007), Hufflepuff.
Luna Scamander (37 yrs old, February 13th, 1981) and Rolf Scamander (36 yrs old, January 2nd, 1982), have Lorcan Scamander in Gryffindor with Lysander Scamander in Hufflepuff (17 yrs old, March 27th, 2001).
TEACHERS OF HOGWARTS
Transfiguration: Padma Patil, Head of Ravenclaw
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Ronald Weasley
Care of Magical Creatures: Rubeus Hagrid
Divination: Firenze
Potions: Michael Meissen
History of Magic: Terry Boot
Charms: Susan Bones, Hufflepuff Head of House
Herbology: Neville Longbottom, Head of Gryffindor
Flying: Rolanda Hooch
Arithmancy: Septima Vector
Astronomy: Aurora Sinistra
Ancient Runes: Daphne Greengrass, Head of Slytherin
Muggle Studies: Dennis Creevey
Also, remember the snake Ollivander conjured? I didn't really write it in much in the last chapter, but I went back to make sure it wasn't overlooked. So yeah. The snake will have a big role in the future.
Thank you for all the love and support!
Eurus walked in a panicked daze for the rest of the evening.
Zabini knew. How did he know?
She knew it had something to do with Zabini being a pureblood. He'd been close with the Goyles, the Crabbes, the Malfoys, the Knotts. It was only natural that he would be close to them as Death Eaters as well.
She grimaced at the realization. If he was tight with the Death Eaters, he'd know about the secret existence of Voldemort's daughter, Meredith Riddle-Lestrange. He'd know about Meredith's betrothal and marriage to her mother's estranged husband's younger brother (that ... was just so wrong on so many levels). He'd know about Eurus' birth, if he was remotely close in the pureblood community. He'd know ...
Since he apparently remembered her birthday. Or maybe it was because he saw a resemblance? She wasn't positive.
Sure, it was a coincidence, but he was a determined man, a reporter sniffing for answers.
But she did know that the terror she showed and felt confirmed it all for him.
Eurus cursed to herself as she walked across the grounds, far away from Hogwarts and Zabini and her pesky, nosy partner who needed to mind his own business. She eventually reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The November evening brought earlier darkness; usk had fallen by the time she reached the forest. It was cold and the brisk air chilled her to the bone, but Eurus had too much on her mind to worry about catching a cold.
She released the snake Ollivander had conjured, who was quite bristly and, frankly, pissed off. She would do this one good deed, let the snake go unharmed, before going back to her complicated life full of complicated problems.
Unfortunately for her, the snake did not want to leave.
"But I like the castle," the snake complained, loudly. "It's nice and warm in there. And I like the stones, they don't chafe—"
Eurus huffed impatiently, glancing at her watch. It was nearly dinnertime. "Listen," Eurus began, fighting to keep her voice even. "I can't have a pet snake in my dormitory. You're not allowed."
" ... That's racist."
The girl scowled and picked the snake up by the neck.
"ACK—Hey! Animal abuse!"
Eurus delved deeper into the forest, ignoring his protests. "I'm sure you're a great snake," she said, stomping across the forest floor with abandon. "You seem like a nice—reptile. Seriously. But I'm a Parselmouth, and no one is supposed to know, so keeping a snake as my bloody personal pet is kind of detrimental to my secret, alright?" After a few more feet Eurus deposited the snake onto the fallen November leaves. She adjusted the satchel on her shoulder before walking away. "Have a good day."
"W-wait!" the snake cried, slithering after her. Eurus picked up the pace. "Do you—do you know what's out there?" he said. "There's—there's predators! Birds and hawks and thestrals and centaurs! Werewolves! Giants! Trolls—"
Eurus whirled around, irritation bubbling up like a geyser.
The snake stopped and shrunk back slightly. "Ah—um, well, it's just that, I'll die, y' know? Please let me stay with you?" he begged. "I promise I'll be good! I'll stay out of trouble and I'll live in your bag! It's a comfy bag! Pleaaaaase?"
Eurus heaved out a long suffering sigh, before weighing her options. Leave the snake in the forbidden forest to die a gruesome (but natural) death-by-predator? Or let the snake live a confined existence in the castle until she graduated?
She moaned internally. Why oh why did she have a conscience?
The girl looked down at the snake frowning. "If you're going to live in the castle with me—"
"Yess!" the snake cheered.
"—you need to promise me two, no three things. Got it?"
The snake nodded eagerly. "Got it, boss. Whatever you say."
Eurus sighed. "One," she began, leveling him with a glare, "is that you stay on me at all the times, all right? Don't wander the castle during the day. During the night, yes. Explore and slither around to your heart's content. But you can't be seen. Okay? People who find you will just vanish you. Poof! Back into nonexistence."
The snake nodded.
"Secondly, I will feed you when I can, but when I can't, you have to make do. Table-scraps. The greenhouses, the see-through tent like buildings on the grounds have gardens and plants, so there are bugs to eat. Mice, too."
"Sounds nast—I mean, tasty! Yum!"
Eurus rolled her eyes. "And lastly," she said, "when you're with me, in my bag or under my shirt—"
The snake cocked his head. "Why would I be under your shirt?"
Eurus bared her teeth in a half smile, half grimace. "Do you want to be crushed by my schoolbooks?" she gritted out. "Because that can be arranged."
The snake cowered back. "Uh, right. When I'm in your shirt—"
"When you're in my shirt, or in my bag, or anywhere near me on my person, no talking. I'll automatically talk back and people will look at me like I'm some barmy idiot. I mean it. You keep your mouth shut."
The snake mumbled something that sounded like "scary woman" and "pissing his scales."
Eurus took a deep breath, counted to ten, then breathed out through her nose. She forced herself to relax, to make her voice more friendly.
"I'm sorry if I'm scaring you."
The snake cast her a suspicious look.
She raised her hands in surrender. "Really! I am! I'm just ... I'm stressed, and angry, and scared, and I'm taking it out on you. It's not right, and I'm sorry."
The snake perked up and slithered a little closer. She knelt down and let him coil up her arm before draping himself over her shoulders.
"Do you have a name?" Eurus asked suddenly. "I never asked. I've just been referring you as 'snake' in my head."
The snake looked at her with something like amusement. "Well ... " he drawled. "I was born only an hour ago you know. That old guy made me. So I don't have a name."
Eurus chuckled. "Right. Forgot. Do you ... do you want me to name you?"
The snake brightened up, and coiled a little tighter around her arm, but it was gentle, like a hug. "Will you really?" he asked, like a child on Boxing Day. "I'd love a name, Mistress."
" ... Yeah, okay, no. Call me Eurus. Please."
"Right. Eurus."
She looked at him, his dull brown scales gleaming in the moonlight, which was just a little sliver, and faint in the dying embers of daylight. "I'm naming you Sev. Is that alright?"
"Sev," the snake repeated, like he was tasting the word. His tail flicked her gently on the ear. "Sounds awesome boss."
Eurus sighed with relief. "Great," she said, standing up. She brushed the leaves and dirt off her pants before making her way out of the forest. Sev (who she named in memory of Severus Snape) slithered down under her shirt and coiled around her ribcage. He was hidden well behind her button up white shirt and billowing school robes.
" ... you're nice and warm."
Eurus choked back a laugh. "Thanks, Sev."
They walked in silence back up to the castle.
~: :~
Eurus felt like throwing up. Profusely. She could already feel the bile crawling up her esophagus. Staring at her meatloaf, Eurus knew that if she opened her mouth, her stomach's contents would plop out onto her plate.
She already had "Tournament Champion" branded onto her forehead. Eurus didn't need "serial vomiter" as an additional label.
Why was she feeling so nauseated?
The answer: Harry Fucking Potter.
In her panic about Zabini (a problem she still had yet to find a solution for), she nearly forgot the promise she'd made to meet him. It seemed like every day she had some regret or another. Today's was agreeing to meet her cousin in the Room of Requirement.
Her one sanctuary within the castle. Her little slice of heaven away from the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts. And she just shared that little slice to a near stranger/estranged cousin. She really didn't want to. She wanted to run away and hide in the forest with Sev (who was coiled up under her shirt, sleeping soundly despite the din of the Great Hall). But she was determined to meet her cousin. To face the music.
Needless to say, Eurus was a nervous wreck.
Dominique nudged her in the arm. "Hey. Why does it look like you want to chuck your guts?" Her bluntness was like a slap to the face: a nice refreshing slap that jerked her out of her reverie.
Eurus blinked a few times. "Um. Well . . . "
"C'mon, spill! What's eating you?" Dominique gestured impatiently.
"Well . . . Harry. Y-your uncle. He—he wanted to speak with me, after dinner, and I'm . . . I'm just a little nervous, that's all."
Dominique looked confused. "Uncle Harry? What does he want to talk to you about?" Eurus hesitated. If she didn't tell her now, someone else would, and that wouldn't be right. Dominique was her best friend. She deserved to hear the truth from her.
"Well . . . " Eurus licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. "Harry . . . Harry is my cousin."
Dominique laughed. "Ha ha, very funny."
Eurus frowned. "I'm not joking."
She stared and was quiet for a few seconds. "What? E, what are you talking about?"
Eurus squirmed in her seat, shoulders hunched and clammy hands jammed in her jean pockets.
"Dursley. My dad was Dudley Dursley, son of Petunia Dursley, formerly Petunia Evans. Lily Evans' older sister. Harry Potter's aunt. So . . . that makes us cousins. Distantly, but you know . . . still cousins."
Dominique's brows were creased as she stared hard at her plate of spotted dick. "We're . . . we're related?"
Eurus winced. "Not biologically, but . . . yeah."
Dominique was quiet for a full minute, which for her, was an all-time record. Finally, she spoke, slowly, as if talking to a small child with little to no brain capacity.
"So you're telling me . . . we've been friends for nearly three months . . . I tell you everything . . . and you decide to hide the fact that you're my goddamn cousin?"
" . . . Pretty much, yeah."
How does she apologize to friends? She'd never had friends before, so this was an utterly novel experience.
" . . . I'm sorry," Eurus said, although it sounded more like a question than anything.
Dominique scoffed, before standing abruptly. She began to stomp away, but then stopped, and then started marching back to the table.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" The redhead demanded angrily, waving her hands in the air. "I'm—we're—we're cousins! We're related! And you didn't even think to tell me! I thought we were friends!"
Eurus cringed at Dom's loud voice, more than aware of the many curious stares cast their way. She could see the Potter and Weasley family gazing at them in mild confusion.
"Dominique—"
The girl in question raised a hand for silence, her burning glare intensifying. "Don't 'Dominique' me!" she snapped. "What else are you hiding, huh?!"
A large, male hand rested softly on Dominique's shoulder. The two girls looked at James Potter, who looked about ready to intervene if it came to an all-girl's fistfight, with Albus Potter and Louis Weasley lingering behind him as back-up.
"Hey, Dom. What's going on?" He peered at Eurus warily. Eurus merely glared at him. Dominique pointed an angry finger in Eurus' direction. "She's our cousin!" she barked, jabbing emphatically. "She's Dudley Dursley's daughter! The daughter of Uncle Harry's cousin!" James blinked a few times before staring down at Eurus. Now that she was looking up at him, she realized he was a rather tall boy. It was the weirdest thing to think about during a friendship domestic, but she thought it anyways.
Yes, James Potter was very tall.
And with him frowning at her, he was very intimidating.
"Um . . . what?" was his bright reply.
Dominique scoffed before turning her attention back to Eurus. "Well?" she barked. "Bloody explain yourself!"
" . . . Um," was all she could get out.
Dominique's scowl deepened.
Eurus glanced down at her bare wrist and attempted to flee. "Oh, look at the time, it's almost nine o' clock, I gotta go, bye!"
"BAH BUH BUH BUH BUH—" Dominique yelled. "You're not going anywhere!" Shegrabbed Eurus' wrist.
The girl couldn't help it. She flinched and jerked away as if she'd been burned.
"Please don't touch me."
Dominique let go in an instant, casting her a concerned-but-still-angry look. She sighed heavily, running a freckled hand through her auburn curls.
"Look—I'm sorry—but after you meet with Uncle Harry, we need to have a talk."
Eurus nodded vigorously, backing away. She glanced nervously at James, Louis, and Albus, who were all looking very uncomfortable, almost as much as Eurus.
"Y-yeah," she stammered. She glanced at her extended family members. "All of you—we'll talk."
Then, like always when she was placed in uncomfortable situations, Eurus fled.
~: :~
Eurus reached the Room a good half an hour before nine o'clock. She knew she was unusually early, but shuddered to think about being late.
After pacing in the seventh floor corridor, I need a safe, comfortable place to meet, I need a safe, comfortable place to meet, the mahogany doors appeared magical into the stone wall. Eurus pushed through.
The Room was large, spacious, and circular. There was a "U" of large, black leather couches. The rug on the carpet was blue, with silver accents. The fire in the hearth was warm and crackled merrily, the chandeliers above reflecting its brilliant light.
Eurus sat down on the middle couch, letting her satchel slide to the floor. She wanted to obsess over her little fall-out with Dominique. She wanted to worry over the potential loss of her only friend, but she needed to stay focussed.
She already had a plan. Eurus decided that she would be honest about the fact that she lived with her grandparents and Vernon's sister, but would keep it vague. She knew her cousin would press for details—wasn't he known for his persistence?—but she would make it very clear that her grandparents loved her and Marge tolerated her, but they never hurt her, not ever, and anyways, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it seeing as she was an independent adult.
She could only hope that his insatiable Potter curiosity wouldn't get the better of him.
When she heard the doors creak open, Eurus shot to her feet and turned around, watching Harry carefully as he stepped into the room. He looked around in wonderment, a reminiscent grin on his face. He saw her watching and offered her a nervous smile, shutting the doors behind him. They swung close with an ominous, echoing bang. She prayed it wasn't an omen of things to come.
"Um, hi," he said. He ran a hand through his unruly curls. "I—I'm glad you came." Eurus tried to make her own smile less nervous than his, but she was afraid she failed miserably.
They both sat down on the couch. Harry sank into the cushions, stiff as a board, and Eurus was perched at the very edge, poised to flee if necessary.
For several long, painful minutes, the witch and wizard sat in silence. Harry's knee was jiggling without sign of stopping, while Eurus just stared into the fire as if all the answers of the universe were etched in the flames.
Finally, Harry spoke, but it was, perhaps, better if he'd never opened his mouth in the first place.
"So . . . lovely weather, innit?"
Eurus tore her gaze away from the fireplace to look at him, aghast.
"The weather?" she said incredulously, brows raised. "You're seriously starting this conversation with the weather?"
Her cousin offered up a sheepish smile. "Well, I've never had a conversation with long-lost and previously unknown family members, so . . . yeah, we're starting with the weather."
Eurus rolled her eyes. "Fine then. The weather is perfectly enchanting. How was your day, Mr. Potter?"
"Mr. Potter" cringed. "Please, just call me Harry. Everyone does."
Eurus raised an eyebrow. "Really? Even your family?"
Harry blushed. "Well, no. I mean, yes. I mean . . . I have lots of family and they call me all sorts of things, so . . . " They stared at each other.
Harry groaned. "Bullocks. Let's start over." He stuck out a hand. "Hi. My name's Harry James Potter. I'm your father's cousin."
Eurus felt her lips curl into a smile against her will. "Hello, Harry James Potter. My name's Eurus Amélie Dursley and I'm your cousin's daughter."
Harry chuckled. "Very nice to meet you, Eurus."
"You, too."
Silence.
"So ..." Harry began, shifting in his seat. "I thought the Room was destroyed after the Battle of Hogwarts."
Eurus desperately latched onto the educational discussion topic and sudden subject change. "Yeah," she said, nodding. "It was. But Hogwarts is more than just a building. It's magic. Magic built it, magical people have been inhabiting for centuries. Magic is imbued so deeply that it is almost sentient. You know how the Room changes to people's needs? Well, it's powerful enough to heal itself too."
Harry looked thoughtful. "Do other people know about this place?"
Eurus shrugged. "No ... at least, I don't think so. I found it in my third year. The library was too crowded, so I wandered around, trying to find a quiet place to study. And then the door to the Room. It sort of popped up out of no where. I've kept it close to my chest ever since."
He peered over at her. "You keep a lot of things to your chest, don't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
Eurus smoothed out her face to be a neutral, blank stone. "Yeah. I guess I do."
More silence. Then Harry rubbed his face tiredly, looking at her with something like sorrow and resignation in his eyes through the slots of his fingers.
"So . . . Dudley. He's . . . " He frowned.
Eurus sighed. "Yeah. It was a car crash."
Harry slumped. "All these years I've imagined Dudley . . . having a wife . . . and some kids . . . living a happy life. But now I realize he barely lived long at all, did he?"
Eurus smiled a watery smile. "No. No he didn't."
There was some more solemn silence before Eurus spoke up. "My father was the best father ever, for as long as he lived. My mum, too. They were kind, and funny, and compassionate, and hard working. I am who I am today because of them."
Harry was silent, and looked incredibly sad. "We were never close, but ... I wish I'd been there to see him. To ... to catch up, y'know? I thought I'd have all the time in the world."
Eurus hesitated, before pulling out an envelope and a photograph. She motioned for him to take them, and he did, slightly bewildered.
Eurus nodded towards the envelope. "He was always sorry. Always feeling guilty about—about he and grandma and grandpa treated you when you lived with them."
Harry held the photograph in his hands like it was gold. It was one of the lasts photos of Dudley and Amélie Dursley alive. They were on a bridge crossing the Thames, the London Eye in the background behind them.
Dudley was young. The blonde hair he had as a teenager darkened with age. He was in his mid twenties, tall and muscular from working as a police officer. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, with the largest smile of the happiest man alive stretched across his face. Her mother was in a cream cardigan, white shirt, and jeans, her smile not as big but just as powerful. Her eyes were playful and practically shone with mischief and glee, the corners of her lips turned up. Eurus was tucked in between them, two pairs of arms wrapped around her torso, her dark hair wild, her lidded eyes bright with wonder, a large, toothy smile nearly blinding the camera.
Eurus remembered that day. She would for as long as she lived. It was the day of the car crash. Driving back from visiting the London Eye. Laughing and singing in the car. Her mother's sudden scream when an incoming car, manned by a drunk driver, drove right into them. Eurus remembered the deafening crunch of metal, the shattering of glass. SHe saw her parents get thrown out of the window and hitting the pavement, dying instantly. Then the car was struck again by the car right behind them, throwing her forehead into the back of her mother's seat. Eurus remembered the feeling of her stomach lurching around in time with the careening vehicle. Then darkness.
Harry stared at the photo in shock. "My God," he said. "That's Big D?"
Eurus gagged. "He hated nicknames for the rest of his life," she said. "He only tolerated 'honey' and 'Dad,' but that's it. And working out religiously will do that to you, Harry."
Harry barked out a laugh. "Merlin," he chuckled. "He used to be so, you know ... rotund. But wow ... he looks fantastic. And Merlin, I remember all those horrid pet names Petunia would give him. Dudders, Diddykins—"
"Dudleykins," Eurus continued, "sweetums, popkin, Dinky Dudlydums . . . "
Harry grinned, apparently happy that he'd gotten her to smile, and slit open the envelope with his wand. He unfolded the paper tucked neatly inside.
He read it, and once he finished, his eyes teared up.
"He ... he didn't have to be sorry," he croaked. "None of it—none of it was his fault."
"It was my grandparents' fault," Eurus agreed, her good mood fading. She took a deep breath, understanding they were straying into dangerous territory. "I know."
Harry tucked the letter into his robes. "Do you live with Vernon and Petunia?" She tried to ignore the pensive look on his face, the cautious tone of his voice.
"Yes, I do."
Harry's brows were furrowed with concern and he opened his mouth.
Eurus raised a hand. "Stop," she said. "I know what you're going to say."
Her cousin hesitated. "Do they ... are they treating you well?"
"They treat me like I'm their granddaughter, if that's what you mean." Oh poker face, don't fail me now ...
Harry frowned. "... Really?"
Eurus' smile stretched across her face with practiced ease. "Yes, really. You don't have to worry about it, honestly. I really do love me, and they love me back, despite not being quite ... normal."
His slightly suspicious expression didn't quite fade, but to her great relief (not that she showed it), he let the matter drop. But he did frown for a different reason.
"So ... you've been at Hogwarts for almost six years now."
Eurus grimaced. "Yeah."
" ... my children haven't mentioned you. Not once. They don't even know you're related to them."
She cringed. "Yeah. That—that's my fault."
Harry looked slightly bewildered, a little confused, and just a little hurt. "Why? Why not, you know, send me an owl? Let me know that Dudley passed? Asked me to the funeral, have me visit, let me be a part of your life? Why didn't I even know you existed until you were seventeen years old?" He didn't raise his voice, but Eurus almost wished that he would. It would be so much better that he was angry at her, instead of having to look at the wounded expression on his face.
Eurus' stomach churned. "Look," she began, averting her eyes. "I—I'm not great with people." She thought for a moment before snorting. "What the hell am I talking about? I'm terrible with people. I'm socially awkward, I hate small talk, and whenever there are conversations, I don't even talk." She shook her head ruefully. "I'm not using social awkwardness as an excuse, because not reaching out to you sooner—nine years sooner—is inexcusable. But ..."
She trailed off slightly and sighed. "But ... I barely knew about you. I mean, yes, I knew you were my dad's cousin, and I knew you were 'special,' but my dad didn't talk about you more than that. He never told me about the Second Wizarding War, or Voldemort, or the part you played in it. You were just ... the distant cousin I'd never met. And when I came to Hogwarts, I didn't realize who you were. What you'd done for the Wizarding world. I wanted to reach out to you, but ... I was a child. Just Eurus. No one special or important. And your family at Hogwarts? I didn't know how to approach them. The only 'family' on your side was Dominique, who was in a completely separate house, and Victoire Weasley, and she was a year above me and a Gryffindor."
The more Eurus talked, the more jittery she became. Her knee bounced incessantly, her fingers fidgeted, her eyes flicked up, down, side to side, to the fireplace, to Harry, to the floor, then to the ceiling. "I—How could I approach them? How could I just walk up to them and say, 'Hi, I'm your uncle's second cousin' like it was nothing? I thought they'd just see me as the attention hogging, glory hungry distant family member who wanted to be famous. I thought they'd reject me. That you would reject me. And moreso since I'm not even blood related to you! I'm adopted!" She shook her head. "By the time James came to Hogwarts, I just ... I just decided to stay away."
She snuck a glance at him. "My grandparents may love me, but I'm sorry to say that they still hate your guts."
Harry was chewing contemplatively on his bottom lip, eyes gazing listlessly into the fire. Then he shook himself out of his reverie, humming to himself. "Do they really?"
"Yeah. Dursleys don't let go of grudges easily." She hesitated. "If ... If it means anything, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I was a coward. I should've said something sooner. I was—I was afraid of a rejection that might have never happened. I just thought that you must've hated my dad, so why would you want me around? But I was stupid. I should've—"
A gentle hand suddenly grabbed her own, which was now tugging anxiously at her hair.
"Hey," said Harry, giving her a smile. "It's okay. I forgive you. You're fears were totally understandable. And I'm sorry as well, for people making it seem like I'm some sort of celebrity, someone high and mighty and unreachable. I'm human. My family is human. So it's okay, Eurus. There's no need to get caught up in the past. We can just move forwards."
Eurus gave a weak little chuckle. She felt like fainting with relief. "Ha. Okay. Did you get that from Dumbledore?"
"Nope. Just some good old Potter wisdom."
They laughed, before sitting in a comfortable silence, staring at the fire.
"Eurus," Harry said suddenly after a minute. "Can I—Can I introduce you to my family?"
Eurus blanched, but tried to summon some color back into her face. "I—yeah, sure, of course," she spluttered, her heart and lungs and stomach doing a panicked little jig. She remembered Dominique's infuriated expression and quailed to think about going out of the comfort and safety of the Room. She would love to just live here, thank you very much. "It'll be really awkward and totally uncomfortable, but I'd say it's a bit overdue, don't you think?"
Harry just grinned. "Definitely. But you'll like them, and I know they'll like you. And, you're already friends with Dominique, aren't you? One down—"
"—and a couple dozen more Weasleys and Potters to go. Hurrah." Eurus attempted to calm herself, and it didn't help that another thought suddenly burst into the forefront of her mind. "Um ... what will people say? About me being a champion, and you being a judge. Is that—I mean, will there be problems?"
Harry's lips pursed, and he straightened up, squaring his shoulders. "If there is a problem—with the other judges, champions, or the bloody Daily Prophet ..." He gave her a determined look, " ... I'll handle it. Okay? You don't have anything to worry about." He smiled, and Eurus almost wanted to believe him.
"Okay." She smiled back.
She watched as he sent out a patronus, a huge white stag loping off to send a message to his family.
She hoped she wasn't making a mistake.
~: :~
The first of the Potter family arrived at the Room within ten minutes. First came Lily, then James, then Albus, all of them craning their necks to looks at the plush rugs, the sofas, the chandeliers. Then came Mrs. Potter, the legendary Ginny (former) Weasley, retired star Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies, former Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet, and current head of Magical Games and Sports for the Ministry of Magic. Her eyes were fierce, yet warm, intelligent and caring. Mrs. Potter looked at her and smiled.
She was the first to make a move. The older woman, who wore a white blouse and plain jeans and a simple black robe, approached Eurus, who was standing awkwardly in front of the fireplace, fidgeting with her hands, looking terrified out of her wits.
"Hello," Mrs. Potter. "I'm Ginny. I do believe I'm your cousin-in-law." She stretched out her hand.
Eurus stared at it for a moment. Then, to the shock of everyone, she laughed. A real, genuine laugh. "It's very nice to meet you, Ginny. I'm Eurus."
Lily shot like a bullet towards her before skidding to a stop right before her feet. The little red head had her neck craned, her eyes wide in wonderment and disbelief. "We're cousins?" she screeched.
Eurus winced at the sound, but quickly crouched down in front of the eager first year. "Yeah," she said, flashing her a wry grin. "I would've told you, but I wanted your dad to know first."
Lily pouted. "But you told Dom."
"Yeah, well ... I've known her longer, so she deserved to hear it from me." She tried not think about how it didn't end well.
James and Albus approached her carefully, eyeing her like she was some strange specimen from the zoo.
James crossed his arms and looked her up and down, frowning.
"You know Lily?" he said in a gruff voice. He glared as if she'd committed some terrible crime.
Eurus stood up, tensing. "Yeah," she said.
He scowled at his sister, who merely smiled.
"Yup!" she chirped. "I asked her to tutor me in Potions!"
James lips curled with a sneer. "Right," he said dryly. "Potions prodigy. No wait, you're the teacher's pet, aren't you?"
"James!" Ginny scolded. "Be nice!"
"Why?" James shot back. "She's known she's our cousin for years, and suddenly, when she's chosen for the Tournament, she decides to reveal herself?" He glares at the older girl, gripping the handle of his wand. "What do you want from us, huh?" he demanded. "Money? An article in the Daily Prophet?"
A large hand clamped down hard on his shoulder and he looked up. There, looming over him, was Harry, with a very large, very scary scowl on his face.
"Apologize. Now."
James and Eurus eyed each other warily.
"Sorry," was the grumble.
Eurus just nodded.
The boy hmphed and slunk towards the couches, flopping into the couches. Harry shook his head and muttered something about hormones.
Albus rolled his eyes. "Sorry about him," the twelve year old said. He and Eurus shook hands. "James doesn't like change, but he'll get over it." Albus beamed at her. "This is so cool," he gushed. "Another Champion in the family!"
Eurus quirked an eyebrow. "Another Champion?"
"Y'know. Lysander. We're practically cousins."
She grimaced. "Ah," she said. "Right. Lysander. My partner."
The boy waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Eurus blushed furiously at the innuendo. "I—what—I don't even like him! Um, no offense ..."
"Albus!" Ginny admonished. She shooed him away as he cackled, before jumping on top of his brother.
"Hey!" James barked. The siblings began to wrestle "Get offa me you little prick—"
"James," Harry warned. He frowned at his son's behavior.
Lily looked up at her father. "Dad, what's a pr—"
Her mother swooped down and covered her mouth with her hand. "Don't say that word, otherwise mummy will make you do Kreacher's chores on top of your own for a year, got it?"
Lily stared at her mother with wide eyes and nodded her head vigorously, her hair flailing around.
Ginny sighed and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Go wrangle your brothers, Lily Flower."
She scampered away and began to pester her brothers to behave.
Harry chuckled at his childrens' antics before turning to Eurus. "See?" he said cheerfully. "That wasn't that bad, was it?"
Eurus laughed nervously. "Um, no, it wasn't that bad."
"Great!" Harry said. "Oh look, there's more!"
In marched the Weasley families—yes, families.
Eurus braced herself. This was going to be a long night.
~: :~
Predictably, it was a long night. She shook hands, made small talk, met all the kids of the Weasleys currently at Hogwarts.
She met Louis Weasley, who was bright and cheerful and didn't seem to care that he was just meeting his cousin for the first time despite being a schoolmate for the last four years of his education.
Dominique stayed away and hung on the fringes, frowning at her the entire time. It made Eurus feel like shit, but she knew she deserved it.
Eurus met Dom's and Louis' mother and father, who were staying in Hogsmeade. Fluer just greeted her in quiet French.
"C'est bon de te revoir, chérie," was all the french woman said. She smiled at her, and Eurus forced a smile back.
"You too," she muttered. Fluer glided away with her husband, who offered her a smile and a wave.
She met Molly and Lucy Weasley, twin daughters of Percy and Audrey Weasley, fourth year Hufflepuffs.
She met Fred and Roxanne Weasley (fraternal twins), third year Gryffindors, who greeted her with a prank: tossing a powdered sugar filled balloon in the face. They got into trouble by an angry aunt Ginny, but Eurus just waved her wand and vanished the mess away. Then she shot a wall of water at them.
Soaking wet and dripping water on the floor, the twins stared at each other in shock before grinning at her.
"Oh, we like you," they chorused, before giving her bewildered self a high five. They shot away, two energetic blurs.
She wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
Afterwards, in came Minister Weasley and Professor Weasley, along with their two children. Rose Weasley was nice enough, although a bit wary, and she practically drilled Eurus about the fair treatment of Squibs in magical law. After giving her opinion (that Squibs, despite not having magic, should have equal rights to family property and jobs in the wizarding community in spite of being magic-less), she seemed to warm up more.
Hugo nervously asked if she could tutor him in Charms, and Eurus accepted, trying not to think about how it would affect her N.E.W.T.s work or the tournament or her exams.
Minister Weasley stepped forwards and introduced she and her husband.
"Hello," she said cheerily. "I'm Hermione, and this is Ron."
The professor grinned. "We've met. She has a bloody cool Patronus."
Eurus blushed. "Erm, yeah," she hedged. "Professor Weasley's a good teacher."
Ron slapped her on the back jovially, nearly making her faceplant onto the stone. "When we're not around other students, just call me Ron. Or Uncle Ron. Whatever floats your boat."
Eurus chuckled. "Okay, Ron."
Hermione smiled kindly at her, and guided her over to the sofas to chat. "So, I hear from the teacher's that you're a star pupil. 'The Brightest Witch of Your Age.'" Her smile had a hint of mischief, one that made her nervous.
Eurus covered her burning cheeks with her hands and groaned. "I didn't come up with that name. I didn't even know people called me that until Lily told me."
Hermione waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about the name. Things will die down."
Then she leaned forwards, grinning. "So," she said, "what's your 'bloody cool Patronus'?"
~: :~
Once it hit eleven o'clock at night, Mrs. Weasley (Hermione) forced everyone off to bed. Eurus waved as the kids and some of the parents filed out of the Room of Requirement, and they all waved back, saying it was nice to meet her. Ginny ushered her children back to the Gryffindor Common Room, but not before giving Eurus a swift hug and a mother kiss on the cheek. Eurus blushed.
Harry offered to take Eurus back to her own dorms, and she accepted.
The two walked in silence for several minutes. The castle was dark and quiet, the torches on the walls casting looming, flickering shadows over the cobblestones.
"You know," Harry said suddenly, "Hogwarts still feels like home. Even though it's been years and years since I was a student. It's almost more of a home than the one I've got in London."
He looked at her, and she swore he could see right through her.
"Does it feel like home? To you, I mean?"
Eurus took a while to answer. "I think," she began, haltingly. She paused, frowning, before starting again. "I think that 'home' is being with the people you care about, no matter where they are," she said quietly. "And ... I haven't had a lot of friends ... or people to care about me here ... "
"Is there a but? Because that sounds really depressing."
Eurus barked out a laugh. "But," she agreed, "after tonight ... I think Hogwarts is becoming more of a home than before ... Does that make sense?"
"Yeah. That makes sense."
He left a few minutes later once he saw that she solved the riddle from the knocker. She didn't go to her dorm. Instead, she prodded Sev awake, who crawled out from her shirt only to curl up by the crackling fire in the common room.
She was awake for a long time, and as dawn broke across the horizon, she crept quietly upstairs, changed into a fresh uniform, gathered her things and let Sev coil around her ribcage, and went down to grab breakfast.