I don't own the story or the characters of Harry Potter, this work is entirely fan-made. The rights to everything Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling. I also have no beta or proof-reader (at least not a human one) so expect some mistakes from time to time. Finally, please read my profile before you review the story, as it may answer some questions that you could have, including my upload schedule.
Whilst Harry and their father were out in Diagon Alley, Zoe and her mother had stayed at home, leaving an awkward moment between them as they washed up the dishes from breakfast by hand. Her mother had seldom cleaned the dishes with magic, though it was arguably faster than doing them individually from the sink; she said it built character and was a useful life skill for any person to have. Their relationship had been strained- to say the least- since Christmas when she had foolishly touched the Firebolt that had no known sender, while a murderous madman was on the loose. Harry and Hermione had seen the obvious trap for what it was and had subsequently told her not to open it, which she had ignored, despite her brother's vehement protests. And for the stupid decision, she had ended up in the hospital wing after taking a large piece of broom shrapnel to the side, nearly puncturing her ribcage. Rightly so, her parents had been distraught, though it came across as angry rather than anything else. So, when she was faced with being alone with her mother for the first time since that day in the Gryffindor girls' dorm, she was deathly silent. Until her mum broke said silence.
"I know that we haven't quite been on great terms since Christmas, Sweetheart and I just wanted you to know how sorry we were to have reacted with that sort of volatility. But, one day, when you have a daughter of your own, you'll know what it feels like to want to protect them at all costs and… to see them hurt as badly as you were, it tears you apart." She left out the part where she had wanted to say that Zoe had put everyone else in harms way too, for she knew that her daughter already felt so incredibly guilty and torn up over that.
"I know that what I did was stupid and reckless and inconsiderate. I feel terrible about it and I know that I've paid for it with that time in the hospital and the Hogsmeade ban- but I can't help but still feel guilty about it. And they say that they've forgiven me- but I can't face them easily with it yet." Zoe sighed and handed a washed dish to her mother, who dried it with a tea towel and put it back in the cupboard.
"Well, at least you can go to Hogsmeade again this year, among other things. That'll be fun, right?" Lily said with a smile. Zoe nodded, even if she wasn't completely certain that she could enjoy life as it was before, after being so close to the cusp of getting her brother, Neville and Hermione killed over a stupid decision.
"I suppose so. Hang on, what do you mean 'other things'?" She was curious as to what else could be happening this year that would make her happy. Lily stayed passive and grabbed another dish from the wet stack to dry. "Mother? What did you mean?" She kept her lips firmly shut and shook her head, a smile tugging at her cheeks. "Wait, is it for the same thing that Dad was talking about before Uncle Sirius' wedding. We needed dancing skills for that. You do realise that most people our age do not want to be dancing for fun, right?" Zoe still got no answer. She growled in frustration and went back to vigorously cleaning the plates and cutlery.
An hour had passed since Lily and Zoe's conversation about the Firebolt incident and both felt better than before, though Zoe only marginally. But, being more open about her feelings and other happenings, the young girl nearly felt ready to admit to her mother what she had been hiding for months on end from her entire family. Daphne had weighed a lot on her mind, and seeing her Uncle Sirius and new Auntie Amelia had made her think long and hard about the things she was keeping to herself. Her relationship with her girlfriend was new, only a few months old. Even Harry had only discovered them in the Owlery by complete accident 2 months into their time as a couple. Daphne wasn't open about their relationship either; neither of them knew exactly what they were, at least until the night of Pettigrew's escape. As Zoe was going to help her brother and Hermione, Daphne told her to come back safely and kissed her on the cheek. Not exactly provocative, but a chaste, warm kiss that made Zoe's heart do a flip. And she knew that the heat of the moment can make people do incredible and rash things, like mothers lifting their cars off their babies in desperation, however, there was something different about that moment that pulled things into perspective for her. Whether it did for Daphne too, she would see, but it was that seemingly small gesture that made it difficult. She wanted to tell people, she wanted to proclaim her love for her, but she wondered how people, especially the backwards wizarding world would react. And given that homosexuality was considered a mental disorder until two years ago would not help her case. So, she brushed off the inclination to tell her mother about Daphne, opting instead to tell her the other thing that was bothering her.
"Mum. I wanted to ask… do you know where my legilimency power comes from? I was always sort of curious, but lately, it feels… weaker, less intrusive. I'd normally say that's a good thing, but I don't know what that means for the rest of my magic." Her mother looked up from the book she was reading and slid the silk string down the middle of the page, closing the novel and leaving it on the coffee table. She looked at her daughter, every inch her and James' child and patted the sofa next to her. Zoe shrunk and gingerly sat down, suddenly finding her hands very interesting.
"I highly doubt that you're losing anything, sweetheart. That has never been a recorded phenomenon. Witches and Wizards don't lose their magical abilities. And anyone who tells you that is a lie. We are born with this gift, and it comes from our parents. And their parents, and theirs before them. Magic is the divine gift that we are blessed with. To lose it is unheard of. Although, now that you mention it…" Lily paused in thought and Zoe's breathing grew rapid and laboured. "Calm down, Zoe. Breathe. Breathe." Her daughter started to take in air again, though shakily.
"Well, you know how our family tree works, correct?" Zoe nodded slowly. "Well, your Great-Grandfather was a Fleamont, a family known for it's rare and special abilities. It was even said that your Great-Great-Grandmother on your father's side could speak to animals, but it was never documented, so we tell it as a good story now and then. But, if these rumours of powers are true, then there could well be tiny slivers of those abilities residing in you and your brother. And because the magical abilities were diluted over time by marrying into different families, some of non-magical descent, you and Harry may lose those powers over time as your own magical power grows. I wouldn't worry about it, it's natural, but we'll consult your father when he and Harry get home. Alright?" Zoe nodded, relieved. She thought joyously to herself 'What if I can finally be free of that stupid ability? All it does is make my head hurt.' She smiled and left her mother to her reading, eagerly awaiting the return of her father and brother.
It took them a good three hours after they'd left to come back home but Harry and James came bearing gifts. A decent-sized chicken, some bread and other small snack items were placed on the table. However, that wasn't everything: Harry held a white bag, with an odd logo on it and it was clutched tightly in his hand. He seemed quite attached to it. 'Weird' Zoe thought. But she brushed it off and went to help her dad unpack the lunch items. Only Lily noticed Harry slink away to his room and come back just a minute later, sans the small white bag. He then helped to set the table ready for their lunch, laying it with a tablecloth, forks, knives and plates that had been recently cleaned. When they all eventually sat down, the chicken was cooked, bread sliced and butter softened: all courtesy of Harry's new-found skills with magical cooking. Whilst he had always taken his mother's advice on the cooking, he often reverted to using small spells to aid himself in the kitchen, given that his sister and father would not be able to help. So they all sat gently in their seats and tucked into a hearty meal, doling out chicken, coleslaw, salad and various items of finger-food.
With enough food in them to feed an erumpent, the Potter family retired to the living room for the afternoon at Lily's request. James was gently nursing his stomach, which was more full than any of theirs and with a loud "oof" he plopped down into the armchair across from the fire. Zoe and Harry took opposite sides of the room too, tension still visible between them like a wire. Lily sat down next to her son on the sofa, she too being worn out and full of delicious food.
"Well, firstly, thanks for the meal, boys and secondly, we need to discuss something which happened whilst you were gone." Harry sat forward, intrigued by the notion but Zoe slouched back in her seat. "Your sister mentioned that she might be losing control or growing out of the natural legilimency ability. Now, I think that this could be down to the magic in yourselves changing as you grow, making the part of you that holds that power weaker. Harry, have you experienced anything like that with your metamorphmagus power?" Harry's eyebrows shot up and Lily nodded in understanding.
"Well, yeah, but I just thought I hadn't been practising enough. You're telling me that I might be losing the ability altogether?!" He started to cycle slowly through hair colours as if the power itself was reacting to the news, stopping it from disappearing. His sister shook her head.
"I thought he might do that, to be honest. His is much more of a gift than mine is. All I get is headaches and he gets to change his appearance. Oh well, doesn't really matter in the long run, 'cause mine's finally receding."
"Zoe, hush! Don't be like that. Magic is special to all of us one way or another. You were both bestowed this gift by the bloodlines of your father's grandparents. At least, I'm fairly confident of that." Lily scolded her daughter lightly. James was finally listening, now that it directly involved his family's magic.
"Wait, Lils, you're telling me that my Great-Grandpa's tales were real, not just a bedtime story?! My mother used to tell me about my Great-Grandmother's ability to talk to animals: I thought they were fake."
"More or less. And since then, your family has diluted that power so that it's nearly non-existent, or at least asleep. Whilst you were out, I was reading up on what our muggle scientists call genetics, basically our family bloodlines and how certain traits can be lost or gained over time," Her daughter gave her an extremely confused look to which she answered "the survival of the fittest theory, Sweetheart, evolution." Their education was not exactly the greatest, being homeschooled by Lily's faint knowledge of the first and secondary school curriculums.
"Huh. Well… I suppose I can't really control it. Anyway, let's get to packing! Are you forgetting that tomorrow we're heading to the Quidditch World Cup with Neville's family and Hermione?"
I feel like I should address this: I did some reading up on the reception to homosexuality around the period when this is set (1994-1995 as of the Goblet of Fire) and I might have gotten some facts about this wrong.
HOWEVER, IN NO WAY DO I BELIEVE ANY OF THE OUTDATED AND FRANKLY DISGUSTING THINGS THAT WERE THOUGHT OF ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AT THIS TIME. I am just attempting to be realistic and time compliant when the story needs it to be.
The Quidditch World Cup is up next, so get ready for it!