Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the parts of this story affiliated with the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. As such, I do not receive any payment for publishing these works.

Chapter 5: The Journal on the Nightstand

Genre: AU/Family/Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 1,780

Content Rating: PG-13

Italics: 'Thoughts' or "letters" or stressed words

Bold: Important information

Underline: Titles

"" - Character speaking

Horizontal lines: A break in time or scene

Minerva sat in the Headmaster's office once more. She was pleased to inform him that the girl Dursley twin was in fact magical and set to attend the same year as Harry.

"I would have expected Petunia to explain magic to the children." Minerva said.

"Perhaps not." Albus said regretfully and pulled out a letter from his desk - one of dozens from Muggle children who desired to attend Hogwarts like their magical siblings. "Petunia sent me this when Lily was about to start first year. I replied as kindly as I could, but perhaps she still harbors that jealousy."

Minerva stared sadly at the letter knowing all too well the screams and cries of children who had magical siblings while they remained Muggles.

"Isn't it unusual for a Muggle family to have more than one witch with no addition of magical blood?" She asked.

"It is. I never did any research into Lily's lineage – perhaps that is something I should." Albus answered. "It would certainly explain why she is so powerful," Minerva huffed, "Not that a natural Muggleborn cannot be powerful, but at such a young age and without training…" He trailed off in thought.

Albus had seen quite a few unusual things in his lifetime. He had learned – the hard way- that not all magic can be explained by blood alone. He had seen Muggleborns and Halfborns with more power than any Pureblood could ever dream of. However, he could only say a handful of them had not a drop of magical blood. Most had great-great-great-great somethings that had been magical somewhere down the line. A knock on the door rattled his brain.

"Come through, Severus." Albus said merrily.

The black robed and fierce looking man stepped through the entryway with a sneer. Albus just smiled while Minerva looked uncomfortable.

"You called, Headmaster." He said, not stepping forward from his stiff position in the center of the floor.

"Yes, yes. Do sit, my boy." Albus requested. Severus raised an eyebrow, but strode across the room and took a seat. He hadn't been asked by the Headmaster to sit since Lily had passed, but it didn't appear to be bad news. He wondered what the old man was machinating behind those maddening twinkling blue eyes and why the hell was McGonagall here.

"There are two nine year old children who the ministry has taken quite an interest in," Albus began, "One of them is Harry Potter, but of course they don't know that."

Severus rolled his eyes – great the pampered prince was already causing him problems and he wasn't even in school yet. "How does this concern me?" Albus pointedly ignored his question and continued.

"The other is his female cousin – Hazel Dursley. It seems they have been causing quite an accidental magic stirrup on the ministry's radar."

'So typical of Petunia to ignore the signs.' Severus thought bitterly. He had never liked the woman.

"Their conquests include color changing, inflating, floating, and –"

"That's all typical of growing magical children. Can you get to the point?" Severus said annoyed.

"-and a double appariation." Albus finished looking extra twinkly as Severus' normally blank face twitched in surprise. "With such activity we need to act sooner than normal to inform the family. I would like both Minerva and you to head to Privet Drive to do so."

Outwardly, Severus sneered but on the inside his curiosity was peaked. He wondered if Harry looked like Lily – he had been told over the years that he had her eyes. That enough would drive him to go even if it was with the head of all lions. Plus, appariation at nine? That showed a great amount of talent especially since he assumed both children had lived through it.

"You will need these." Albus handed them each badges of their rank and position at Hogwarts.

Severus pocketed his and Minerva did the same. They transfigured into Muggle clothing and headed through the flames to the house of Arabella Figg.

Hazel and Harry lay down on the plush tan carpet of Hazel's room. While the walls were painted a nauseating pink (Petunia's choice)it was much roomier and cleaner than the cupboard. Dudley had fallen outside and broken open his knee upon the rough asphalt. Both her mother and brother panicked and headed to the hospital with a neighbor to get stitches forgetting about Hazel and Harry. Of course, her mother had called from the ER and Hazel assured her Harry had been locked away and she would be fine until her father arrived home in a few hours.

Hazel was reading 'Alice in Wonderland' while Harry played with some of her Legos. A knock sounded on the door and the two cousins shared a glance.

"Stay up here." Hazel said and Harry nodded wordlessly.

She headed down the stairs and tried to peak through the eye hole. She wasn't tall enough and opted for the mail slot instead. She saw a pair of black heels with tan stockings and black shoes matched with black slacks. Hazel jumped when they knocked again and opened the door. The man looked down coldly, but seemed almost amused while the woman smiled tightly.

"Are your parents home?" The man asked.

Hazel shook her head.

"Will they be home soon?" He asked again.

"My father will be home in two hours." She replied shyly.

"And you're home alone? Is this normal?" The woman asked sounding a little panicked.

Hazel narrowed her eyes at the two and crossed her arms.

"You both ask a lot of questions, but I don't believe I've seen any identification." She said coolly.

The woman looked offended while the man smirked. They showed her their IDs and Hazel gasped.

"That's where Aunt Lily went!" Quickly she clamped a hand over her mouth.

The adults looked confused by her actions, but Hazel hurried them in and locked the door.

"I'm not supposed to know about that." She explained. "Harry!" Hazel shouted.

Her cousin came down the stairs brandishing a plastic sword.

"Put that thing away." Hazel said as she smiled. "Our guests are from You-Know-Where."

Harry dropped the sword in shock and tried to straighten his glasses, hair, and clothes all at once. The woman – who had been identified as Professor McGonagall – smiled at the scene. While the man – who had been identified as Professor Snape – just looked annoyed.

"What brings you here Professors –" Harry froze as he realized he didn't know their names.

"McGonagall and Snape." Hazel finished for him and Harry looked relieved. "We should head up to my room."

"I hardly think that is appropriate Ms. Dursley." Professor Snape said, "I believe the sitting room would be more so."

Harry and Hazel shared a look, but Harry looked down at the ground.

"I would love to Professors, but…." Hazel gulped. Rule number one in the Dursley's household ringing through her ears: never tell. "Harry isn't allowed on the furniture."

Normally, she would have lied; would have said Harry was destructive or messy. She knew it embarrassed her cousin, but she thought maybe if they knew the truth they could do something about it. Hazel always knew it had been wrong how her parents treated Harry but she had never been more aware of it then in that moment. The professors looked stunned for a moment before nodding.

They headed up to her room and Professor McGonagall pointed at the other doors.

"Which of these is yours, Harry?" She asked.

Harry turned crimson and looked away. Hazel patted his arm as an apology and then answered for him,

"He doesn't have one. They make him sleep in the cupboard underneath the stairs." Hazel could feel her heart break as her cousin blushed even more. She wished she didn't have to do this, but this was her only chance to get things to change. Adults listened to other adults – especially teachers.

"May we see it, Harry?" McGonagall asked softly. Harry looked at Hazel and finally realized what she was doing. He thought she had been trying to embarrass him like Dudley would have. He could still feel the hurt of betrayal in his chest, but her eyes told it all – she was doing it to help. She was trying to help him and in that moment he loved his cousin unconditionally - she was the only one who cared.

"Yes ma'am." Harry finally mumbled to the Professor and led them back down.

The cupboard was dusty and bare. The mattress was dingy and had several springs poking out of it. Professor Snape went to grab the journal off the small nightstand, but instinctively both of the cousins cried out, "No!"

"I know what this is." He said uncharacteristically softly, "It's been such a long time since I've seen it."

He ran his fingers across the cover.

"You're him!" Hazel shouted and Harry looked at her confused. "Harry, he's Sev!"

Harry's face turned into one of recognition. This was the man her mother had befriended as a boy? This was the one who had called her that horrible name? The same one that broke his mother's heart when he joined the 'Death Eaters'?

"Is it true, sir?" Harry asked. Meanwhile, McGonagall stepped away to inspect the rest of the home. This was one issue Severus would have to tackle on his own.

Severus nodded looking hopelessly sad. Harry tried to run at him, but Hazel held him back.

"How could you!" Harry cried. "You were her best friend and you turned her in for some stupid gang!"

"Harry," Hazel reprimanded, "You don't know what happened entirely. We've only heard one side plus, he's here to help us now. Professor Snape, would you tell us what happened with you and my Aunt?"

Professor Snape looked taken aback, but placed his carefully crafted mask back in place.

"That is not a story for children." He said and stood to leave.

"Please. Harry doesn't even know how his parents died I think he deserves to know how they lived." Hazel reasoned.

"I do know how they died, Hazel." Harry said. "In a car crash like Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon said."

"Harry, we both know they were lying." Hazel let him go and squeaked out of the tight cupboard space between Harry and Snape. "I think you both need to talk to each other."

Quickly, she shut the door and locked it from the outside. It was rude, but she knew it was the only way they would talk. Above on the stairs, McGonagall looked at the girl surprised but approving.

'Thank Merlin Severus can't use magic due to the trace.' She thought and headed down to talk with Hazel.

A/N: Tada!