Memories: Third chapter of Lullaby already, Sarika. To what do I owe the honor?
Sarika: You not being lazy for once. Now hurry up with the disclaimer so that the readers don't have to wait any longer.
Memories: Yes, of course, my all powerful muse mistress; your wish is my command. I own nothing except Philomel, vaguely, and Philomel's wand. I catch you stealing them without my permission and it's off with the offending hand.
:::
Philomel slowly climbs out of the darkness of unconsciousness and back into the waking world. Verdant eyes flutter like butterflies for a moment before opening to see an old man with long white hair and sparkling blue eyes wearing the same sort of clothes as the other man, Professor Snape, was wearing.
"Who are you, and what have you done to me?" inquires Philomel with very little patience left. The old man chuckles and leans into his chair.
"It seems that you are very much like your mother, Philomel, dear. And I have done nothing out of the ordinary for us." he says, side-stepping the first question. Philomel scowls.
"I asked who are you and yes you did do something out of the ordinary, you drugged me." she replies, an edge of temper creeping into her voice. Philomel growls once more, "What is your name?"
"Albus Dumbledore, dear. Didn't Severus tell you that you were going to be meeting with me?"
"No, Professor Snape did not tell me your name, Headmaster. But I still do not see why it was necessary to drug me to bring me here. We could have gone other ways. Such as by train or car or plane even." answers Philomel, much more calm now that she knows, in a general sense, who this is.
"My dear, we did not give you drugs. You arrived by Portkey. Didn't Severus tell you anything?" informed Dumbledore.
Philomel shook her head, causing her loose hair to fly around her face. "I do not know what a Portkey is and Professor Snape merely said that he was here on the behalf of your school. If he missed anything that he perhaps should have told me then maybe you should speak with Professor Snape about it." Philomel suggests, an edge of anxiety creeping into her voice.
"Hmm. Severus!" calls the Headmaster. Severus stalks quietly into the room and refuses the offered lemon drop.
"Albus, I'm sorry for not explaining things properly to Philomel, but the corner of the Reptile Room in a zoo is hardly the place for it. Add in the fact that I found her mere minutes before the Portkey took me here there wasn't enough time." apologizes Severus, not noticing Philomel, who is shrinking down into the chair, hoping to learn something.
"Really? Where were her Aunt and Uncle? Surely they would not leave their ten going on eleven year old niece alone in a large zoo." responds Dumbledore, quite agitated at the mention of such.
Philomel can't help but react with a, "They ran screaming, along with everyone else, out of the room when all the glass for the snake tanks vanished. They won't notice I'm gone until it is time for me to cook dinner." Philomel snickers a bit at the thought before retreating behind her polite mask once more. "What did you want to explain to me Professor, Headmaster?" she asks.
"My dear, though this may come as a shock to you, you are a witch. You have been accepted at my school; Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry." answers Dumbledore after a moment.
Philomel cocks her head to the side in an inquisitive manner, but shows no outright disbelief. After a moment she speaks, slowly, as if sounding it out, "I'm a witch? So that means that speaking to snakes is not impossible, neither is flying, nor regrowing my hair after it's been shaved off? That it would actually be possible for me to make things disappear, and shrink things?"
Dumbledore looks at Severus, thinking, 'This is not what I expected.' Sentiments that show in his eyes. Severus looks back with his thoughts obvious, for once.
'Really? This is pretty much what I had anticipated from Lily's daughter'
Severus breaks eye contact with the Headmaster with an amused smirk on his face. "Ms. Potter, none of those things are impossible, per se, just most of them difficult. Speaking to snakes is a rare gift, one much valued by my house. Much of the things you mentioned were probably wild magic, done in times of great emotional distress. Here at Hogwarts you will learn to control your magic and possibly put your outbursts of wild magic to use in the form of wandless magic." he explains calmly.
Philomel nods gradually, a long delicate finger to her lips. "Wandless magic would mean, by inference, that I would have a wand in the first place. May I see yours, Professor Snape?"
Severus nods and pulls out a thin dark stick, presumably his wand, and holds it in front of Philomel, making abundantly clear that she is not to take it. Philomel lightly grasps Severus' hand and turns it so she can see all around it. Nodding and smiling at Severus, Philomel lets go and he returns his wand to its place.
"One last question, Professors. Did either of you know my parents? I'm sorry but I don't know their names so I can't help you." questions Philomel, shyly.
Dumbledore beams at the girl. "Of course we knew your parents, dear. Brightest witch and wizard of their age, albeit they had an odd sense of humor. James and Lily Potter were among my favorite students when they here." Dumbledore rambles happily.
Severus scowls at the mention of James and mutters, "Brightest wizard of his age, questionable. More like most insane. Potter and Black, the most insane people in the world." He is broken out of his reverie by feminine giggle, quickly stifled.
"Was my father really insane?" puffs out Philomel.
Dumbledore frowns, but the twinkle is still in his eyes. "No, neither of your parents were mentally disabled in that fashion." The twinkle suddenly disappears.
"However, Philomel, you must know the true events behind your parents' deaths. They were not killed in a car accident like your aunt and uncle tell you. A very evil and dark sorcerer killed them and tried to kill you as well. But he failed because of your mother's sacrifice. You were just a baby, Philomel, so I don't expect you to remember."
Philomel hums a bit before closing her eyes and retorting, "But I do, sir. I remember a women crying, I remember being picked up and talked to, I remember the man that had picked me up dissolve in a flash of green light, and I remember the words 'never harm, nor spell, nor charm, come our lovely lady nigh…' being repeated over and over again along with the name Harry."
Eyes the shade of jade that Chinese emperors had killed and died for, opened and pierced them, eyes full of memories that she should not have been able to remember. "May I ask who Harry is?"
Severus is the first to shake off the spell of her eyes. "You. Harry is you. When Albus said that your parents had an odd sense of humor, he was not joking. You were originally supposed to be a boy and that's what everyone believed. Only those in this room know the truth."
Philomel stares at them disbelievingly, eyes back to normal emerald. "They can't have been that moronic. It's a rather hard fact to miss, being a girl." Philomel gasps out indignantly.
Both of the men laugh while Philomel glares at them. "Well, everyone who knew my parents will just have to deal with the fact that I'm a girl. There is no way, even if sand-worms are real and you decide to feed me to them, that I will consent to acting like a boy just to continue some practical joke!" she howls, reminiscent of a wolf.
Dumbledore sobers up somewhat and informs Philomel, "My dear, sorry to have to do this to you, but it might be safer if you were to continue the charade. Seeing as how only I, Severus, and your family know of your true gender, Voldemort will not be looking for a young girl over the summer. We will have to make you look more like a boy, but that shouldn't be hard."
Philomel thinks for a second, and then says, "So long as it's to keep me alive – WHAT! THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THAT I'M CUTTING MY HAIR!" Philomel screams, hands flying protectively to her tangled locks.
Severus scowls at Dumbledore, who simply chuckles. "My dear, you won't need to cut anything. All that is required is a simple glamour. The only change of appearance required for a glamour is the braiding and pinning of your hair, but that's only so no one will be accidentally be hit by it and wonder why you would have long hair when it looks short." explains Dumbledore.
Philomel's hand slides away from her hair and a faint, almost nonexistent, blush mantles her cheeks. "Oh. I'm sorry, sirs. But on the matter of braiding my hair, I'm afraid I don't know how."
Dumbledore smiles indulgently while Severus glowers at the floor. "No need to worry about it now, Philomel, dear. I was going to sort out which concealing spell to use while Severus took you to get your supplies. If you go as you are now, nobody will mob you."
Philomel nods and Severus holds out another piece of paper. Philomel looks at it suspiciously, before saying, "This isn't one of those 'Portkey' things, is it?"
Severus snorts and says, "Yes, it's one of those things. This is the only way to get there without get soot all over." Philomel looks confused but lays one long delicate finger on the paper, bracing for the swirls and vertigo.
\/\'/\/'\/\'/\/
Philomel stumbles into Severus when they land but quickly pulls away when she gets her bearings. Severus leads her to a rundown bar that other people seem to miss. Filing this away as interesting but not relevant at the time Philomel stays silent until the barkeep calls out.
"Professor Snape, good to see you again. Who's that with you, if you don't mind me asking?"
Severus is surprised at the question but doesn't show it. "This is Philomel Faye, my goddaughter. She's never been to Diagon Alley before, so I decided to take her." he replies coolly before going out the back.
Philomel follows, wondering at Severus' words and what he is doing to the wall with his wand. One of her questions is answered when the bricks peel away to reveal an archway. "Professor Snape, where are we going and why did you call me your goddaughter?" queries Philomel, seeing the reason behind using a false last name1.
"You are, Ms. Potter. Your mother asked me to be one of your godfathers after she told me the truth. I could never have refused." responds Severus, leading them into a large, slightly tilted, white marble building.
"This is Gringotts, the wizarding bank. It is run by goblins, who, while being rather violent and rebellious, are excellent with money of any type. Not that I blame them on the rebellious part; the Ministry is not competent in the least when dealing with magical beings. Your parents left you quite a bit of money, some of which we will retrieve today." Severus explains, slipping into teacher-mode.
Philomel nods and reflects, 'Perhaps I should save my questions until I digest all this information; that outburst in the Headmaster's office will not be tolerated again.' She stares at the goblins discreetly but makes no move to openly declare her confusion.
Severus strides up to the counter, with Philomel trailing behind, and puts a small golden key on it. "I would like access to Mr. Potter's vault; I am Professor Severus Snape."
The goblin at the desk sneers at Severus before turning his attention to Philomel. "Your companion is most certainly not Mr. Potter. For one, she is a girl." The sneer fades slightly when Philomel's verdant eyes narrow faintly. "What's your name girl?"
"My name is Philomel Potter, sir. Might I know yours?" replies Philomel in a perfectly polite voice that makes sure everyone knows of her derision of the goblins manners.
The goblin snorts and calls out, "Griphook! Escort Professor Snape and Ms. Philomel to the Potter vault. If this is not the key to it then leave them there."
The younger goblin smiles maliciously and takes the key. He turns and leads the human pair to a mining cart. Severus climbs in, and although Philomel hesitates a bit, she follows. The cart rockets off as soon as she is in it but unlike Professor Snape, Philomel is not remotely sick. In fact, Philomel is enjoying the ride very much and is taking the opportunity to ask Griphook all about goblins.
"So, sir, is it customary for goblins to insult the customer, or was it because I do not match the description of Harry Potter? I don't mean to be rude, sir, of course not. It's just that I've never met a goblin before." babbles Philomel. Griphook scowls at the questions.
"There has, so far, been no customer worthy of being polite to. You, Ms. Philomel, are forgiven in light of your ignorance." Griphook smirks at Philomel malevolently. "But you still have yet to earn our respect."
Philomel nods indistinctly and is about to ask another question when the cart screeches to a halt. Severus stumbles out and Philomel lifts herself out, refusing any help. Griphook proudly announces, "The Potter vault. Now is when we find out whether the cleaner goblins will be finding a pair of skeletons or not."
Griphook inserts the tiny golden key, which, to his surprise and no one else's, turns and opens the door. Thick green smoke pours out of the vault but it quickly clears. Inside the vault is an enormous amount of gold, silver, and bronze piles littering the floor. Philomel doesn't outwardly show surprise, but inside she's gasping.
'I've never seen so much gold in my life! I'll have to get a bank statement and figure out a proper amount to take out each year for books and necessities; I won't have need of any engaging items besides books. Also, with this amount of money there must be other properties! Why am I still living with the Dursleys?'
Severus, meanwhile, was scooping coins into a bag and waiting for the slightly glazed look in Philomel's eyes to depart. When it does Severus immediately starts telling Philomel the conversions for the money, "Knuts, the bronze coins, are twenty-nine to a Sickle, the silver ones. Galleons, which are the gold ones, are seventeen Sickles, or four hundred ninety-three Knuts." Philomel nods and they depart.
\/\'/\/'\/\'/\/
Once out of Gringotts, Severus escorts Philomel to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Inside, the cheerful witch led Philomel to a footstool in the back where a boy was being fitted.
"Are you going to Hogwarts as well?" asks the boy immediately.
Philomel glances to Severus for advice and replies accordingly when he shakes his head slightly. "No. I just came here for robes." Philomel obediently lifts an arm when Madame Malkin requests it. "My name is Philomel Faye. What's yours, may I ask?"
"Draco Malfoy. I've never heard of the Faye family before; Are they a pureblood family?"
Madame Malkin just finished and Philomel was looking a bit indecisive, so Severus decided to come to her rescue. Stepping out of the shadows he says, "Yes, Draco, the Fayes are a pureblood family. Come Philomel, you still need your wand. We will come back for Philomel's robes later, Madame Malkin."
Philomel does nothing when Draco dips his head toward her and bids, "Goodbye Ms. Faye, I hope to see you later." and allows Severus to steer her out of the shop.
\/\'/\/'\/\'/\/
Quite a few shops down, Philomel and Severus stop in front of a dusty, old shop with a single wand on a purple cushion. Emblazoned on the store front in faded letters was the title, "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.E."
A tinny bell rings when Philomel opens the door and a dry, dusty voice, one that you might imagine an old book to have, calls out, "Ah, a customer. Who do we have here?" A slightly crinkled, silvery-eyed man with pale hair comes into the petite space. His pale eyes flit around like little fairies until they land on Severus. "Severus Snape, what a pleasant surprise. 11 inch cherry wood, good for curses and lighting fires. I never forget a wand."
Severus inclines his head to the older man. "Mr. Ollivander, as astute as always, I see. But I am escorting my goddaughter to get her wand, not to catch up on old times. Philomel Faye, this is Mr. Ollivander, the premier wand maker for the wizarding world."
Philomel bows slightly, though no less demurely. Ollivander scrutinizes her closely but merely mutters, "So much like Lily, though it can't be! Surely a secret like that couldn't be kept for so long." Then he removes a tape measure and begins to measure. Philomel is so enraptured by the measuring tape that she doesn't hear anything until Severus talks into her ear.
"Philomel, do pay attention."
Ollivander is simply looking rather amused and repeats his question. "Which is your wand-hand, Miss Faye? Right or left?"
Philomel looks slightly uncomfortable when she holds out both. "I can use both my hands, sir. But, truth be told, I rather favor my left; that will not affect anything, will it sir?"
Ollivander chuckles and places a wand into Philomel's left hand. "Beech and dragon heartstring, nine inches. Wave it around a bit." Philomel complies but it is immediately snatched back.
She goes through wand after wand until one feels different from the others, but still not right. "Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches." That one, as well, was whipped away, but not before a brief 'hmm'.
"Perhaps this would be the one had you been right-handed, Miss Faye." comments Ollivander, before thrusting another wand at her.
None of the others afterward felt even remotely suitable, but Ollivander was overjoyed, saying things like, "There hasn't been a customer this difficult since Rodrigo Borgia! Oh happy days indeed!"
After Philomel had gone through nearly every wand on the shelves and Severus had left in a huff to collect Philomel's robes. Philomel has borne everything up 'til the time that Ollivander goes to the back room with patience, nearly panics when Ollivander disappears.
"Sir, is there something wrong? I haven't done anything wrong have I?" she asks, practically reduced to begging.
Ollivander returns with a pleased smile on his face and a slim dark wand in his hands. "I do believe I've found the one for you, Miss Faye. Thirteen inches, dogwood with a core of peryton's blood. Go on, try it."
Philomel takes the wand and, feeling slightly hopeless, waves it. Instantly a warm feeling rushes up her arm and a quill appears in the air. It scribbles something down then disappears. The words are still hanging in the air and Philomel chants them softly.
"Philomel, with melody,
Sing in our sweet lullaby…"
As soon as she finishes the words disappear as well. Ollivander is quite shocked but recovers enough to say, "Well, that's interesting."
:::
Memories, just a few notes. Sandworms are from Dune and they are huge worms with very sharp teeth that ride under the sand on Arrakis (Dune). The Dursleys never taught Philomel how to do anything but brush her hair; but that's not really surprising is it? I myself couldn't figure out how to braid my own hair until sixth grade. When Philomel uses her last name in front of the goblin she is trusting to her knowledge of them not liking wizards much. Which means that she believes they would keep a secret like that just out of spite. As you can see, Philomel feels something for Harry's canon wand. For those of you who've read my previous ANs they know what that means. Rodrigo Borgia was a real person, the son of Lucrezia Borgia. I have specific reasons for choosing the wood and core I did for Philomel's wand. Anyone who wants to know should review or leave a message.
Philomel doesn't know her middle name, the Dursleys never used it.