II.
Harry- well, whoever he was- marveled as he walked hand in hand with the Slytherin Head of House down to the dungeons. Earlier today, the man could barely pass him without spitting out a detention and now he was guiding him through the dungeons almost like a father.
"Out of curiosity," Professor Snape remarked, glancing down at him searchingly, "If this had gone well, how were you going to explain Mr. Nott's reappearance at Hogwarts."
Harry shrugged, "I don't know. Say Nott forgot something. Draco doesn't ask a lot of questions, you know. He prefers talking."
Snape hummed thoughtfully as he pushed open the door to his office. Harry felt the chill of wards as he stepped over the threshold and saw a space that was surprisingly comfortable if incredibly cluttered with books, potion ingredients, and half-eaten plates of dinner.
"We'll use the fireplace here- fewer people to interfere," Snape explained. "Now, let me do the talking."
Harry nodded mutely and took a seat on a well worn, but overstuffed armchair as Professor Snape threw a handful of floo powder on the fire. The flames burned green.
"Nott Keep."
The flames shimmered. There was a long pause while Harry glanced around the busy office. He had thought that Snape's private abode would be full of eyeballs and awful potions- but there were mostly stacks of essays to correct and half-drunk mugs of tea.
"I don't let the House Elves clean in here," Professor Snape explained as they waited, "Too many potions they might - Ah. Theodore Nott. May I speak to your father? It is a matter of utmost urgency."
The disembodied head of Harry's year mate appeared in the fire and blinked nervously up at the professor. Harry startled. The face, which he had never really looked at before, was so, so similar to the one he had studied in the mirror for hours. They could really have been twins.
"Uh- he's unavailable at the moment. I can take a message?"
Professor Snape's lips thinned, "I must insist. This matter is most important."
"Then tell me." Nott's chin seemed to raise stubbornly."Father named me as temporary Head in all matters while he is away."
"Very well," Professor Snape motioned to Harry, who hopped off the chair and crept up to the fire. Nott's eyes widened in surprise and then, in a puff of flame and ash, the boy was kneeling on the rug before them. He stood up quickly, not bothering to dust himself off as he peered into Harry's face.
"Are you- are we- what is- Professor- what is going on? Who is this?" Nott had unconsciously taken Harry's hand so when he turned Harry was forced to as well.
"This is your sister," Professor Snape said with a faint hint of a smile. Nott's closed face tightened in suspicion, even as he squeezed Harry's hand.
"What do you mean? How did this come to be?"
"Magic," Snape answered dryly. "If you don't believe me, I'll turn my back so you can check." Without waiting for an answer, the potion master turned to examine one of his walls of books. As soon as his back was turned, Nott swung about and shoved Harry's right shirt sleeve up above his elbow.
"What-"
"Shush-" Nott carefully turned Harry's arm over and let out a slow and shaky breath. "You are a Nott. He's not lying."
Harry craned his neck, trying to see the back of his own elbow. Just behind the boniest point of joint, a small, dark scar appeared. It looked almost like a Celtic knot.
"That wasn't there-" he began to protest.
"It's the Nott sign." Nott whispered, "All true born Nott's bear the mark. You are my sister."
Nott carefully pulled the sleeve over Harry's arm, as though Harry was made of glass and would break at the hint of too much pressure. When the cuff was carefully buttoned, Nott stepped back and stared at Harry critically.
"Why are you in a boy's uniform," He demanded suddenly, "Why Gryffindor colors? No Nott has been sorted into Gryffindor since - well- forever!"
"These were the clothes we found her in," Snape interjected smoothly, "And before you question her too closely, magic has erased all her memories prior to this morning." Harry wasn't sure, but he thought that Snape had sent him a subtle wink over the top of Nott's head. Why was Snape being almost civil? Was he like this to everyone who wasn't named Potter and sorted into Gryffindor?
"Wha-" Harry stumbled as Nott threw himself at him. The Slytherin was shaking slightly, his thin shoulder trembling under Harry's unconsciously holding arm.
"You're my sister. A real sister. A real Nott." He back away slightly, holding Harry tightly by the upper arms, as if frightened Harry might run away. His gaze was intense and absolute, "I will do anything to ensure your happiness, Sister. All my power, all my magic, it's at your disposal."
Harry felt that the pronouncement was significant in a way he couldn't articulate.
"Uh, thanks."
. . . . . . . .
"Do you remember your name?" Nott asked after Professor Snape had served them both mugs of tea. The Professor had strengthened his own with a dash of something he refused to share with the younger students.
Harry glanced over at Snape who gave a minute shake of his head. Harry repeated the motion. "No, sorry."
Nott looked sympathetically at him, "That's alright. It must be awful to not have any of your memories. Do you think it was a botched obliviation spell? Or do you remember drinking something- like a forget me all potion?"
Nott, Harry was realizing with growing alarm, was almost too smart for his own good. He ducked his head and took a too quick drink of the too-hot tea. After he finished coughing, he shook his head.
"Sorry, I really don't remember."
"That's alright," Nott repeated. "We can give you a new name until your memories return. Are there any names you like?"
Harry thought about it. "Harriet?" He finally suggested. That sounded similar enough to his own name that it wouldn't cause too much confusion, but Theo shook his head.
"Nott's usually have Greek-based names." He kicked his heel against the back of his chair and then brightened, "I know! What about Dorothea!"
"What?"
"Dorothea- a gift from god. It's the inverse of my name- Theodore- god's gift. Since we are twins, it's perfect!"
Dorothea sounded like a horribly fussy name to Harry- something that someone like Draco would have, but he'd only have to put up with it for a few months. So he smiled and nodded. "I like that."
Nott grinned at him, eyes bright and joyous. He looked nothing like the quiet, reserved Slytherin who shared some of Harry's classes. In fact, Harry couldn't remember ever seeing Nott so animated before.
"Brillant. Then that's sorted. Ready to go home?" He jumped out of the chair, set the mug down carefully on a coaster untouched, and then held out a hand to Harry. Harry shrank back in the chair.
"Home?"
"Nott Keep." Theo said happily, "I can't wait to show you everything! You'll love it. We can play hide and go seek! Get lost in the storage rooms. See who can stay in the mausoleums the longest-"
"But I can't leave Hogwarts!" Harry protested, clutching his mug tighter. He couldn't leave Ron- or Hermione all alone in the infirmary still half transformed with a cat. What if Ron didn't find one of his hairs? What if Dumbledore thought of another, quicker way to reverse him? He couldn't leave!
Theo's face fell.
"I know it can seem frightening going somewhere you don't know," He said gently. "But you're a Nott and Nott Keep is our home. It will feel safer once you are in our families magic. Plus I need your help."
Harry glanced desperately at Snape, but the Professor sat completely blank-faced- offering no guidance on how he should respond.
"What do you need my help with?" Harry asked hesitantly. Maybe he could go, help Nott, and then return to Hogwarts.
"It's nearly Yule," Nott explained carefully, "There are certain rituals we need to perform to strengthen the Keep's wards, keep the family magic safe and growing. It takes two people- at a bare minimum and there haven't been two people for a while. You have to come help. Please?"
Harry sighed and wished that whatever personality quirks had carried over to this new body, the inability to refuse a cry for help wasn't one of them.
"Alright," he agreed. "But Theo - I need to come back here afterward."
. . . . . . .
A/N: Could this all have been saved up and posted as one long chapter at the end of the week? Yes. Is it more fun this way? Yes.
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