The rest of her morning classes came and went and Sharlen still hadn't seen him. She passed lunch period in the Owlery, trying to come up with tactics. How was she ever going to find him? If they didn't have any classes… After four had passed, she was beginning to doubt that they would; why would Gryffindors and Slytherins have classes together, anyway? They'd been with Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, sure, but putting rivals together was just asking for trouble. What teacher really felt like dealing with that?
She had double potions next. But with who? Maybe the Ravenclaws again. Sighing, she spread her wings and headed for the dungeons.
Snape was expecting her. He was leaning against his desk, facing the window, and barely flinched when she came through. He held up his arm to her and she gave a little shriek of insult; the only person to ever have her perch on his arm was her father when he wanted her to know he had orders she was to follow. Sharlen transformed in midair before him and scowled something awful. "Don't you ever, ever, hold your arm to me again. I'm not your pet."
Snape shrugged fluidly-an odd movement from him-took her by the shoulder, and forced her into the nearest seat. He leaned over her, his nose an inch from hers, his teeth bared in either a smirk or a strict frown; he was too close for her to be able to tell which. "What the hell are you doing-?"
"Quiet," he demanded. Sharlen leaned back slightly and stared. That wasn't his voice. She noticed now that his aura was missing. "Now listen to me, Sharlen, I have orders for you."
It was her father. Speaking through Snape.
"Father..." she muttered, in awe. Was this possible? "This isn't safe for you."
"We haven't much time. Now, listen closely."
"Father, we've discussed this. You agreed that my part was done."
Snape laughed. "I've changed my mind. That's my jurisdiction." Sharlen glared, but she didn't say anything. She'd simply take it into account and say no more about it. "Now, Snape tells me you've made some friends already."
Sharlen looked away. "Not really…"
"Don't lie to me."
"There was just some girl I was talking to, father. Surely you don't expect me to study here and not speak to anyone at all?"
"Just be careful what you say. Remember, all those at Hogwarts are against us, except the Malfoy boy. The only person I want you talking to is him, is that understood?" Sharlen made to object or complain, but he silenced her. "Are you not grateful I've allowed you to be there?"
Sharlen swallowed hard and nodded. "But father, what if I just watched what I said? Didn't say anything about my origin or… anything? I don't exactly plan on shouting it for all to hear…"
"Have you already told her about your powers?"
"Just generally, nothing incriminating…"
"So be it, but no one else, is that clear?"
"Yes, father."
Snape gripped slightly harder but his expression didn't change; no muscle in his face shifted or twitched. He tilted her chin up closer to him. "Good old Severus here also tells me of your plans for your old friend, Sharlen."
Sharlen's eyes widened momentarily but she quickly narrowed them again. "Father… I just…"
Snape laughed in her face, hard and loud. Still, Sharlen went on. "I know you and him… and me, I… I've missed him!"
"Go ahead and tell him, my girl," he said sadistically, her face in his hands as he stroked her cheek as though wiping away nonexistent tears. She was backed up as far as possible from him, right against the back of her chair and slouched slightly, but he'd followed her, never altering the distance between their bodies. "You just be ready for disappointment—let's call it a life lesson. You said you wouldn't help me, but if you tell him, it will destroy him. Which is exactly my aim, and I shall aim true."
Sharlen considered this as Snape backed off. He turned his back on her and around again the next second, glaring. His aura bloomed dark gray all around him, reemerging as he took control of himself. "Remember what he said."
"Master Severus?"
"Who else, you stupid girl? Be quiet and ready your things."
Students began to enter the dungeon, first only Slytherins, but then she saw out of the corner of her eye a few students she'd yet to see: Gryffindors. Her heart stopped momentarily. He'd be in this class. There was no doubt in her mind.
Predicting he'd be closer to the back of the room, Sharlen stood and gathered her things with intentions to move, but Snape hissed, "You're fine where you are, Miss Down."
Why was Snape protecting him? He'd heard what Voldemort had said… Shouldn't they both be encouraging her to talk to him, to tell him?
Or was he… protecting her?
Stacey came in and stood beside her, smiling. Sharlen couldn't smile. "I saved you some lunch!"
"That's okay, I caught a rat a little while ago. But thank you," she said mechanically, her mind racing. She was focusing on the door; if he just got a good look at her, maybe he'd remember, and try and find her later. Or maybe he'd just think he was hallucinating. Whatever happened, she was trembling with excitement.
Sharlen soon found that drawing attention to herself wasn't going to be hard. All the Gryffindors that spotted her began whispering behind their hands, eyes darting away when she made contact. Why, she thought, would he be any different? She tried to be casual, realizing that she didn't know how.
Snape was glaring at her. He wanted her to face front but to say anything would have just drawn more attention to her which was the last thing he wanted to do. "Sharlen," he hissed in a whisper. She pretended she couldn't hear.
Almost last minute, three Gryffindors walked in. First was a girl with bushy brown hair. Even the way she carried herself seemed snobby. Then came a tall and slender redhead with a round-ish face and many freckles, followed by… Sharlen felt her heart rise up into her throat and had severe difficulty swallowing it back into position. It was him.
Harry Potter.
"Class has begun, everyone eyes front," Snape snapped from the front, glaring at Sharlen in particular. Everyone obeyed, as did Sharlen, although she was reluctant to tear her eyes away from him. His hair was the same unruly black mess it always had been, and he was tall, taller than she'd imagined. He was still thin, but he also looked strong; she assumed this must have been from playing on the Gryffindor Quidditch team since his first year, a detail she'd picked up from listening to Snape. Harry hadn't seen her. But, Snape couldn't keep her unnoticed forever.
Half way through the class, Snape began to space out, back into his usual Potions routine at Hogwarts—which had never involved Sharlen. He wasn't used to having an entire student to attempt to ignore. In this identity, she almost didn't exist to him. When calling on students to answer his near-impossible questions, Sharlen almost always raised her hand, determined that if he would just say her name out loud Harry would remember her… even if vaguely, she would have his attention and could work more on him later. Snape had deliberately ignored her up 'til that point, but, much to his dismay, he momentarily forgot. "Sharlen?"
Harry was at an angle from her in the back, so she could easily see him by glancing over her shoulder. She hadn't been able to get his attention before, but after hearing her name he perked up and looked around. He spotted her, and Snape paled at the recognition of his mistake, his eyes racing between the two of them. Harry stared, and Sharlen held his gaze for a few moments before calmly answering Snape's question. For the remainder of the double period Sharlen sat, smirking and content, knowing step one was done. Harry's eyes went to her every few minutes as though he were trying to be inconspicuous around his friends, but she knew he was remembering. His aura was a pale blue and lavender for confusion and reverie.
There was a tinge of a rich purple; nostalgia. As she swept out of the dungeon after Potions, she was giddy. Hogwarts was rapidly becoming her favorite place in the world.
Sharlen stalled in the hall, pretending to be looking for her schedule, so she could wait and see if he approached her. He came out of the classroom between two other Gryffindors who she had discovered to be Hermione Granger, the one Flitwick had mentioned, and Ron Weasley. He glanced over as though considering it, but Snape beckoned her to him before he got a chance. Harry's friends ushered him away. Discouraged, but not defeated, Sharlen walked right by Snape and transformed to get to her next, and last, class to spite him.
Harry had seen her transform. "Did you two see that?!"
"See what?"
"Sharlen—I mean, that girl is an Animagus, I just saw her transform."
"Bet she was a raven, or a bat," Ron chuckled. He nudged Harry a few times. "Well? Am I right?"
Harry shook his head. "She could have been Hedwig's twin."
"Just forget about her," Hermione advised, briskly walking ahead of them. "We have Defense next."
So, apparently, did Sharlen. By the time they got up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Sharlen was already in a seat by the window, jotting something down in her little black book. She looked up at them and smiled at Harry, feeling her heart begin to race. Her eyes combed him hungrily. She was almost positive that every hair was in the exact same positioning as it had been the last time she saw him—a detail that filled the cavern of her chest with rich hope and elation that after all these years, she hadn't dreamed him.
Snape had almost gotten the Defense Against the Dark Arts job for that year, but, Lupin had decided to come back at the last second and Dumbledore welcomed him graciously. Many parents had strongly disagreed with this decision; with Voldemort's uprising their trust in half-breeds and creatures was scarcer than ever, but, per Dumbledore's insistence, Remus Lupin was back on the job. The trio of Gryffindors warily went over to greet Lupin so as to avoid Sharlen. Harry seemed reluctant, but he went with Ron and Hermione. Sharlen had heard he was good friends with Lupin, anyway. "Welcome back," he greeted the old wolf with a grin. Lupin glanced at Sharlen. She looked away.
"It's good to see you, Harry," Lupin said with a smile, merely glancing at him before his eyes flew back over to Sharlen. She met his gaze, blinked once, and in the time it took for her to blink a rainbow sticker flew onto the tip of his nose. The Gryffindors stared, first at Lupin, and then to Sharlen, but she'd already turned away again. "Don't worry about her," Lupin excused with a small laugh to brush it aside, "that's just what she does. I'll never understand it. Most of us won't."
"What's her story?" Hermione asked in an undertone. Sharlen pretended she couldn't hear. "Professor Flitwick was practically raving about her, and she and Snape have some undeniable chemistry between them."
"Yeah," Ron chipped in, avoiding glancing at her, "what's her deal?"
"Now's not the time to be discussing this," Lupin muttered, clearing his throat.
"Hey, long time no see!" Sharlen groaned; her eavesdropping was instantly over. She turned her head and spotted Stacey approaching. She tucked her book away as Stacey sat beside her. Lupin and the trio were watching, despite themselves.
"It's only been two periods," Sharlen muttered, watching her unpack.
"Three," Stacey corrected. Sharlen thought a moment.
"But… in Potions…"
"I don't take Potions," Stacey informed her, sticking a 'You're Sweet!' sticker on her cheek. Sharlen peeled it off calmly as she explained. "See, you skipped lunch, and I knew you had Potions so I stopped by to drop something off, but you said you'd… already eaten… in a way, so, I left to go to my Muggle Studies class."
"I didn't notice, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, you seemed kind of preoccupied."
Sharlen did a double take. "Wait, you take Muggle Studies?"
"Absolutely," said Stacey. "They can be clever, you know. All the ways they've found to get on without magic. And corrupt, too, like with their medicines."
Sharlen saw the trio seat themselves in the front of the room. Every once in a while they would glance at her and try not to laugh, or Ron would anyway. "Sticker sisters, I guess," he'd giggled.
Of course, Draco also had this class with them. He made his grand entrance with his cronies flanking in his wake and swept down to kiss her on the cheek. To avoid the contact, Sharlen shifted slightly and caught it on her fully-covered shoulder. Draco ruffled her hair to hide his disappointment; Pansy looked as though ready to spit fire at her.
"Looks like she's been adopted by Malfoy's crew already," Ron muttered in an undertone. "It's too bad, she's a looker."
"Oh Ron, honestly…" Hermione scolded, huffily taking out her books and quill. "Look at her outfit; she's obviously just aiming for attention."
"You just don't like her because she beat you out for Flitwick's favorite," Ron teased. Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly in outrage.
"I don't trust her one bit! She's just too suspicious for my liking, that's all," she protested. "When have you ever heard of a student entering school in the sixth year? You saw what happened with her sorting…"
"I know her," Harry interrupted after a while. He'd been observing her from afar, and, even though he couldn't admit to them where he knew her from, he knew she had to be the same person. "I know I know her."
"But… from where?"
"I don't know," Harry lied. Maybe he'd tell them later. For now he would simply puzzle upon why all the others could see her… and why she waited so long to come back into his life. Ron and Hermione shared a worried glance and turned their attentions to the lesson. Harry was lost in his memories—memories of his first true friend.
"Don't quit your day job Sharlen, I think you've actually struck a nerve," Draco hollered as Defense let out. Sharlen twitched her expression into a glare; Stacey stared between the two, wondering what was up. Malfoy had spent almost the whole class watching Harry in his struggles to remember pieces of his past and link them to the new Slytherin sitting a few rows behind him. Infuriating as it was to know she hadn't given up, it was also laughable that her determination had gone so far as to gain his attentions.
"That's enough, Malfoy," Lupin called after the group of Slytherins.
"Shove off, both of you," Sharlen hissed. Lupin looked perplexed; he'd been trying to assist her. He found it to have been a very charitable move.
"Sharlen," Stacey whispered, "What was Draco talking about?"
"I'll tell you later," Sharlen muttered. The Gryffindors were following them down to the Great Hall and separating onto a higher staircase to drop off their books and such to take a break before dinner. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had stopped at the base of the staircase to watch after them for a moment. Sharlen mumbled something about meeting Stacey down by the lake and flew off as an owl, swerving around the heads of the Gryffindor trio as she exited the castle once again.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I can't tell if she's showing off or..."
"Oh come off it," Ron begged her.
"She's too young to be a registered Animagus and yet she transforms for the world to see? As if it's common?" Hermione protested, rattled by the gall of such a thing. "How do you two not have alarm bells going off in your heads?"
Ron straightened his bag and sighed. "She's not bothering anyone, so let's just leave her be. Let's go pay Hagrid a visit, shall we?"
Harry nodded his agreement, but Hermione shook her head and took off up the stairs. "I'll be down in a minute; you two go ahead without me." The boys shrugged in brief confusion before folding into the crowd of students heading to the Common Room.
Hagrid had a thing or two to say about Sharlen as well when Ron brought her up, or rather he had quite a few things to say about her that he had to try very hard not to say. "She just, er… 'er fam… she comes from… Well, she's dif'ernt, ain't she?" He sighed, frustrated, as Harry and Ron looked up at him expectantly. "Look, I'm not at liberty to say anythin' to yer about 'er. None of the teachers are. She's just… you'll have ter look out for 'er."
Sharlen sang to the birds in the Owlery, gazing out at the grounds as it passed midnight. Singing and humming to herself was just a hobby that had come to her aid on all those lazy afternoons where it was just her and Master Severus. He'd never complained, so she'd never really thought twice about it. She'd been exposed to several different types of music when she was home schooled with Draco at Malfoy Manor, but mostly she mimicked melodies birds would sing out her window at their home in Oxford. Wormtail, whom Snape was housing in their basement, had actually applauded her once. She'd struck him, confused, thinking he was having a fit or something.
She'd snuck down to the Owlery every night those first five days at Hogwarts. It was all a matter of tricking Malfoy; as long as he saw her enter her dormitory, he would give Snape the report that she was asleep and secure, leaving her free to roam. She didn't roam, however. She'd made friends with the owls, and they seemed to enjoy her company. Then again, any visitor who didn't expect them to make a delivery was easily accepted. She also helped them to catch the craftier mice, which had earned her major points in popularity.
Harry had not yet approached her. She knew it would take time; it was what she had been expecting. He would see her conversing with other students, see her transform, hear the rumors, and eventually get curious enough to make an inquiry. He'd always been curious and investigative. He might get some opinions first, but surely his mind had been made up with that first wave of remembrance. Sharlen closed her eyes.
Was he thinking about her? Surely she had given him time… It was already the weekend, their first weekend. Or maybe he thought it was all a dream. Had he been, as she had of him, thinking about her all these years, or was she reduced to a repressed memory?
They'd once discussed long ago, when everything was still pure, why she was only visible to him. She flipped to the page in her book where she'd recorded the memory. She closed her eyes with her fingers pressed over the words, feeling the memory.
"But, Sharlen… why can't they see you?"
"Only you can see me, Harry," she explained softly. "I'm your friend only. I don't want anybody else."
Harry grinned at her and nodded once, with meaning. "Me either."
She had caused him so many problems… that had been the aim of her father when he'd ordered her to be his 'imaginary friend.' Snape had cast a spell on her so that only Harry could see her, and she played the part for years. Being there for Harry, having another real person to talk to and spend time with, is what helped her to get a grip on her powers; when she was young, her visions gave her endless grief, never knowing what was real and present from what had been or would be.
But being with Harry was very real, and she was there for so many years of his formation with the Dursleys. Torment from his aunt and uncle, and that fat, obnoxious cousin of his. And who could forget the time Dudley's gang went after him? She'd protected him, of course, but he'd been punished for it—as had she, since Snape had forbidden her from using magic around him, no matter what occurred. After that, Harry said he wanted her to disappear. He'd gotten his wish: Her father had demanded she leave him be, completely alone, ridden with guilt. At the time, her father was still weak and without a body, so mind games seemed to be the only way he could get to his main target, and he did so through his daughter. Dumbledore always told him he didn't understand the power of love—and there was potential something like this, in the isolated life Harry led, that could make love an impossibility.
Sharlen buried her head in her hands momentarily before hopping down from her seat on the window ledge. Harry would forgive her after she explained everything. She brushed the hay from her body and went to the door, deciding it was time to get back to the dormitory. The owls hooted loudly in protest as she placed her hand on the door handle. She took a step back from the door and hushed them quietly. "Alright, one more song." She slumped to the floor and sang quietly.
