Harry and Ron tipp toed down the stairs of number 12 Grimauld Place. The Order had just called a special meeting. All the adult members of the Order had flocked to headquarters while Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley children were herded into their bedrooms. Bringing the girls along would cause too much noise, so the boys had set out alone, determined not to miss out on any important news.
Reaching the top of the stairs just above the entry, they grabbed their extendable ears (Fred and George were flourishing), aimed, and let loose. Professor McGonagall was speaking:
"Professor Dumble found the child. I happened upon the papers while examining his former office for anything that might give the Order away to the next headmaster. She resides in New Hampshire with her adoptive parents and one sister."
"So we can tell Harry now?" The voice of Mrs. Weasley was particularly squeaky, a sure sign that she was excited and eager.
"I am afraid not, Molly," Mrs. Weasley let out a hiss of disappointment and anger. "You must understand, Miss Potter has never consciously used her magic, only in dire circumstances. It is for her safety that we must not tell Harry. He never fully mastered his Occlumency, and should the Dark Lord Voldemort decide to attack his mind he and discover the existence of his twin sister, the outcome would be devastating, not to mention terrifying for the girl."
Lupin cut in, sounding quite confused.
"How is it possible that she has never used her magic? She's sixteen years old!"
When McGonagall answered, Harry could hear the smile in her voice.
"Like all other strong wizards and witches who have been deprived of their magic. Through creating art. Miss Potter is the newest sensation in the muggle world since the days of a wizard named Pablo Picasso. Completely unknown in the wizarding world, but muggles thought he was a genius. Miss Potter's reputation is growing very quickly in fact. I have been thinking of purchasing some of her work to display at Hogwarts. It is quite stunning."
A few people coughed, obviously not at ease. Harry could feel Ron's eyes boring into him, but pointedly ignored this. McGonagall, in the meantime, to a leaf out of Dumbledore's book and continued to speak as though she had heard nothing.
"… Guards shall be posted with Miss Potter and members of her family, as it is our duty to protect her. It is by my inattentiveness that the poor child is in this situation, at the very least I can protect her. Now perhaps we should move on to less important matters…."
Harry tugged at the end of his extendable ear and turned around to find Ron starring at him, transparent beneath his freckles and wide eyed. Before Ron could utter a single word Harry cut him off.
"Don't tell anyone – even Hermione – what we just heard, ok? I need to think about it." Harry turned and ran as silently as possible up the stairs, slipping inside the room he and Ron shared. It had been an interesting evening.
Harry lay in bed, thinking over everything he had just heard. How was it possible? Dumbledore had said that Harry had no living family left. Was it possible that he had been mistaken? Suddenly, Harry recalled something the Headmaster had once told him…. 'Even the greatest men make mistakes…. Often when they do, their mistakes are greater and more dangerous…..' At least Harry thought that was what Dumbledore had said. Maybe Dumbledore had made a mistake? Maybe he had overlooked a single survivor of Voldemort's attack? Maybe Harry really did have a sister?
Sleep fell upon Harry, step in step with a strong determination. It proceeded to fill his veins, pulsing through him in a steady beat of happiness. He was no longer alone.
Breakfast that morning went as normal, although Ron looked as if he was going to be sick every time he came across Harry. By the time Harry had finished (Mrs. Weasley insisted on giving him seconds) the kitchen was quite full. As soon as Mrs. Weasley had whisked away Harry's plate, he pulled himself together and asked.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Weasley, but would it be possible for me to talk to Minerva?" The kitchen went quiet. Mad Eye Moody continued talking to Lupin, but his eye swirled, coming to a halt on Harry.
"Why would you want that, dear?" Mrs. Weasley's voice was now trembling a little.
"I'd like to talk to her about the rumors in the Daily Prophet. They're saying that I have a sister, and I thought she could put them right."
It was a careful lie, and one nobody would suspect it, because nobody read the Daily Prophet after the lies it had told about Harry in the past two years.
Silence filled the room. Every eye was fixed on him. What seemed like eternity passed, and then, finally, came the answer.
"You may ask me anything you wish, Harry." Minerva McGonagall stood in the doorway, regret and knowing in her eyes. "If you, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger would follow me outside, I would be honored to answer any queries that you have."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said before anyone could pose otherwise. Shooting a meaningful glance at Ron and Hermione he strode out of the room.