Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. I am not writing for profit or gain. This story is not canon and not for the faint of heart. You may not like how certain characters are portrayed, you've been warned. Note: mentions of child abuse, neglect, and other forms of manipulation.
The students and faculty in the Great Hall sat in anticipation for the next batch of first years. There was an excited buzz that crackled on the air as they awaited the arrival of Harry Potter. This was the year that he was to begin Hogwarts. He had survived the attack on his home. His parents had been out that night on a secret mission and left him in the care of their friend Peter Pettigrew.
It turned out that Pettigrew had betrayed them and had given up their location to the Dark Lord. However, at some point during the attack Pettigrew seemed to have changed his mind and ended up dead himself standing in front of the crib. There was an air of mystery surrounding the defeat of the Dark Lord, many speculated that the Potters were hiding a secret as they typically tried to stay out of the public eye.
Years later, they eventually began going on public outings more. Giving the picture-perfect family to the public eye. However, many were unaware of the truth behind the façade. It had shocked many that the Potters had grown estranged to Sirius Black, godfather to their son and former best friend of James. Even Remus Lupin had distanced himself from his former friend.
Something had happened that had irrevocably changed their friendship, what that was the public did not know. It had all started during the pregnancy of Lily Potter. She had a secret that she had been keeping and it was eating away at her. The patriarchal society in which she found herself in dictated that things were done a certain way. Ways in which she would not want her children to be raised, but now she found herself stuck and she was unsure how she had gotten there.
At the time of the birth, a baffled James was presented with two not one child. His eldest, Hazel Roselyn Potter, was much smaller than her brother who had all but pushed her from the womb. The healers had warned that the boy child had taken up the room, nutrients, and it appeared that he would have siphoned the magic of his tiny twin sister if her magic had not protected her.
She spent additional weeks in the hospital to recover. Meanwhile James had doted and boasted about his son, his heir. However, Harry was not the heir. Hazel had been the first born, therefore it was her birthright that James was promising to his son. He should have known better, especially when his parents had reworded the rites of succession when they had struggled to conceive and produce a healthy living child prior to his own birth.
Being named godfathers to the twins, both Sirius and Remus took it seriously. They loved them both dearly. While they had fun with Harry, they were wrapped around little Hazel's fingers from the moment she was presented to them. She was this tiny little being that needed them, needed their protection.
Harry bore a strong resemblance to his father, except for his mother's eyes. Little Hazel was a mix of the pair. She had her mother's delicate features and eyes, but her father's hair. She was small and she was always going to be small according to the healers. Magically she was strong, but she was a delicate child and would require additional nutrient and restorative potions to fix the damage done in the womb.
It was years later that somehow the children had been separated. Lily remembered having a second child, but not what had happened to her. Sirius and Remus stopped coming around and the world did not know about Hazel Potter. Thus, bringing us to the quandary that Hogwarts now found itself in.
"Hazel Potter!" a thick Scottish brogue called.
Voices muttered in confusion. Who was Hazel Potter? Was she related to Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived? Where was she? Surely, she would not miss her sorting. Just who was this girl?
"Hazel Roselyn Potter!" the voice called again, more stridently.
Professor McGonagall turned and pinned the Headmaster with a flinty stare. It was only known in the Order and close people to the Potters knew that Harry had been a twin. He had been sorted into Gryffindor and seemingly did not know of a sister. The voices in the Great Hall grew exponentially. Never before had there been a student missing from their sorting.
McGonagall continued through the rest of the list, ignoring the Headmaster, and approaching Professor Severus Snape. The pair conferred before he stopped at his House's table pulling one of his students with him and waited for the female student that Minerva suggested to meet the males at the door of the Great Hall.
"What is going on Professor?" Nymphadora Tonks, a Hufflepuff seventh year student, asked in concern.
"We have been tasked with finding Miss Hazel Potter and bringing her here." Professor Snape drawled.
"Sir," Thorfinn Rowle, a Slytherin fifth year student, began cautiously. "Would it not be a job for the Aurors to handle?"
"Typically, I would agree with you Mr. Rowle," Snape replied with a guarded look. "However, Lord Potter is an Auror and it would be a conflict of interest. We need to move quickly. I believe I may know where the wayward girl is."
Snape held out a portkey to the pair and they were whisked away into the universe, reappearing in a cookie cutter suburban neighborhood. Severus sneered looking around them. There was one house on the street not lit with a large "for sale" sign on the front lawn.
Drawing a breath and palming his wand, he led the pair of students with him. Miss Tonks was a seventh year Prefect and aspired to be an Auror. Mr. Rowle was a fifth year Prefect that he trusted implicitly. While being a member of his own House, the burly teen had a gentle way of soothing the scared younglings in their House.
Severus also knew that House Rowle had an open marriage contract with one of the cadet Houses of the Potters and Blacks. For all intents and purposes, little Hazel Potter was in fact the betrothed of Throfinn Rowle. There was a bit of an age gap, but it was nothing compared to many of the long-standing marriage contracts from the old families.
Leading the two students towards the vacant home, Severus felt dread in his bones. Minerva had whispered to him the address that had been given for the girl's letter and sent him off. He knew the kind of person that Petunia had been growing up and he imagined that she had not gotten better over the years. Especially when she had such a harsh falling out with her sister.
Whispering "alohomora," he entered the house and was startled to find it completely empty. He cast a human revealing spell and followed the light through the living room into the hallway. He paused as he saw the light stopping at the cupboard under the stairs.
Swearing viciously, he opened the cupboard door and gagged. Snapping his wand to the left he harshly summoned his Patronus and sent off a message to Madam Amelia Bones with the law enforcement office. He shielded his students from the horror within the cupboard.
Hazel Potter was a tiny girl, far smaller than she should be for her age. She was sickly pale and appeared to be severely malnourished. Her body was littered with bruises and badly healing broken bones. Her dark hair was long and matted and one of her eyes was swollen shut. She was barely alive and those responsible would pay.
A loud crack sounded outside, signaling the arrival of Lady Bones and her law enforcement agents. She swiftly entered the house, stopping short seeing Severus Snape kneeling in front of an open cupboard. She put up a privacy charm and spoke with him. Her agents took a look in the cupboard before running outside and vomiting in the backyard.
"What is the meaning of this Mr. Snape!" Madam Bones demanded.
"Hazel Roselyn Potter missed her sorting this evening," he said hoarsely. "Minerva McGonagall sent me and a pair of trusted students to the last known address to hopefully retrieve the child. We found her here. Given her state, it is obvious that she has been sorely abused and mistreated. I did not want to move her without summoning you and your officers to make sure she gets justice. I need to take her to St. Mungos."
"Who did this Severus?" she whispered harshly. "Where are we?"
"This is the former home of Petunia Dursley nee Evans," he said viciously. "She is Miss Potter's maternal aunt. How she ended up here I do not know, but several laws have been broken."
"I know!" Amelia said sharply. "Hazel has been missing for years. Sirius and Remus have been scouring all of Britain and the continent looking for her. They'll be devastated."
"She cannot go back to her family," he said firmly, as the privacy spell ended. "Miss Potter is not only Heiress to House Potter, but I believe that Lord Black made her his heir as well when Lord Potter tried to give her rights to her brother Harry."
"What?" Thorfinn asked in horror. "Where is she?"
Thorfinn stopped short at the cupboard. The stench sent him reeling, but it was the incoherent whimpering that brought him to his knees. He could already feel his magic reaching out for the little witchling. He knew of the ancient marriage contract between his family and that of the Blacks and Potters. This little girl, this tiny little witch was meant to be his. His fury built as he felt his Viking ancestry coming to the surface baying for blood. Many of his kin had been berserkers in battle. His magic was swirling around violently now.
"Mr. Rowle!" Snape barked. "You must calm yourself immediately. Miss Potter needs you, calm yourself and help us to help her!"
Thorfinn knelt beside the cupboard and gasped in horror. How could anyone do this to a child? Amelia Bones conjured a soft blanket to wrap the girl in as Thorfinn gently shifted her and lifted her from the cupboard. She was so damnably small and light. She would need a lot of healing before she would be able to practice magic of any kind.
"She needs to get to the hospital," Thorfinn said hoarsely. "I've got her now, but she's only alive because of her magic."
Madam Bones handed the young man an emergency portkey. They had all the evidence they needed. On the counter of the kitchen they found a letter addressed to Albus Dumbledore as well as a letter from him to Mrs. Petunia Dursley. Both letters were kept as evidence. Something was going on and Madam Bones was going to bring anyone and everyone responsible to justice for this.
To harm a child was inexcusable, but to harm a magical child that was the heir of not one but two Ancient Houses would mean that heads would roll. When the Goblins and Wizemagot became involved there would be no hiding or rest. None of them would harm magical blood, especially that of a child. Even the darkest of families would not harm a child, a female child at that, in such a way.
While a patriarchal society, women brought life into the world and were held in high regard for their contribution to their respective Houses and the magical community. Children were revered as the future and hope of the magical world and the families that they came from. To harm a female child was unspeakable and unheard of.
The Olde Families practiced the Olde Ways of etiquette and beliefs. Females were kept safe and often doted on. They were treated respectfully, regardless of their station in life. Many of the males in the community practiced their Olde customs and learned at an early age to do so.
Severus Snape portkeyed with his charges to St. Mungos and sent a patronus message to Lord Sirius Black. As much as he despised the man, he had mellowed over the years. The loss of his goddaughter had affected him gravely.
Thorfinn clutched his little betrothed to his chest protectively and firmly told the nurses that she would be seen immediately and given the utmost care. They were informed that House Black and House Rowle would be ensuring her recovery and care from this point forward.
Severus sat wearily in the waiting room with his two students. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin had arrived not long ago and were now pacing the room as well. Hazel Potter was currently undergoing several magical procedures to stabilize her magical core and fix her many grievous injuries.
Minerva McGonagall arrived close to midnight with a pale complexion. Albus Dumbledore had been arrested along with the Potters. The Dursleys had been located and taken into custody as well. Lord Rowle had arrived shortly after looking horrified along with the Tonks family.
What had come to light was rocking the magical world. Lord Potter and his wife had abandoned their child to the muggle relatives of Lily Potter at the urging of Albus Dumbledore. Albus then bespelled and cursed the muggle family to heap abuse and hatred on the girl in hopes of her dying, thus passing the line of succession on to her brother, The Boy Who Lived.
"She can't go back to them," Thorfinn said hoarsely. "Father, we cannot let her go back to them."
"I made Hazel my heir when she was born when James began talking about the Potter line continuing with his son," Sirius Black said softly. "She will come live with me. Unfortunately, Harry will be there also as I am his godfather as well. She will never go back to her parents and certainly not those filthy muggles. I give you my word."
Lord Rowle nodded. "You understand that my son has already begun to bond with the girl?" he asked. "Their magic started reaching out as soon as he found her. The contract between our families will be honored as will your heiress."
Swallowing thickly, Sirius nodded. "Aye, it will be honored. Hazel will need all the protection and care that she can get."
As soon as the words were said there was a flash of gold and a scroll appeared before both Lords. Sirius grabbed his and tucked it into his robes as Lord Ivan Rowle did the same. Clasping his son on the shoulder he squeezed it in a show of care. Though not overly demonstrative, Ivan cared for his son greatly, as he did for his daughter and wife. While his family leaned towards the more traditional and often dark gray area of magic, they were still good people.
"I need to return to the school," Interim Headmistress McGonagall said softly. "I can take the students along with me," she offered. "Septima is covering the Slytherin House for the time being, Severus."
"My son and I appreciate the offer, but as this is House business we will remain here." Lord Rowle said firmly. "I will bring my son back to the school at such a time that his intended is of good enough health. In the meantime, please have his things sent to our home and his schoolwork sent there as well. I will hire private tutors until he returns."
Severus nodded to his coworker, closing his eyes and leaning back in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. Of all things he had anticipated for the day, finding the lost child of Lily and James Potter was not among them. Swallowing thickly, he realized just how wrong things had gone over the years. The Lily he had known and loved was truly gone.
It was the end of their seventh year that they had tentatively reconciled. James was unaware as he and Lily had only recently begun dating. Severus would meet her in the library at times and they would often pass notes to one another. During the summer after their seventh year something had drastically changed, however.
Lily, who had been questioning the fast pace of her relationship with James, suddenly was agreeing to marry the boy. She had cut ties with Severus abruptly in an about-face of things, leaving her childhood friend reeling. He had tried to contact her, but James had confronted him in a violent and embarrassing argument.
How did she go from questioning her relationship with the harridan to suddenly being madly in love with the cretin? None of it made sense to him. Flicking his gaze over at the other remaining members of the Marauders, he straightened and cleared his throat.
Unsure how to broach the subject, Severus plowed straight to the point asking them if anything had happened the summer after graduation. Sirius and Remus grimaced and shared a glance. Apparently there had been a number of closed-door meetings between Albus Dumbledore and James Potter. Then one day Lily had been invited and they found out that their friend was engaged.
Everyone was a bit startled by the news but were happy for the couple. Their marriage was pushed through at an alarming rate for the Purebloods. Their customs dictated a specific length of engagement and ironing out of marriage contracts and clauses that often took months if not years. The fact that Lily and James married quickly had many speculating if the couple was expecting.
When there was no immediate announcement of the couple expecting their first child, many were baffled and stunned. It was unheard of by Pureblood standards, but with Albus Dumbledore rallying behind them, many kept their opinions to themselves. Besides, the Potter name was a well-respected one.
Sirius and Remus admitted that it was odd, but they went along with it thinking nothing of it. It wasn't until Hazel had been born that they realized that there might be something amiss. When Lily was pregnant her personality seemed to change but it was written off as pregnancy hormones. After the birth of their daughter and then a son, they noticed a drastic change in both James and Lily.
Both Sirius and Remus admitted that they were alarmed at James' demeanor and actions towards the smaller, delicate female twin. Hazel was so fragile and tiny compared to Harry that both men swore that they would look after her. They quickly agreed to be godfathers to both twins, knowing that they would need to keep an eye on things.
Everything seemed fine until the Dark Lord attacked Godrics Hollow when Pettigrew was babysitting. They knew that Peter had adored Hazel and had at the last moment tried to protect the tiny girl. Harry had indeed survived, but so had his older twin. Though lauded as "The Boy Who Lived," many did not know that Harry even had a twin because James did not announce her birth or recognize her publicly.
After the birth of the twins Lily seemed to go back to the pre-pregnancy mindset of being adoringly in love with James. Thus, when Hazel suddenly one day disappeared, she did not mention it to either of her godfathers. Sirius and Remus demanded to know her whereabouts, refusing to have anything to do with the Potters until they knew where the small child had gone.
Severus was rocked to the core. The Rowles were also shocked to hear such a tale. It was baffling and appalling to hear a Pureblood Lord treat his wife or children in such a way. The Rowles descended from Vikings and though they were fierce warriors and did awful things in the heat of battle and the aftermath, they valued children and their wives.
They were interrupted with the arrival of a tired Madam Bones. She had come for copies of the medical findings to ram through the legal proceedings. Albus Dumbledore had been stripped of all of his titles, his assets frozen, and all of his properties and vaults were being audited. His life was to become an open book.
The Potters were facing similar situations. However, the Goblins were chomping at the bit to handle the punishment of the current Lord Potter. The Wizemagot was in an uproar to learn that Lord James Potter had been potioning his wife for years. She had tried to fight it and had briefly been off it during her pregnancy with the twins, but the prolonged use had taken its toll on her body and magic.
She was being cleared of charges and additional charges were going to be filed against James and Dumbledore. However, she would not be granted custody of her children. She was in no mental state to do so. Also, because of her blood status, the heirs of the House Potter would have to be remanded to the next Pureblood male in their family, meaning Lord Black, their godfather would have custody of them. Lily though would live with them as well as she healed from her ordeal.
"James and Albus are going to be charged with attempted murder and line theft of an heiress," Amelia said tiredly. "Hazel is the first born and despite being a girl child what they tried to have done to her so that Harry could inherit is wrong. The Potters had changed their inheritance rites before James had been born. He knew this and still tried to take away something from one child in favor of another."
"Little Hazel will be safe with me," Sirius said gruffly. "Hazel, Harry, and Lily are now under the protection of my House."
Severus Snape looked like he wanted to cry. His shoulders trembled as he fought to keep the emotions at bay hearing what Lily had been through. Potter would lose everything, as would Dumbledore. Any clout or influence the men had was now gone as the public was hearing the travesties that they had set in motion.
One of the Healers entered the room and looked around. "Are any of you the parent or guardian of Hazel Potter?" the tired man asked.
"I'm Lord Black, her godfather and guardian," Sirius said emotionally. "How is she?"
The healer closed his eyes and drew a breath. "That child, that little girl," the man choked out. "We healed the broken bones, both new and old. Many had to be regrown and she will be in pain for some time. She's malnourished to the point of near death. Tell me that you had nothing to do with her current state!" he demanded.
"We just found her," Sirius said tersely. "She's been missing for years, but her biological father and Albus Dumbledore hid her away and refused to report the girl missing."
"Madam Bones," the healer nodded. "I'll be giving you the extensive and horrific medical record of what we've found. You should also note that Dumbledore tried, unsuccessfully, to block her magic. Had her magic been blocked she would not be alive today."
"Merlin," Madam Bones whispered in horror.
Thorfinn Rowle nearly howled in agony at the thought. Even now his magic called to the small fragile girl down the hallway. His father placed a calming hand on his shoulder and squeezed, anchoring him and calming his magic as it swirled angrily. All of the men in the waiting room seemed to be trembling in rage.
"Can I see her?" Thorfinn asked in a pained whisper.
"He's her betrothed and bonded," Sirius answered the healer's unspoken question. "I think it would calm both of their magic if he were allowed to see her and spend time with her."
"Agreed," the healer murmured, observing the broad-shouldered teen. "Follow me and I'll take you to her room. We need to keep her as calm as possible, so we ask that you all keep it down. You are all welcome to see her with her Guardian's permission of course."
Sirius looked around the room and nodded. "Agreed, but we need to make sure that we keep her guarded and safe. Right now, she's far too vulnerable."
"House Rowle will stand with House Black," Lord Rowle said formally.
"House Bones will stand with House Black," Madam Bones seconded.
"House Prince will stand with House Black," Severus Snape added, nodding to his childhood nemesis. "If you need potions for any of them let me know. I need to return to Hogwarts, but please keep me posted."
"It would appear that House Black needs to assemble and prepare itself," Sirius barked darkly. "I'll need to reach out to the cadet branches of my House and bring them to heel. The Heiress of my House has been poorly used and abused. My House shall prepare it's War Council and prepare to sanction those responsible."
"So mote it be," Thorfinn whispered harshly, igniting a booming flash of Olde Magic.