Chapter 19: They don't ever see your face or say your name (survivor)

8th September 1985

Mrs Bailey had been teaching for so many years that she had almost lost count, but she loved it, oh did she love it. The children were tiny, and so full of life. Some of them still didn't care about what people thought, and so would blurt things out without thinking about them. It brought Mrs Bailey a lot of joy to see parents fluster over them when they made a social faux pas.

Then there were the children who seemed to have lost just a tiny bit of their spirit; they were more careful about what they said and who they spoke to. But it was ok. After a few days, they would perk up again and be just as loud as the other children. She let children be in her classroom, and they were almost always little balls of fun.

She smiled as she began to settle the classroom. The children walked to their chairs and sat down. Funny how well children behave when you treat them like people. Mrs Bailey would always begin the class day by letting them do an activity of their choice quietly.

She watched their little eyes light up, and most of the children ran to the building blocks or the arts and crafts area. Some of them read - but only a few. Most had only just started learning how to read.

It was amazing, seeing their progress.

There was a knock on the door. Mrs Bailey turned to see a young woman she would always remember. "Hannah! Hannah Baker is that you?" The young woman nodded, her smile small but real. Mrs Bailey stood up to greet the girl with a hug before she brought her hands to her shoulders.

"Look at you. You've grown so big."

"That's what happens Mrs B." Oh - she still had her cheek, but Mrs Bailey rolled her eyes and gave a big smile. Hannah had always been one of her favourites, if only because she always had a comeback - though she would often get in trouble for it.

"What brings you here?" Hannah looked behind her and that was when Mrs Bailey noticed the small girl.

"Who is this?" She looked at Hannah and then back to the girl. It couldn't be hers. They looked nothing alike. Hannah's ash blonde hair was almost the exact contrast to the tiny tiny child's curly raven hair. And the brown eyes on Hannah were obviously not in the girl's DNA because she had the most vibrant emerald eyes Mrs Bailey had ever seen on a person.

"She got lost. I'm only here to drop her off."

Mrs Bailey turned to the girl with the stunning green eyes and gave her a small smile. "Why don't you go and choose an activity to do before class starts?" The girl's eyes slid past the woman and looked through the open door.

It was the oddest thing; she seemed to be assessing the situation in front of her; her eyes travelling from each student and their activities one by one until she'd circled the room and her gaze fell back on the woman in front of her.

A small sort of chill went through Mrs Bailey as those eyes stared into hers, and she was once again astounded by the way the green pulsed like there was something behind them just waiting to get out - something burning and thrashing, moving in and out of the emerald green in a hypnotising way that made her want to -

The girl's eyes moved from Mrs Bailey and she ever so slowly walked into the classroom.

What -

Hannah pulled her from her thoughts. "I want you to look out for her and make sure the Dursley's aren't doing anything to her," she whispered softly.

That was a child of the Dursley's? Mrs Bailey had seen them from time to time and the son was well on his way to becoming obese - if he wasn't already. The disparity between the two children was alarming!

A firm, calculating stare replaced it in Mrs Bailey's eyes. "You don't think-"

"I don't know. But look at her and tell me you think that she's healthy." There was a pause.

She was just so small. It was unnatural, and now Mrs Bailey wasn't sure that it was because she was just a small child. But there was still something about her that glowed - and malnutrition wasn't the source of it, that was for sure.

"I'll keep watch, but Hannah, if you think there is something really going on then maybe the police and social services should get involved."

Hannah nodded sharply. "I'll be back. If the Dursley's feel that they can't be bothered to pick her up then I'll take her home.

"Ok."

Hannah left moments after that, and Mrs Bailey went back to her classroom. Immediately her eyes sought out the Dursley girl and found that she was sitting in a seat at the back of the classroom doing nothing but watching the other students.

No one approached her and she approached no one. She just sat there watching everyone and waiting. For what? Mrs Bailey wasn't so sure, but a fleeting thought ran through her mind. Maybe she was waiting for instruction.

Whatever it was, she called the class back to their seats and began teaching them their first lesson. It was the first thing she did, identify where they were at in terms of their academic level. The majority of the class had already begun to read simple words and she smiled encouragingly at both the children who could and the children who couldn't. But throughout it all, the small girl hadn't said a word.

And then she realised that she didn't even know her name.

She looked through the register but there was no Dursley girl here - she knew that the boy Dudley was in another classroom for now until he was adequately placed.

But there was one name - Potter, Halley. She looked up - it was a fitting name to be sure; Halley's comet was a coveted sight that few got to see in a lifetime. It shined brightly and captured everyone's attention in its mystery.

"Halley?" Nothing. The girl sat, looking at the picture book in front of her, not answering. So she tried again. "Halley?" Still nothing.

Mrs Bailey went up to her. The moment she was a metre in front of her, Halley's eyes shot up to see who was approaching. There was a flash of something in her eyes before it went away, and it took a lot of effort to not frown at that. "Were you interested in the book?"

She nodded. "Yes, Mrs Bailey," she said softly.

"I'm glad. I just wanted to make sure you were ok, Halley."

Her eyebrows furrowed and Halley looked around the room for a second before her eyes fell once again on Mrs Bailey.

"Can you read it?"

Halley looked down and shook her head, tensing.

"It's ok if you can't. That's why you're here - to learn. Just let me know if you need anything ok."

Halley nodded slowly, still not looking at Mrs Bailey. She took that as an indication that she didn't want any help and so turned around to walk back to her desk.

"Mrs Bailey -" she paused and faced the small girl. "What's my last name?"

She thought it was an odd question to ask. Maybe the Durlsey's had told her she was their child...but then why would her name be different under the register? She didn't want to cause any trouble in the household, but then there surely would have been some sort of note.

It couldn't hurt, could it?

"Potter," said Mrs Bailey eventually. She looked to see if there was any confusion or upset in the little girl's face, but there wasn't. Instead, she just seemed...neutral.

"Halley Potter?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Halley went back to her book, Mrs Bailey went back to her desk and there was no further exchange between the two of them. Later that evening when she was home, Mrs Bailey again wondered why the girl had asked such an odd question. But the only reason she could think of was that the girl didn't know.

But that was absurd, wasn't it? Yes of course it was.

As the months went by Mrs Bailey's interaction with Halley Potter was sparse at best. The girl did very little to engage with her teacher and even though she tried, there was always something odd about the girl that she didn't really want to think about. Hannah would come to drop her off every day and she seemed fine with the child - but then Hannah was never the most normal child in her classroom.

Although she would say this; Halley Potter learnt things quickly. She never made the same mistake twice and she always observed to make sure she knew what she was doing. And when Dudley Dursley moved into her classroom, Halley avoided him like the plague.

Yet even though Mrs Bailey knew without a doubt that the child was brilliant, the work she gave in was always, always wrong. One or two answers were correct but they were otherwise wrong.

It irked her for reasons she didn't want to delve into.

What was happening in Halley Potter's home?

Friday 8 th January 1993

Dear Mr Nymous,

I am unsure how useful this information is to you, however, I feel it is better to keep you informed on matters like these. Many of my housemates have been commenting on your presence at the Malfoy ball over Yule. Those who were there are speculating on your relation to our family, and it seems like your appearance has caused a stir within the households of those in attendance.

Draco Malfoy noted himself that his father and mother seem...somewhat cautious about you. Though Draco isn't sure of what suspicions they might have - and if there are any to be had - but from what I have gathered, the Malfoys are going to keep a distant eye on your movements.

The Crabbe's and Goyle's seem to be following Lord Malfoy's lead, though they seem more amenable to discovering what they can gain from you. Though neither of my housemates has very much information to add to that.

The upperclassmen have been keeping any information about you closer to their chest. Though I imagine that any newcomer with my grandfather's backing is sure to be of interest.

Please let me know if you would like me to continue down this avenue,

With regards,

Theodore Nott

888

Wednesday 12th January 1993

Potter is still distracted. There haven't been any more near-explosions in Potions, but she's still not as focused as she used to be. Things seem to have gotten a little bit better, but not by much. It's difficult to keep an eye on her now.

She's only going to classes, and I only see her at mealtimes, occasionally. She seems...tired.

I was unsure as to whether this was pertinent information but Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass have been helping Potter with a project. Regretfully, this information doesn't come from a reliable source as the source in question - Tracy Davis, Half-blood - is not fond of Potter at all.

Miss Parkinson and Miss Greengrass seem to be making sure that Potter functions well enough, but I don't know why or what the terms of their alliance are.

Potter also seems to leave the common room on Thursdays. She's out between 5-6 pm and always seems incredibly irate when she returns. I followed her once, and it was to the office of the new DADA professor. He's been...interested in Potter since the train ride and I always notice him checking the tables at mealtimes to see if she's there.

With regards,

Theodore Nott

888

Saturday 20th January 1993

Potter is in the infirmary. It was a prank gone wrong, but she was bitten by False Widows and had a severe allergic reaction to them. They've kept her in the infirmary to remove any of the eggs but it was a close call. If the spiders had been on her for much longer, I think more would have burrowed.

The Weasley twins - Fred and George - were behind it and there's talk of a staff meeting about them tomorrow.

With regards,

Theodore Nott

888

Tom read the last letter with displeasure.

The girl was truly making a nuisance of herself, wasn't she? Was she trying to keep eyes on her? If that was the case, she was doing well.

If the Nott boy's suspicions were to be believed, there was a teacher that was now interested in Potter. And though he doubted that would do much by the way of his plans, Potter was drawing too much attention to herself.

Maybe it was time that he paid her a visit. After all, he still needed to teach her everything he knew. Maybe he would start with a crucio.

Albus sat grimly as, one by one, his professors entered his office. He had already questioned the Weasley boys and now all that was left to do was discuss their punishment. He had a meeting scheduled with them and their parents that evening.

None of the staff looked happy, but Minerva was the angriest at the turn of events. Albus waited till they were all inside, and Pomona - the last of them to arrive - had only just sat in her seat when Severus began talking.

"They should be expelled."

Minerva prickled the same way Albus had seen her do before she took up a fight. "I will be the last to argue that they need to be punished," she said, "but expulsion is too harsh, surely."

Severus cocked a thin eyebrow and raised himself in his chair in such a way that he was able to look down at Minerva. "Yes, we know just where you stand on life-threatening pranks," he replied, coldly acidic.

In his own chair, Remus sank lower and Albus was reminded - once more - of how far vindictiveness could go. And the Weasley twins had gone too far. Just like a group that had roamed the halls twenty-odd years ago, no-one had paid any attention to their antics before it was too late.

Perhaps that was why they were all so disappointed. They had, all of them, seen the signs and understood that the twins were upset. Were unhappy about the outcome of last year. And they all knew of the vindictive streak that ran through them, but Albus had brushed it aside.

He had underestimated how upset they were. And he had underestimated how quiet Halley would stay.

"We can't allow behaviour like this to be encouraged," Spetimia Vector said firmly. She crossed her arms and looked at both Minerva and Severus with disappointment at their behaviour. "If we do, it sets - forgive me, further reinforces - the precedent of 'boys will be boys' and I believe that's unacceptable."

"I agree," Pomona said, nodding sadly. "And both boys have always pushed the line. Why only last month they caused trouble in Herbology and I was forced to give them detention. But - and I say this with great disappointment in their actions - shouldn't we also consider their circumstances?"

Albus closed his eyes briefly as the staff continued to discuss and debate, as if the action could rewind time.

If Miss Granger's time turner was not so carefully monitored, he would have taken it and tried to rectify the progression of events from last year. But there was only so much time that could be changed with a time turner and it seemed Albus was not yet able to learn from the mistakes of the past.

The poor girl; she had been under his care and he had failed her so spectacularly.

And what was worse was that he didn't even know what she looked like. Of course, he knew she had red hair, pale eyes, freckles and a small frame, but that was only because so many Weasleys had walked the halls before her.

But Ginerva Weasley herself? She had only been a face in the crowd of eager first years that he had glanced over once and then rarely again.

It was Severus who brought him back to the reality of the situation, like he had so many times before.

"Need I remind you that many a student have lost their family within these halls, and very few have tried to unleash poisonous - parasitic - spiders on a whole House," he snapped.

"We don't know that they -"

"They did," Albus said, interrupting Pomona.

"They confessed?" she asked.

In a manner of speaking. Albus had used legilimens on them. He minimized its usage for the sake of others' privacy, but there were times when it was justified. If he had done the same to Tom, things may have turned out differently.

He'd used it more in the last 50 years than in his whole life combined, and it was, therefore, all the more noticeable when Halley wouldn't look at him.

The twins, on the other hand, had looked him directly in the eye, their thoughts clear in their mind, and had lied to his face. It was only after he had given them enough details to incriminate them that they had turned to each other and shrugged, with no trace of guilt.

The sight had saddened Albus greatly; to see the young so full of hatred when they had such potential reminded him of the days where he would do anything for power. For Gellert. It was hard to forgive. Impossible to forget.

This time it was Remus who interrupted. He cleared his throat and spoke. "I think they should be suspended with the caveat that they truly consider their actions. And I think we should suggest to the Weasley's that they seek out support for their family."

"The idea has merit, Remus. Please continue," Albus prompted.

The man had a slight flush to his cheeks, but he nodded and continued. "If they don't understand the consequences of their actions, they'll only do it again. And this time they'll get better at not getting caught." Remus tried to look at Severus, but the man blatantly ignored him.

Remus sighed. "Without some sort of intervention, I believe their hatred will only grow." And Remus knew that they also had the map. There was no doubt that the Marauders were feeding them all sorts of nasty things that would only fuel their hatred towards Slytherins, never mind Halley. He would need to get the map, and soon.

Albus nodded. It was also likely that time away would calm things down some. "Commendable, but the Weasleys are not well off enough for any sort of support."

"What about our counselling system?" Flitwick asked.

"It is not well resourced," he said. It had been a shoddily fought battle after the Chamber had been opened. Resources had been better allocated after Voldemort had risen to power, but after his demise, funds had been redistributed by the governing body.

"Perhaps something is better than nothing," Flitwick said.

"Undoubtedly." Septima sniffed.

"Very well. Three months suspension," he said. He hoped it was the right decision.

Very soon, his office was empty once again and Albus turned his mind to the letter he had received. It was troubling that there were parties inquiring into the Flamells' whereabouts. Nicholas had been rightfully angry at him for bringing him back into the public eye after decades of infamy, and now it seemed his old friends were paying the price.

Albus looked at Fawks and brushed his hand across his face in weariness. He would, of course, offer his support but there was little that Albus could provide that the Flamells couldn't access themselves.

Nicholas had only written to complain to Albus for what must have been the tenth time since the stone had been destroyed. So, it was the least he could do. But for now, he had parents to talk with.

While the professors talked, Daphne Greengrass located their Head Boy in one of the disused classrooms. It was a well-known cubby for the man, though he only really allowed the younger years to disturb him in it.

He was scribbling furiously at a piece of parchment, apparently so invested in it that he didn't even look up when she opened the door and walked in. Daphne hoped that he would listen to her before cursing her out if he were in that particular mood today.

"I need to talk with you."

"You and everyone else," he said, not looking up from the essay she presumed he was writing. "What do you want, Greengrass? I'm busy."

It was tentative permission to approach him, so Daphne took a small step inside the classroom. It was dusty, little particles floating around and glinting in the rays of light coming through the windows.

Daphne tried not to sneeze.

"I have a proposal for you about Potter," she said.

"No."

She bit at the inside of her cheek. "You haven't even heard the proposition yet."

Rowle looked up. He seemed angry, tired, and just altogether overwhelmed and she didn't even blame him. "Just because you've become a vassal for Potter does not mean I need to."

Daphne bristled slightly. "I'm not a vassal," she said coldly. "But House Greengrass has a debt to pay, and I won't have Astoria fulfilling it."

Rowle raised a brow. "Is it so clever exposing yourself like that?" he asked.

"It's common knowledge," she said.

"Is it?" he asked.

She ignored that. "She needs your help."

Rowle threw down his quill and leaned back in his chair, hands clasped together on the desk. Daphne saw blotches of ink splatter the parchment and the table. "So? She's got you and Parkinson. Nott too, if his questions about her are anything to go by."

Daphne's eyes widened ever so slightly but she controlled her expression just as quickly as it had changed. She'd figure out what that meant later.

"Train her on duelling. You're the best we have, and Potter knows nothing. She walked out of the farce that was Lockheart's duelling club last year." And she'd been given at least two detentions for that even though it hadn't been an official class - though that might have been because she'd insulted Lockheart.

He snorted. "As she should have. But what would I get out of this?"

"I know I don't need to explain this to you Rowle," she said. "You're the second son. A spare."

Rowle glared but she continued. Daphne was treading in dangerous waters, but this was important. "Potter has power. Politically and literally. She blew up Moaning Myrtle's bathroom last year from a bombarda. All of it. Gone in a second and she didn't even realise what she'd done."

"Impressive."

"Train her and she'll owe you something," Daphne said, taking a step forward.

"She doesn't understand anything about that," he said.

"She doesn't understand anything right now," she emphasised. "But we're teaching her. Parkinson and I are teaching her about the old ways. Slowly. The Girl Who Lived is here, listening to us . And when she graduates and goes out into the world, people will listen to her ."

He was quiet for a moment, but the silence was broken with a deep laugh. Rowle tipped his head back and laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "Oh Greengrass, you're very good."

Daphne shrugged. "There's a life-debt to fulfil."

Rowle was still chuckling as he stood up and stretched as if a weight was off his shoulders now. "Alright then. We've got ourselves a deal."

AN: Hello kind souls. This is late (I said it would be up last week) and early (I usually don't post till the weekend) at the same time. An odd one for me. Anyways, thank you all who have read - and commented if you feel inclined. It's super cool seeing those stats increase every week.

I wanted to let you all know I'm going to take a three-week break. I'm kinda tired and just need it. I do want to try and do some writing as well for the upcoming chapters but my aim is to figure out how this year is going to end with all the changes I've already made. And to plot it out. So yeah.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and see you in a few weeks.