2: Old friends and new
Vernon didn't take Harry to the train station this year. His aunt volunteered to make the journey. When they arrived at the station they sat in the car in an awkward silence. Harry felt he should say something to the woman who did a 180 degree turn this summer. However all words escaped him.
"Harry." His aunt whispered breaking him out of his silence.
"Yes Aunt." He said a little too loud
"I have something for you."
"What…Me?" Now it was his turn to whisper
"Yes dear, it was your mothers." She pulled out a little box big enough to put a pocket watch in. "Take it," she said
Harry opened the box and just stared at the contents. It was in fact a pocket watch. It was sterling silver, with blue Rhine stones on the front. On the back was engraved the phrase "love winds the hands of time".
"Its beautiful, but it's broken." Harry said sadly as he noticed the hour and minute hands were still
"No it's not dear. It's a Medori watch." She said
"A what?"
"It's the only magical thing I ever accepted from my sister. She gave it to me when she graduated from that witches school. The hour and minute hands don't start for the owner until they share their first kiss with their one true love. It started for Vernon and I after our third date. However you must not mention this watch to him.
Harry nodded. "Why have you been nice to me?" Harry blurted out
"I don't know boy." She sounded sad "You look like your mother in the eyes. I wish we could have been more than just sisters in blood."
Harry was taken a back. He almost jumped out of his seat when she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. After another moment of silence, Harry exited the car and made his way to platform 9 ¾.
Hermione Granger stood in front of the train tapping her right foot out of impatience. 5 minutes left to board the train and no sign of Harry or Ron. Then again it was a chance that they may have walked right by her and she would have not known who they were. She had changed so much it wouldn't surprise her if they did too. Herminone had straightened her hair. She had darkened the browns and highlighted the honeys in it as well. It made her tresses look like that of a muggle model. She had toned up over the summer, as a result of going for morning jogs with her father. He was such a fitness nut. She also filled out on the top, she wasn't huge, but she smiled to herself as she realized she finally had a chest.
A light tap on the shoulder broke her out of her naughty thought. She whipped around to see a boy…no a man with raven hair smiling at her.
"Harry!" she yelped. "Why haven't you written me? I should punch you in the nu…"
"Missed you too Hermione." Harry cut her off
"Sorry." She smiled realizing that she had already started to nag. She got on her tip toes and kissed Harry lightly on the lips
"You look amazing." Harry said with red cheeks
"Thanks." Hermione said mildly. She was use to compliments. Muggle boys had given her their fair share over the summer. "You Mr. Potter don't look bad yourself."
"Tell me something I don't know." Harry teased.
She punched Harry playfully in the arm. To Harrys' surprise it hurt. It was then Harry notice that Hermiones' entire 5'6 frame was pure muscle.
"Damn Girl." He paused. "Hey look at this." He said, as he tore is eyes off of his best friend. Harry showed her his newly acquired Medori watch.
"Harry its beautiful. Who gave it to you" she shouted as she took it from him.
"Aunt Petunia." He said
Hermione almost choked on air. Before she could bombard him with questions, he filled her in on his aunts' turn around and about the purpose of the watch.
"Wow Harry that's great. And looks like you still haven't found your true love." She said playfully as she handed the watch back to Harry. She was referring to the brief kiss she and Harry had just shared
He looked down at the watch to see that the minute and hour hands still had yet to move.
"Ron will be happy about that." He muttered
"What was that?" she asked
"Nothing." He laughed
"Are you sure? Cause I thought I heard my name! A booming deep voice exclaimed from behind them.
"Ron!" Herminone yelled with tears in her eyes. It was Ron but she had trouble noticing him. To no ones surprise he had grown a couple more inches. His red hair was just as bright as ever but he had cut and spiked it. He was still lanky, just like Harry. Though she could see the muscles bulging out of his shirt.
"Tears, I didn't get tears." Harry laughed. He received another punch from Hermione, before she leaped in Ron's' arms.
"Bloody hell 10:59 we gotta get on the train." Ron said as he tried to avoid Hermiones' eyes. Her arms around him caused a feeling that he never felt before. She looked bloody brilliant. Why was he thinking that? Had Harry noticed her too? He better not have, or I'll kill him he thought. Ron shook his head trying to forget his current train of thought. This is going to be an interesting year.
The trio lucked out and found a vacant compartment on the train towards the back. They laughed and caught up on their summers. Hermione had gone to Spain for a small part of the summer. She said that she would die if she could not go back. Ron told of his adventures with the Cannons. Harry filled Ron in on his aunt and the watch.
"Well didn't know u was looking for love mate." Ron teased
"Oh grow up Ron." Hermione snapped
"Calm down Mione." He said in a teasing way
Hermione melted at the sound of Ron calling her by his special name he had given her. Harry wondered to himself why he hadn't noticed their chemistry before.
The rest of the time on the train was pleasant. Harrys' apprehensions about coming back to school had started to slowly melt away. He was starting to feel normal, well as normal as Harry Potter ever could.
Once again the golden trio found themselves outside the great hall, waiting to be in front of a spectacular feast prepared by the house elves. They were surrounded by the other students both friend and foe. Harry didn't care, he was just glad to see that none of them were staring at him like he was from another planet.
"I wish they would hurry with the bloody sorting. I'm starved." Ron shouted
"Patience Ron." Hermione said as she touched his arm.
Ron cheeks went just as bright as his hair. Harry just sighed. This lovely dovey stuff that neither of them realized they were doing would get old real quick.
"Besides this year is going to be the most exciting sorting ever!" Hermione said taken her arm away, which made Ron frown a little.
"What do you know that we don't this time?" Harry said
"Well rumor has it we are getting two new transfer students." She said
"So what." Ron whined
"So…Hogwarts never accepts transfers. You usually have to start from year one. They are supposed to be starting their six-year with us. They must be perfect students for Dumbledore to accept them. One is rumored to be American. The other is supposed to be Snapes kid!" She said
"What!" yelled Ron and Harry together
"There is a Snape JR. running around." Ron said disgusted
"Worse yet there was a woman who let Snape touch her." Harry groaned
"I guess everyone has to be loved. So you see sorting is going to be…"Hermione started
"I don't care i'm hungry." Ron moaned ignoring her.
"Shut it Ron." Hermione scoffed
"You aren't my mother woman! If I am hungry I'm hungry! So you shut it! Ron glared
Awwh...this was the Ron and Hermione that Harry loved. He scanned the corridor looking at the students, while he tried to drown the shouts of his best friends out. He saw Neville Longbottom. Who had grown just as much as Harry, he didn't even look to be a ball of nerves. He leaned against the wall talking to Luna Lovegood. Who by far was the weirdest person in Hogwarts, however in Harry's opinion next to Hermione the brightest. For a brief second Harrys' eyes locked with that of Ginny Weasley. She had a really weird dreamy looked in her eye. Harry hoped that she still didn't fancy him. Even though Harry was starting to notice girls, he really didn't have an interest in Ginny. Harry scanned the room further and immediately his stomach turned. Draco Malfoy was right in his sights slumped against the wall not surrounded by his usual cronies. Draco had let his hair grow out, and though it was nowhere near the length of his father, it was fairly long. His bright blue eyes had sadness to them that Harry found unnerving. Dracos' dad was in jail: maybe he was in mourning. Even though Harry despised Malfoy and his dad, he couldn't help feel bad for the boy. No boy should be without his father.
"Screw off Potter!" Draco yelled when he noticed Harry staring at him.
"Visited Azkaban lately?" Harry said even though he felt terrible about his retort. He could have sworn he saw Draco eyes water. He quickly looked away.
His eyes focused on a girl he had never seen before. She had to be at least Harry's age. She must be one of the transfer students Hermione was talking about. She was the most beautiful person Harry had ever seen, including Cho Chang. Her skin was the color of the dark chocolate that Harry loved to get from Honey dukes sweet shop. Her hair was even blacker than Harry's and it hung long and straight just above her arse. Her eyes were hazel and huge. She was about the same height as Hermione. Yet she wasn't as thin. She was well …thick. That was the only word to describe her. She wasn't fat but had curves in all the right places. Harry had to pinch himself to take his eyes off of her chest. It was huge. Never had he seen a girl…a woman like this.
Harry looked in terror as he realized that the beautiful brown skinned girl was making her way over to Draco Malfoy.
"What's up?" She said to Draco.
"Do I know you?" Draco said angrily
"No, but neither does anyone here. I'm new, and I need to make friends, and you aren't talking to anyone else. So I figured..." She started
"You figured wrong. What's wrong with your voice, where are you from?" Draco asked
"The U.S.A." She said
"Uggh if there is one think I hate more than muggles its American muggles." He sneered
"Muggles?" She asked
"Are both your parents wizards?" he said
"No my mom is a…"she cut her own self off
"I don't care what your mom is…you Mud blood!" He yelled
"I don't know what the hell you just called me, but I don't think it was nice. Watch it Blondie or ill have to hurt you." Now it was her time to yell
"REALLY!" Draco smiled.
Harry saw Draco going in his cloak for his wand. Without thinking Harry made a mad dash to where the two were.
"Do it Malfoy and ill make sure you won't be able to visit daddy for a long time." Harry said as he stuck his wand in Dracos' chest.
"Saint Potter rescues another Mud blood." Draco said
"Beat it Malfoy." Harry whispered
"I was here first." He said
"Does it look like I care?" Harry responded
"Stay away from me American" Draco said to the girl as he strutted away
"Maybe this was a bad idea coming here." The girl said to herself more than to Harry
"Not all of us are gits like Draco Malfoy. You just picked the wrong person to be your welcome wagon." Harry was relieved when the girl broke out is a wide smile
"Harry Potter." He said extending his hand to the girl. Harry was taken aback the girl didn't even flinch when she heard his name. Did American wizards not know of him? This was a relief he could make a first impression on her with out having to live up to any hype.
"Eliza…Eliza Sn…." She started
"Harry, you are an idiot, trying to get expelled on the first day!" Shouted Hermione as she and Ron ran over to him and the new girl
"Harry that was bloody brilliant. It looks like Malfoy has lost his edge though." Ron joked.
"Ron!" Hermione yelled
"Who's your friend?" Ron said ignoring Hermione. Ron like Harry had trouble taking his eyes off of the girl, every part of her was beautiful, even her hooked nose. That nose Ron thought looked really familiar. Still he could not place it.
"Eliza." Harry said in a low voice, a little annoyed that they had interrupted his meeting with her.
"Nice to meet you." Hermione said not yet sure what to make of the girl
"Sure to be a Griffindor, any one who could stand up to A Slytherin like that." Ron said in awe
"Thanks." Eliza said
"So you know about the houses than." Harry said.
"Yup sure do, it's not much I don't know about Hogwarts, my dad made sure I knew my stuff. First book I ever read was Hogwarts: A history. Although I'm sure he had good reason why he never explained what a mud blood was." She trailed off
"You have read a Hogwarts: A history?" Hermione said with glee, maybe this girl would be ok.
"Of course who hasn't? My favorite chapter is 633 because…" suddenly she was stopped
"Then you must have known about me then, and Voldermort." Harry said surprised
"Of course Harry, is there a problem." She asked after seeing the look on his face
"You just didn't react how most people do, when they find out about me." He said looking down the floor
"Well you are just a boy right. Besides must get sickening people gawking at you and your scar all the time. Although it is a really handsome battle scar." She said matter of factly
Harry smiled. This girl was full of wonderful surprises.
"So sorry, we are so rude. She doesn't even know our names Ron." Hermione said while punching Ron
"Well you just told her mine. Ron Weasley I am. This is Mione…I mean Hermione Granger." Ron Corrected himself
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Eliza, Eliza Sna…" Once again she was cut off, this time by her own doing. "Daddy!" she said before she took off running.
Harry, Ron and Hermione followed Eliza with their eyes to see where she was running.
"What's she doing? The only person over there is Snape." Ron said
Harry was just a clueless. He saw professor Snape insulting some new first years. He was in his usual uniform of black, with a mop of greasy hair to match his onyx eyes. However when Snape caught site of the girl running towards him, Harry saw the usual hard features of his face melt away. For the first time he saw his potions professor…SMILE. Harry was taken aback as Snape and Eliza embraced. And rubbed their hooked noses together in an Eskimo kiss. Hooked noses? Finally it clicked for the trio at the same time.
"Snape is her dad!" Harry said in disbelief
"Of course we aren't getting two new transfer students. The American is Snapes kid." Hermione said piecing things together
"I knew that nose looked familiar!" Ron said
"But they are so different. Snape is so pale and she is so...so…not pale." Harry said
"Ha, well she takes after her mum then? Thank goodness for that." Ron said.
Harry could not help but laugh. He saw Eliza Snape hand in hand with the man who has made his life miserable for five years. To his horror Eliza was directing her dad toward his direction.
"Dad I told you not to worry I would make friends." Eliza said
Snapes smiled dropped when he was thrown in front of Harry
"Potter." He growled
"Professor." Harry said in the same tone
"Thank you for keeping Eliza occupied while we wait for the sorting ceremony. However I have arranged for her to be introduced to the school by a Slytherin. Since there is no doubt she will be placed in my house." He said "Malfoy!" he shouted
Harry saw the fear in Dracos' eyes when he approached his professor and saw him holding the hand of the girl he had just tried to stun.
"Yes sir." He said
"As you recall, I owled you over the summer asking you to show my daughter around the school. I'd like you to meet Eliza Montana Snape." He said
"Hi." Draco said trying to pretend their first meeting did not happen
"Nice to meet you." Eliza said playing along, "But there is no need to bother Draco dad, Harry, Ron and Hermione have agreed to show me around the castle." She said
"I understand you have taken a…liking to them." He said "But you should really be acquainted with someone who will be in your own house."
"Dad it won't matter who shows me around, besides according to Ron I will be a Griffindor." She beamed
Ron let out a gasp as Snape stared at him
"Did you Weasley?" he said as more of a statement the question
"Ugggh." Is all Ron could mutter.
The doors of the great hall opening saved Ron. The group filed in with the rest of the students.
The sorting went by quick not many first years this year. Eliza went to Slytherin to the glee of her father. Harry was sadden and relieved by this at the same time. He liked the girl, but could he really be friends with a Snape? That thought haunted Harry until he went to bed and dreamed a horrible dream of Voldermort
Eliza Snape woke with a start. She couldn't believe she was finally going to be aloud to do magic. She wasn't naive she knew she would be far behind, especially in the same grade as a powerful wizard like Harry Potter. But she had to try; she had been bugging her father for this since she could talk. She looked around her room that she had to herself. Normally people at Hogwarts had to bunk up. She knew her dad had something to do with her getting her own room, but she couldn't complain. She loved the sleek long line of the Slytherin quarters. The green and black colors gave it a feel of luxury and honor. Eliza knew that the other houses feared Slytherin's. However she was glad that old hat had put her here. She was a Slytherin and she was a good person. The girl with the American ways would prove that you could be both a Slytherin and a great human being.
She made her way down to the great hall for breakfast. Classes wouldn't start for another day so she was sure most of her fellow students were sleeping in. She was shocked when all four house tables were nearly full. Eliza took a seat at the end of the Slytherin table. Draco made glances at her, off and on. She wasn't sure but she thought he had an apologetic smile on his face. Either way she wasn't sure she cared to find out. Draco had been a real jerk. She could see no way that they could be friends. The other Slytherins just stayed away from her, making it clear that she wasn't welcomed. Any friend of Harry Potter was an enemy to them. The only reasons why the other Slytherin's weren't blatantly rude to her was the fact that her father was the head of the house. Eliza spotted Harry and Ron at the Griffindor table. She would rather be over there with them. Was it against the rules to sit at another house table? Only one way to find out. Eliza grabbed her tray and marched over to the boys.
Harry saw Eliza coming over. Was she going to sit with them? This girl was brave, once she allied herself with a Gryffindor she would be black listed from her own house. Wow she looked amazing; unlike Hermione he didn't get the feeling that Eliza needed to be protected although he wanted to anyway. However what could he expect from a daughter of Severus Snape.
"Hi Ron, Harry. Please tell me if I'm intruding." She said
"Of course not." Ron said between bites of his bacon and egg sandwich.
"Where's Hermione?" Eliza asked
"Library." Said Harry
"Wait what? Classes haven't even started." Shouted Eliza
"Get use to it, Eliza. Mione loves her books." Ron said
"Mione? Why do you call her that?" Eliza asked Ron
"Is it stupid?" Ron blushed
"No I think it's sweet." She smiled
Harry wanted to die at the look on Ron's face. If his cheeks got any redder Harry was sure Ron would explode.
"Harry!" Hermione came running up "I did some reading on your watch and…" she cut her self off when she noticed Eliza. "Hello Eliza."
"Hi Hermione, yo I hope your study habits rub off on me." Eliza responded
"What's a yo?" Ron asked
"Muggle slang Ron." Said Hermione
"Oh." He said annoyed with muggle slang
"What about the watch Hermione." Harry asked
"Umm I'll tell you later." Hermione was not sure she wanted to mention anything of importance around Eliza yet
"Ok." Harry said understanding why Hermione wanted to wait. "What wizard school did you go to before you came here Eliza?" Harry said completely changing the subject
"None. I was in muggle schools until this year." She said
"What? You have never studied magic?" Hermione said dumbstruck
"No I wanted to but my dad said that it was too dangerous. Then out of the blue he says I can finish up my education here. To this day I don't know why he changed his mind, but I didn't want to question him.
"No one ever wants to question him" Ron said again between bites
"Ron!" yelled Harry
"Its ok guys, I know my dads reputation here. I don't know why daddy doesn't show you guys how sweet he is. He's a very pleasant man." She beamed
"Sure." Muttered Ron
"Where's your mum then" asked Harry
"Still in America. I miss her a lot, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity." Said Eliza
"So your mom was actually in love with Professor Snape." Blurted Hermione
"And still is." Eliza said ignoring Hermiones' rudeness "They are still together. My mom was supposed to come back to England with my dad when they first met, however after all that stuff with Voldermort happened dad said no way she or I could leave America."
Ron was the only one to flinch at the mention of Voldermort.
"How much do you know about your dad and his relationship with Voldermort?" Pressed Hermione
"If you mean if I know my dad was a death eater? Yes I do. If you mean if I know that for the last 17 years my father has put his life on the line and became a spy for the other side? Well I know that too. If you mean if I knew my dad was attacked this summer when Voldermort found out that indeed he was a spy, and he had a daughter by an American? Well that I know too! Look i'm not about to make excuses for my father and what he did in the past. All I know is every one makes mistakes and for the past 17 years he has been trying to rectify them for himself and for me. So if you three or anyone else at this school has anything to say about my father then you will have to say it to me!" Eliza said now screaming, tears streamed down her face.
Suddenly Eliza jumped up and stormed out of the great hall.
"Mione why did you go and do that?" asked Ron
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so harsh. I didn't know that professor was attacked" She said tears now in her eyes
"I'm going to find her." Harry said as he sprinted out of the Hall
It took Harry about 2 hours to track Eliza down. He checked the library, the Quidditch Pitch, the owl tower. He had hoped she didn't make her way into the dark forest or yet the third floor corridor. After all the usual places, it hit Harry. Eliza probably retreated to her own house Quarters. After flirting with a fourth year Slytherin for about 20 minutes Harry had persuaded her to let him in the Slytherin house. He had only been in there once, and it was no different this time. The place still creeped him out.
Harry made his way into the common room. It was empty. This was a bad idea he thought. Harry suddenly heard voices coming from behind him. He knew that voice it belonged to Quidmire Addalay, one of the Slytherin prefects. If he caught Harry it would be detention for a week. A hand grabbed Harry's shoulder and yanked him into a side room before he could protest. He quickly turned around to see who it was.
"If they catch you in here you are toast." Eliza said
Harry could see fresh tears swelling in her eyes
"Yes this I know." He said "Look about earlier."
"I hate it here. I'm telling my father that I want to go home"
"You just got here. You haven't even had a first day of classes."
"So what, no one wants me here."
"That's not true. If that was the case I would not have risked detention to come see if you were ok." Harry pleaded
"Saint Potter rescues another mud blood." Eliza said mocking earlier words by Draco
"That's not funny." Harry said
"I know."
"Hermione is just looking out for me, it's hard to make new friends. Every time we let someone in they end up trying to screw us over. She is not a bitch, contrary to today's events." He said
"I know and you should be glad you and Ron have her, that little girl is feisty." Eliza laughed
"Yea but I don't have her; I just borrow her from Ron." Now it was Harry's turn to laugh "I like you…I mean we like you a lot Eliza. We need to all start over."
"I agree." She smiled
"I must warn you though. I've never been friends with a Slytherin." Harry said with a cocked grin
"Me either." Eliza shot back
That night Eliza and Hermione made up after a tear fest which Ron and Harry quickly excused themselves from. Now it was rare to see one without the other. Eliza and Hermione were always off somewhere doing each other's hair or gossiping about Ravenclaw girls. Ron and Harry didn't mind though, now they got a chance to be around the most two beautiful girls at Hogwarts. . The golden trio was now a quartet.