A/N: Thank you for reviewing, everyone.
Inca: There will be more and more hints in each chapter and after a while they start to get pretty blatant. There are hints in every chapter except the first one. Anyone who can find them and email them to me separately will win house points….the person with the most house points…well, we'll work something out. I will award points for finding the hints in all the chapters leading up to the revelation.
P.S. You're welcome.
Chapter 7: The Gryffindor Trio and the Odd Duck
Minerva couldn't help but smile in delight as Harry and Alathea entered the great hall, their heads together as the laughed about something. They both looked so much like their fathers, and yet so much like each other. Harry was already close to a full head taller than his sister, who just barely hit 5'1". But they were related to some very powerful witches and wizards, and while Harry was still growing into his powers, Alathea looked very comfortable and commanding in hers. The transfiguration professor was very pleased to see that having to study her lessons independently had not left the girl awkward and lacking confidence.
Harry looked around for his two best friends, when he found them he grabbed his sister's hand and started dragging her with him. Hermione and Ron looked up at them as the came closer and Hermione had to fight to keep her jaw closed. The girl and Harry looked exactly like each other. Except, except she looked a lot like Snape too. "This is Alathea. Alathea, this Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. My best friends."
Alathea smiled at both of them then sat next to Hermione. "You guys can call me Ali." She said, then they noticed a sadness in her expressive eyes. "That's what my best friend called me."
"What happened to her?" Hermione asked softly as she gave the older girl's hand a squeeze.
"The Death-eaters took her. She was a muggle. Margery." They all looked at her sympathetically.
"Hey…uh…what's Snape like, ya know, as a dad?" Ron asked curiously.
Suddenly the sparkle was back in her eyes. Harry could've kissed Ron for asking that question. "He's wonderful!" She blushed and lowered her voice a bit. "I know he was a death-eater and he was bad and all but he's not anymore. And well, we missed a lot of time, but he was so great when I was little and we're making up for what we missed."
Ron gaped at this praise of their least favorite teacher. "He's not so bad when he's outside of class." Harry admitted. "And you can tell that he adores Ali."
"Speaking of which…" Alathea trailed off as her father entered the room and sat next to McGonagall. She stood quickly and practically skipped up to the table.
"Bit of an odd duck though, isn't she?" Ron asked after she'd stopped long enough to give McGonagall a hug and then drop into the seat on the other side of her father.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "There has to be someone a little strange in Snape's family."
Hermione giggled.
Just then the owls came in with the mail. Harry caught the letter Hedwig threw at him. Ron caught one from an unfamiliar owl. Harry pocketed the letter quickly. It was from Sirius and he knew, as every letter since his fifth year had, it contained messages written to Harry but actually meant for McGonagall, Dumbledore, and even Snape.
Ron however opened his letter immediately and let out a great whoop of joy. "Harry! Hermione! Bill, my brother Bill, he's coming to Hogwarts, tomorrow!"
Ron positively adored his eldest brother, and Harry had to admit Bill was pretty cool. "He's coming tomorrow. Says Dumbledore sent for him." He added quietly.
Harry nodded. "Sirius sent letters too. We should try to get back to the common room early, so we can find out what's going on."
Just then McGonagall got up and left. "Uh oh." Hermione said. "Time for Transfiguration."
The three of them got up and ran to the door. When they got there Harry turned back. Alathea was still in deep conversation with her father. "Ali! Transfiguration! Are you coming?!"
Dumbledore chuckled from behind them at the door and Snape glared. "Mr. Potter…" Before he could take any points away however, his daughter laid a hand on his arm and gave him a look. He sighed. "Do not shout in the school anymore."
With a smile Alathea ran to her brother. "Bye Daddy!" She yelled before running out the door. Snape rolled his eyes. She followed her brother out the door and ran into the headmaster. She stopped, stood up on tip-toe and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Hello Uncle Albus."
"Hello Thea. Where are you off to?"
"Transfiguration." She looked over to where Harry and his friends were already way ahead of her. "Whoops. Gotta go! Bye!" Then she took off running after them calling out, "Hey Harry wait up! I don't remember where I'm going!"
Dumbledore watched till they were out of sight. He had a little smile on his face and a strange sparkle in his eyes. When they were out of sight he walked into the Great Hall, looking forward to a delicious lunch.
