Chapter 2: Clock Strikes Two
After their successful shopping trip the group found their way back to the Burrow and they sat around the table talking and laughing after eating a great meal that Molly made.
Soon enough though, the events of the day hit like a train, and Ginny could barely keep her head out of the slice of pie in front of her.
"I think it's time for us to take our leave." Severus said, earning a nod from his wife who stood up to thank Mrs. Weasley for the great time.
"See you guys for my birthday." Harlow had barely put down Beatrice the whole night, but she didn't mind as both of her best friends kissed her cheeks and wished her good night.
She held her even closer in the network, the kitten not liking it and digging her small claws into Harlow's stomach.
Harlow made sure she was comfortable in her crate before lying down, an almost immediately she fell into a deep sleep, with dreams of magic and green banners running through her dreams.
The twins' birthday was always a grand affair.
They woke up to their mother and father waking them up with a glass of chocolate milk and plate of pancakes, their favorite breakfast that only for one day were they allowed to eat in bed.
The two parents even partook, sitting in the bay window seat eating their own breakfast while they had random conversation.
Then they were given a few presents each from their parents, Harlow received a new jumper, a beautiful silver collar for Beatrice and a journal, beautiful and leather bound with a flower pattern carved into it.
Harry got a matching jumper, along with a Chudley Cannons shirt and poster with the seeker on it.
Then they exchanged gifts from themselves. Harlow got Harry a book on quidditch history that he had eyed in Quality Quidditch Supplies and Harry got Harlow a set of potions ingredients not on the first year ingredient list but that, by his father's suggestion, she could use for potions she wanted to do for fun.
Needless to say, but they were both ecstatic about their new gifts.
The family spent the morning doing whatever the twins wanted to do. For Harry that meant quidditch, the one time his mother would let him use the snitch his father had gotten as a gift for him when he had been born, 'my son will be a seeker' he had said.
Lily would stand at various points in the yard, releasing the snitch randomly and letting her son chase it, only getting a little sad at the reminder of her late husband as her son who looked so much like him caught his snitch everytime.
Harlow sat on a lab chair watching her father. Her copy of her first year potion book opened in front of her. She took time crossing out and rewriting things her father said could be improved about the recipe. She wasn't allowed to participate in the physical brewing, but she watched with intensity as her father explained why each movement was important.
Severus knew his daughter would thrive in his class. Loved watching her take in everything, and even make her own suggestions when he would purposely leave something out to see if she caught it.
Then around one they would go to the Burrow, everyone's favorite place.
For awhile it was as though everything was always the same. Harlow greeted the twins with a kiss on each cheek and ran off to scheme or something, Harry ran off somewhere with Ron to talk about quidditch, the adults would stand around the kitchen and the rest of the children floated around between the groups.
Then they would all get together and go outside to play quidditch, the adults acting as referees.
The teams were always the same.
On one team, Ginny acted as chaser, Harlow as Beater, and Ron as Keeper
And on the other George was chaser, Fred as beater and Harry as Keeper.
The teams were fairly well matched, each getting a few goals off the other with a bit of a struggle, of course Fred and George were the only who had played at a school level so they were stronger than the rest, Harlow and Ginny put up a fair fight against them, Harlow even managing to knock Fred clean off his broom, where he was caught by his mother and she was given a penalty.
"I told you I could do it!"
As he sat rubbing his shoulder Fred scowled up at her, "I let you do that!"
Harlow laughed and flew up towards another bludger, "sure you did Weasley. Sure."
And the day went on, every moment special to the twins, from the dinner Mrs. Weasley prepared every gift they were fortunate to receive.
Along with what he had gotten that morning Harry got a hand knitted scarf from Mrs. and Mr. Weasley and a set of sweets from the children.
Harlow received the same, except the twins had whispered that they had one more gift for her that they would give her later.
That turned out to be a set of friendship bracelets. Ones like what they had made themselves when they were children but they were enchanted so they could write notes to each other.
"We though since you'll be holded up all day doing dark magic with the Slytherins,"
"Very funny,"
"We can use these to give a signal as to when to meet us."
When she looked closer Harlow could see it was just a series of three black bands, but when she touched one it turned green, and when she looked over to the twins their top band had also turned green.
Then Fred touched the middle one and her middle band turned red. And Geroge's did with the bottom one.
"And if I don't get into Slytherin."
"If by some random coincidence you don't we can change it, but you'll definitely be a Slytherin."
"Well, thank you. We'll have to come up with a meeting point that we go to when we send out the signal."
"First thing when we get there."
"Promise."
That night when the family left Fred and George eached kissed one of Harlow's cheeks and whispered, "send us the signal tonight when you go to bed, so we know it works long distance."
"Sure thing. Thanks again, this is the best present."
"No problem."
"Happy birthday."
That night in bed Harlow looked at her wrist and touched the top band of her bracelet.
Nearly immediately Fred's band lit up too, George's coming along after a moment.
"What are you looking at, Harlow?"
"Nothing. Just a gift from Fred and George."
"Oh, that's cool."
And though Harlow knew she wouldn't see her friends until school started for the year, she knew that she would keep them with her everyday, and suddenly she didn't feel so alone.
It was awesome.
Finally, the day arrived. The day that Harlow and Harry had been waiting for for a long time.
Their first day of school.
They spent the better half of the morning running around to try and find the last of the things they needed for school, and being the klutzes that they were, fell down quite a few times while in a craze.
"Would you two stay alive at least until you are not my responsibility."
"Sorry mum." They responded in unison.
"It's time to go, are you both ready?"
"Yeah mum." Harlow said stacking Beatrice's carrier on top of her trunk. The cat, under the careful eye and care of Harlow for the last month of summer had grown substantially, and her coat had come in glossy and thick. And now Harlow wasn't as scared to put her in a carrier as she now was as long as both the girl's hands.
There was a sudden mewling and the carrier thrashed around on the trunk. Harlow leans in close to the case.
"I know you don't like it Bea, but you'll have to deal with it until we get on the train. I don't wanna risk dropping you."
The thrashing stopped but there were still a few meows that came from the carrier.
Soon the small family was at King's Cross Station and they made their way onto platform 9 ¾.
The two kids stood shocked at the sight of the train and all the people running around and saying goodbye to their parents.
They soon spotted the Weasleys and Molly seemed to have them all in a line to make sure they were all there. Her grip on
Ginny's collar was so great that her knuckles were turning white.
"Molly!" Lily called across the platform and she turned and greeted the friend warmly.
The kids ran up to each other, and giving a final farewell kiss to their mothers, trudged their trunks onto the train into an empty compartment.
Fred and George bid their farewell to the first years and promised to catch up with Harlow later, then left to sit with their other second year friends.
Harry, Harlow and Ron sat in the compartment with wide eyes. Harlow let out Beatrice who took her place on Harlow's lap.
Soon the train started and normal conversation flowed between the three friends.
The the door to the compartment opened and two new faces appeared.
They recognised one.
"Neville!" Harry greeted their friend happily.
"Hey guys. This is Hermione, she's helping me find my toad."
"You lost him?" Harlow chimed.
"Yeah, he just got away from me."
"Don't lie Neville." The girl, Hermione piped up," Some greasy looking blonde kid scared him and he dropped him. Neville pulled me away before I could teach him a lesson."
"Greasy looking blonde kid, huh?" Harlow looked at her brother with concern, "Neville, I thought you weren't going to let Draco bother you know that we're in school?"
"I figured I'd let him get away with this one, we're not there yet."
Harlow gave the boy a look and then they all burst into a fit of giggles.
"So Hermione, I've never seen you before." Ron suddenly said.
"Wow great observation, it's almost as if England is a big place, and judging from your accent we don't live anywhere near each
other."
Ron scowled, and turned away muttering something to himself against the window.
"What Ron means is that we know most of the pureblood families, what's your lineage?"
At Hermione's even more confused face Harlow spoke up, "And what my demented brother means is that we know most of the people that come from magical families, is your family magical?"
"Oh, um no. I was told I was something like, a 'muddled blood' or something? The platform was too loud for me to hear them clearly."
"Who said that?" Harlow perked up.
At the girl's sudden motion Hermione jumped back, "Um, just someone on the platform. Why?"
"Mudblood, it means dirty blood, or from muggles, non-magical people. It is a highly insulting term. The correct term is muggleborn."
Hermione's face fell. "Oh."
"Well, don't worry, now you have us, and if anyone gives you any trouble, meaning the other purebloods cause no one else would ever care, they'll have to get through us."
Her smile then returned, "So, you're all purebloods?"
"All of us but my brother, his father's a pureblood but his mother's a muggleborn. So he's a half-blood."
"You have different parents?"
"That is a story for another day, but for now, just know this is Ron Weasley, you obviously know Neville Longbottom, This is Harry Snape, and I'm Harlow Snape."
"Snape? I've heard that name, yes, during my research, are you related to Severus Snape?"
"Yep, he's our father, but don't think you'll get any special treatment for befriending us." A smug smile played on the twin's faces, "We don't even know if he'll let us off the hook. So, you're pretty smart, huh?"
Hermione let a smile slide onto her face, "I was top of my class until I got the letter I was a witch."
"How much reading did you do in preparation for school? I assume you got the reading list early so they could explain everything to you and your family?"
"Yeah, I started with introductory stuff at the beginning of the summer,but," the smile on her face lit up in excitement and wonder, "I really liked the reading I did on ancient runes, so I got a few more books delivered to me and they were really interesting."
Harry looked at her in shock, "Ancient runes!? Harlow hasn't even started that!"
Harlow looked at the girl with the same expression, "Actually I have, but I had no clue what any of it meant, you understood it!?"
Hermione raised her chin, in a proud display of intelligence, "I did, it was sort of like the translation of hieroglyphics we did when we learned about the Ancient Egyptians in class, so I put it together pretty quickly."
"Wow," Harlow said, still looking in wonder at the girl, "That is seriously impressive, I bet you'll be a Ravenclaw."
"A what?"
At that all four of the other children's faces expressed the same shock, "You haven't been told about the houses yet?" Ron asked, as though it were a personal offence.
"Uh, no. I mean, I was told I would be sorted into a house, but I wasn't told what they were or how."
"Well," Harlow started, "until you actually do it no one knows how sorting goes, older students are forbidden from telling, and there are four houses, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. And most students are sorted based on traits they have affiliated with the house, at least, we think so."
"What are the traits?" Hermione leaned forward with a childlike wonder.
"Well," Harry started, "Gryffindors are typically portrayed as being brave. That is what Godric Gryffindor, creator of Gryffindor looked for in students."
"And Ravenclaws," Neville picked up, "they are typically intelligent, Rowena Ravenclaw liked her students to always want to be learning."
"Hufflepuffs are loyal" began Ron, "And kind, like Helga Hufflepuff."
"And Slytherin," Harlow finished, "Well,it depends on who you ask, I like to think of them as ambitious, how Salazar Slytherin originally wanted, but most people, and by that I mean Gryffindors call them cunning and deceiving."
"Why is that?"
"Well they have a little problem," Harlow said, her eyes falling to the floor, "most of the Dark Wizards to come out of Hogwarts have been Slytherins, unfortunately including You-Know-Who. Do you know who that is."
"Yes," Hermione's expression softened, "I do."
"Have you read about the Great War?" Harry asked, his expression too curious for Harlow's liking.
"Yes, multiple wizard articles and a few books as well."
"Well then, you do know my father."
Hermione's gaze widened, "You mean...your father..."
"Died in the war, yes. But my father was James Potter."
Hermione looked at him blankly, then to Harlow, then to Ron, and Neville, and back to Harry.
"You mean to tell me your father is the man who died protecting his child and wife. The one who weakened him enough that he was able to die?"
"That's him. But I don't really see it like that, I mean, he is technically my father, but I never met him, at least not that I can remember."
"That's insane."
"Not as crazy as Harlow's parent's story." Ron said, looking at the rapidly moving landscape outside the train.
"What I know of it at least."
"Who were your parents Harlow?"
"My biological parents were Gael and Emmet del Luna." At the mention of their names Hermione's eyes became wider then they had been even before, "Yeah, I guess I had a similar start to Harry, my parents died protecting me, and were able to kill You-Know-Who in the process. Well, I know really what you do, that is what I can find in books. I was born, they were betrayed, then when You-Know-Who got there one curse was thrown and he died, the blast killing my parents."
"Is that how you got those scars?"
Harlow's fingers went up to her face, "No, it is how Harry got his, my parents won't tell me how I got these except that it happened after the accident."
"Well, your parents were so cool." Hermione exclaimed as soon as her mouth closed, "They were certified heros!"
"Try telling my parents that, they hate when I bring them up."
"They probably just don't want to bring you to any heartbreak."
Harry chimed up before his sister could, "Yeah, but I'm reminded of that day every single time I look in the mirror," Harlow leaned closer to Hermione.
"And besides that,most of our bedtime stories when we were kids from being The Great Adventures of James Potter." Harry added.
"Oh."
Harlow paused for a moment, looking at the girl with a shocked look on her face, "Hey, don't sweat it, at least I got two loving parents out of the war. Some people lost everyone, and remember it. I'm only reminded of a pain I can't remember." Harlow sent a look over to Neville, yes he had his Grandmother, but it wasn't the same, and he still had to see his parents, parents that don't know who he is.
"But everyone should know where they came from!"
"One day I'll get the story out of them, I may have to threaten imminent death, but I'll get it." Harlow chucked and awkwardly the rest followed.
"How did you end up with Professor Snape anyway? And how did Snape and Lily end up together?"
Harlow and Harry looked at each other, they wish they knew, but they didn't know much.
"Well my Papa told me that I got to him Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and leader of the Order of the Phoenix at the time, put me under the care of our Papa. He then rekindled his relationship with our Mama, they were longtime friends. Our Papa actually introduced her to magic when she was 11. But we don't know the specifics."
"That's such a cute story."
"Yeah, but you have to act like you don't know that."
"Yeah, you'll have to pretend you think he has no emotions."
"Got it, operation pretend Severus Snape is a hard hearted beast is underway."
And they laughed and ate food off the cart and soon enough reached Hogsmeade station.
The first years got off the train and looked around, everyone seemed to know where they were going. Then they heard a yelling, "Right, then! First years! This way, please! Come on, now, don't be shy! Come on now, hurry up!"
The five first years followed the very large man shouting from a little ways down the platform.
Then they were walking towards the water. And then they all got into a boat and were sent off across the lake.
Then they saw it.
The giant castle stretching out across the dark landscape, windows lit up like they were floating, and shining off the lake they were on.
Too soon for the first years, the ride was over and they were being led up the great staircase and into the castle's main hall.
The wide eyed first years eagerly looked at anything they could lay their eyes on, when an old witch walked into the room.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Now, while you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. Now the sorting ceremony will begin momentarily."
The students walked in a mob behind the woman, too stunned to speak, they passed through the doors and into the Great Hall.
There were a few audible gasps as they took in the scene before them. Tables spread seemingly endlessly. Floating candles illuminating everything on site. Students staring back at them. And the teachers.
Sitting at the front of the room, there was an intimation that radiated off of them.
"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat was torn from Hermione's bushy head as she seemingly breathed a sigh of relief. Harry and Harlow exchanged a look, they could tell she was going to be a friend.
"Draco Malfoy." Harlow, Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't stop their eyes from rolling violently.
"Slytherin" The hat said, barely having to touch his head.
"Neville Longbottom!"
Harlow could see Neville shaking as he went up and the hat was set on his head.
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindors went crazy for the new addition, but Harlow and Harry couldn't help but exchange a look.
Really?
A few more kids went until.
"Ronald Weasley."
Harlow could tell the hat was telling Ron something. Presumidly, 'oh another Weasley" by the look of his eye roll. and briefly wondered what it would say to her. The butterflies seemingly turned to dragonflies as they whipped around her stomach.
"Gryffindor."
Harry and Harlow cheered for their friend, as he joined his three brothers and their new friend at their family's house's table.
"Harry Snape."
The hall went silent. Everyone seems to lean forward as if to try to try to hear Harry breathing.
Harlow was not worried, she knew her brother would soon join his friends.
Her she was not so sure about.
The hat had barely sat there a second before calling out, "Gryffindor!"
This was the first student Snape clapped for, and almost, if you were close enough to tell, smile at.
"Harlow Snape."
Harlow's face drained. She couldn't feel anything. She looked over to her father, then down at the ground. She would not rely on him.
Then she slowly ascended the steps.
Sat on the chair.
And felt warmth as darkness engulfed her as that hat slid past her eyes.
"Another Snape, are you?"
"I am." Harlow shot back at the hat.
"You could go anywhere it seems. Should I go with your mother, and put you in Ravenclaw? Maybe Hufflepuff, like your father."
"No, my mother was a Gryffindor and my father was a Slytherin."
"I guess I stand mistaken, Hufflepuff is not in your future. But you never wanted it to be, did you?"
"What does that mean?"
"I read your heart, my child. I know all your secrets, I know your desires, I know how much you want to make your parents proud. All of them."
"But-"
"Harlow Snape, one day you will understand why your story started the way it did, but until then."
"Wait, but I don't know how it started."
"All will be revealed."
It seemed like decades to Harlow, the hat muttering to itself, 'where to put her, what to do', it had felt like decades for the people watching, nearly seven minutes had passed. A hatstall. So they were anxious to see it open it's brim to say,
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harlow opened her mouth in surprise. Her eyes wide.
It had happened.
She knew it was where she belonged.
She jumped down off the chair and made her way to the table. It seemed like everyone wanted to shake her hand.
She looked over to the Gryffindor table, her best friends were on their feet laughing and clapping for her.
She looked at the teachers and saw her dad clapping and actually smiling, like for everyone, not just her, to see.
The first thing she noticed though.
His eyes were filled with pride.
When the sorting finished A great feast suddenly appeared on the table. The first years collectively gasped as the older students laughed at the delight of the first years.
As promised to his wife, Severus stood up as soon as he was done, looked at his children socializing with the kids around them, and went to write a letter to his wife.
Lily,
You'll be happy to know our predictions were correct. Harry has happily taken his place in Gryffindor and Harlow is seemingly happy already in Slytherin. However, I should mention that the sorting hat talked for longer than usual with Harlow. I did, of course, have a feeling this would happen. I do not think there is anything to worry about in terms of what it told her, I can only assume as we believed that she does have very strong Ravenclaw traits as well as Slytherin. I can guess at some point her magic will get called into question. I will let the professors know to watch out for any issues. And Dumbledore suggested that Black and Lupin may be able to help her with her control. I will discuss the matter with them and see what they suggest. I will try to write again tomorrow if the students don't completely take it out of me. I love you.
Always,
Sev
Later on when the students were led to their dorms Harry sat talking with the boys in his dorm and Harlow was being questioned by the girls in her dorm.
"But like, I heard he's actually evil."
"I mean, I don't think he is, but his teacher mode is a little scary." Harlow answered honestly.
"Will he be better to us because of you?" One girl, Pansy Parkinson, asked.
"I doubt it, I think he'd prefer to keep up appearances."
"So like, we can expect nothing less than Hell." Another girl Daphne Greengrass, asked.
"Pretty much."
The girls giggled and laughed, and generally had fun until it was time for lights out. Then they all headed off to their individual beds.
Harlow was amazed by them. The embroidered green bedspread and green silk hangings drew her in as she pulled them back, welcoming the darkness that came from it.
She pulled Beatrice close to her and briefly realised how weird it felt to fall asleep without Harry in the room, and without her mother coming in to bring her her 9:45 glass of water.
Suddenly she felt very alone.
But instead of letting herself wallow she thought of the day, and soon found herself spiraling down the rabbit hole trying to figure out what the hat meant when he told her that all would be revealed.
Would she finally be told about the day her mother died?
Would she be told why her magic acted so weirdly?
Would she find out she had some random family she never knew?
She had no idea.
But she decided that she shouldn't worry and let nature take its course.
And as she turned onto her side and caught a glimpse of her wrist right as her bracelet started glowing red on the bottom line.
She smiled as the middle band lit up soon after.
So she touched her own band and watched the emerald glow mix and make a rather disgusting christmas hodgepodge.
But it was really beautiful.
And she wasn't alone.
So she was able to fall asleep with a smile on her face and a string of happy dreams.
AN: Hey y'all. I'm back. It's been a min for this story. I updated the first chapter so if your coming in on the second you might want to take a glance at the first again. Like, I changed the main characters name, no big deal or anything :X
Thanks to all the support I've gotten and messages asking to continue this story. I love these characters and it makes me so happy to see people like it. So please review. I love every comment you want to give bad or good.
Thanks again and I'll try to get this updated soon!
-MaryKatherine