Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Summer was well on its way when Harry Potter had been told to get the mail by his Uncle Vernon. Almost on the eve of his eleventh birthday Harry knew that he was different from his relatives, a thought which he regularly thanked what ever powers be, was true.
Thinking about his self discovery, Harry felt that he had really known he was different since he was nine, when after being locked in the cupboard under the stairs for three days straight without food. Muttering in contempt about how he wished the stupid door would unlock, he was surprised when the door to the cupboard unlocked and silently opened. Fortunately for him his aunt and cousin where out buying ice cream when this occurred. The words of his Aunt and Uncle, "There's no such thing as magic," came to his mind, and he pondered on this. Why say something like that when clearly he had just done t otherwise. Wondering, Harry climbed out of the cupboard, and went to the fridge.
'Can I just will this to happen?' Harry asked himself, "one way to find out," he spoke out to nobody.
Seeing a china plate on the draining board, he closed his eyes and tried to see if he could raise it in the air. Obviously with your eyes closed you aren't going to see an object move, but move it did, unfortunately Harry's aunt had just arrived home with Dudley. Surprised Harry forgot about the plate, and it smashed to the floor, alerting his aunt that someone was in the kitchen.
On arriving she saw Harry and pursing her sour mouth, said, "Get into the cupboard now, your Uncle will deal with you when he gets home."
Harry had never felt fear until that moment. He knew that his Aunt had found out that he had done magic. Rushing to the cupboard under the stairs, he sat on his cot and anxiously waited for when his Uncle arrived home.
It took three weeks to heal from the beating his Uncle gave him. The school knew nothing, his Aunt had called them and said Harry had the chicken pox. Harry never tried magic again when it was daylight, only in the middle of the night when he was sure everyone was asleep. Two years had almost passed, and his relatives were none the wiser.
Until now that is.
On retrieving the mail, there was two letters addressed to him. The first was from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, while the second was blank on the reverse side. While looking rather dumbly at the first envelope, Dudley had decided that he would see what interested his cousin so much.
Grabbing the Hogwarts letter Dudley squealed to his father, "Dad Harry's got mail!"
Harry seeing Dudley take the first letter quickly pocketed the second letter, and rushed to follow his cousin into the dining room with the rest of the mail. By the time he had arrived Vernon and Petunia had paled. Seeing Harry out of the corner of his eyes Vernon's face darkened, and began to violently approach him. Harry had no time to react as his Uncle's hand slapped him across the face.
"I obviously didn't beat the magic out of you hard enough last time BOY!" Vernon spat at him. Dragging him out of the kitchen, he continued to beat Harry until he was black and blue, before shoving him into the cupboard and locking it shut.
It was several hours before Harry attempted to move, too scared that his Uncle might hear him. Groaning Harry tried to sit up, but instead found himself gasping for breath from the pain all over his body. Focusing on his magic he willed him self better, and found to his surprise that although still stiff he was no longer in pain. There where still some bruises but they would heal in the next few days.
Sitting up, he felt the thick envelope crease in his pocket. Tugging the envelope open he pulled out three pieces of paper, a photo, and a gold key with the number 512 engraved on it. The first two pieces of paper were a letter:
Dear Harry,
Let me introduce myself, my name in Lily Marie Snape, and I am your mother. Your father Sebastian Tobias Snape is sitting beside on my right, while you sleep in your cradle with your twin sister, as I write this letter. Please read all of this before throwing the letter away.
If you are reading this, then your father and I have passed on from this world, and knowing our luck Albus Dumbledore has placed you with my sister Petunia, and her husband Vernon. This letter should arrive with your Hogwarts letter, as I feel that if you are indeed living with my sister then there are a few things you need to know.
Knowing my sister I should tell you now, yes magic does exist, and there is an entire other world out there waiting for you.
Firstly you have to understand your importance to the wizarding world. Before you were born there was a prophecy made about you and two other wizards. It goes as follows:
The one with the power to unite the Lords,
Born to those who thrice defied,
Born as the seventh month dies,
A dark lord shall mark him as his equal,
Although he will have powers greater than foe,
And either must die at the hand of the other,
For neither can live while the other survives
The two other wizards are Albus Dumbledore, and Lord Voldemort. Both lead opposite sides of the war and both use tactics which when looked at from an outside point of view seem dark. In secret your father and I support Lord Voldemort, although as of late he seems to have been changing. I warn you to be careful, even now we are not sure which of these two wizards will mark you, so you need to find this out before you make your decision. I do not expect you to understand the prophecy now, but in time I am sure it will reveal itself. There are a few people who know the truth, namely the Severus Snape (your uncle on your father's side), Dior and Horace Zabini (your god parents).
Since it became apparent the instant you where born that you could be the prophesied child we had to protect you. When you where younger we decided to place a complex charm on you, which involved changing essentially who you are. Your real name is Selma Evanthe Snape. You are naturally a girl, but due to the protection charms you are currently a boy. There is a simple trick to remove the charm you simply have to 'will' yourself to be who you truly are. You have a twin sister named Sophia Athena Snape. I am not sure where she is if she is not with you there at the Dursley's. Sophia will also get a letter and I am sure that she will search you out when she gets the chance, she does so now even in her sleep.
The gold key is the key to your Gringott's trust vault, which has a considerable sum of money in it. You share this vault with your sister, and I have left some books in the vault that you should read. Use the money well. Unfortunately you can not touch the family vault until you are sixteen, but you should have what you need in the other vault until then.
Knowing my sister and Vernon's hatred of magic I am sure you are eager to escape what ever hell hole they have put you in. The other piece of paper is your birth certificate, but I have also made it into a portkey which when you hold and pronounce the word 'home' will take you to your Uncle Severus's home.
The photo is of your father, sister, you, and me on your first birthday. I know it's not much, but at the moment it's all I can give you. I just wish I could be there hugging you, and maybe playing with your hair instead of the current situation you must be in. Know that we love you very much, and will always be with you in your heart.
Love,
Lily and Sebastian Snape
Harry mutely blinked his eyes hoping to cut off the threatening tears that lingered there. Looking at the photo he could clearly see a woman with long auburn hair and bight green eyes, smiling and waving at him. Standing next to her was an older man with shoulder length onyx coloured hair, and a light tan gently holding a little girl in each arm. The identical girls where both smiling and trying to pull on the man's hair. Both had their father's hair and complexion, but had their mother's eyes. In all Harry thought that they looked like a happy family.
The one thing Harry couldn't get out of his mind was that this letter said he was a girl. Looking at the final piece of paper it showed:
United Kingdom Wizarding Birth Certificate
Child's Name: Selma Evanthe Snape (Twin)
Father's Name: Sebastian Tobias Snape
Mother's Name: Lily Marie Snape (nee Evans)
Date of Birth: 31st July 1981
Time of Birth: 11:58pm
Place of Birth: Snape Manor, Cambridgeshire, England
Comments: Elder twin of Sophia Athena Snape, born at 12:05am 1st August 1981.
Harry sat thinking about what the letter said. Looking at the birth certificate it seemed real, but how was he to know for sure? There was one way but that would mean changing into a girl, did he really want that? But then sitting up straighter, he felt the stiffness of his body from his uncle's beating, did he want to stay here, or did he what to take the chance offered. Harry knew he was different, and the birth certificate confirmed it. Closing his eyes, and focusing on who he was, the decision was made. Harry or Selma felt her hair grow longer, past her shoulders, and down her back, stopping at elbow length. Opening her eyes she realised with a start that she didn't need her glasses anymore. Hesitantly she took them off and looked at her arms and legs. The skin seemed more olive toned than before. 'Oh well I guess the letter was telling the truth,' Selma thought, 'I should see if this portkey works, before the Dursley's find me'. Gathering the few things that she valued, she held out her birth certificate, and whispered more to herself, "Home."
Severus Snape was normally regarded as a greasy git. He was also too well aware of what people thought of him. Looking at the clock ticking on the wall, he reflected on the past, and the events he was sure were about to play out. He knew that Sebastian and Lily had made arrangements for this night for his two nieces, and if all went to plan he would have at least Selma here in the next few hours. Of course that depended whether Selma believed the letter, but knowing Selma she had to have some part of Lily in her, that dreadful Gryffindor part which meant she would give it a foolish try. For once in his life Severus felt a relief for the bravery that was common trait to that house. But of course he could forgive his niece; she was a Snape after all. Just the thought of finally being able to look after what was left of the Snape line brought a smile to his face.
Feeling a buzz run through his body, Severus was made aware that someone had entered the main reception room of Snape Manor. Standing up, and brushing down his black silk robes, he hastily made his way to his guest. Entering the reception room he was greeted with an interesting sight. Standing in the middle of the room was little girl, of about 150cm dressed in what appeared to be over sized rags. She had the trade mark black hair of a Snape, but Lily's eyes. While staring at the girl, Severus felt the buzz again, and was shocked to see and identical girl appear, although the girl was dressed in ill styled muggle clothes.
'Way to weird in my opinion' thought Severus.
Severus found his voice, and asked, "Would you be Selma and Sophia?"
The girl in rags spoke up first, "I am Selma. My letter said that you would be Uncle Severus…." Her voice trailed off while looking at her twin.
"I am Sophia, at least I think I am…" said the other girl.
Severus looked at them and realised that it was getting late, "I am your Uncle Severus, and guessing from your looks you are Selma and Sophia Snape, my nieces. It is quiet late at night, and I am sure you are tired, perhaps we could talk in the morning?" he suggested.
Seeing the girls hesitantly nod their heads, Severus summoned the house elf which he had decided would be the girls, "Silk come and show the girls to their rooms," and suddenly out of thin air a small creature with floppy ears, and a big nose appeared, wearing what appeared to be a cotton shift of sorts.
"Misses come and Silk will show you to your rooms" the small creature squeaked.
Seeing the girls staring at the creature, Severus sighed, "This is a house elf," he explained, "I will come with you to your rooms, and in the morning we can have a long overdue talk."
Taking one of their hands, Severus led the two girls down a long hallway, before climbing a grand staircase, and going down a further hall way. Reaching a door he opened it, and led the two girls through a sitting room, before entering a bedroom with twin beds in it. Silk came to the girls then, and took them the bathroom off the side of the bedroom, and had them change into long, flannel night dresses. Having brushed their teeth and hair, they returned to find their new uncle sitting in a chair, reading a book.
Looking up at the girls Severus said, "Alright now hop into a bed, and I will leave you to talk to each other, and then tomorrow we can talk."
Mutely the two girls got into bed, and settled down, watching Severus Snape leave the room.
Selma was starting to feel overwhelmed. Looking in the mirror across the room she could see the changes more clearly now. Almond shaped green eyes, pale olive skin, black hair, but still the lightning shaped scar. Hearing sniffles she turned to Sophia and asked, "Are you okay?"
Sophia looked up when Selma first spoke to her, trying to be brave she weakly smiled and said, "I had been arguing with my adoptive parents about a magic school when, I ran into my room, and discovered the letter from our mother. I am not sure if I am happy to be here or not…"
Selma thought about what Sophia had just revealed, so she said, "I think I am happy to be away from my, well our relative's house. They did not like me…" she trailed off, "since we are twins, how about we tell each other about, well, each other?"
Sophia felt a flood of relief that her twin seemed to be in the same frame of mind as herself. Settling into her pillows she began her story, "My adoptive name was Hermione Jane Granger…."