DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$ from this…

A/N: How did Dumbles summon Minnie? It's not important, but I would guess he had something not unlike Harry's DA coins (or should I say Hermione's) in the books.

I always considered it possible Harry had a sibling. But if he did, how can we explain why we knew nothing about it? Hopefully that question will be answered.

As for how is Clarice possible? She was conceived three to four months after Harry was born. The parents had been in hiding since Lily was maybe three months pregnant with Harry, if not sooner and practically confined to their house at Godric's Hollow. Things like that happen.

As for how was she adopted? See the end of the chapter notes…

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: CLARICE

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1988 - HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.

"Ah, Minerva, come in," Dumbledore said seeing his Deputy Headmistress at his door. "I'm sorry to interrupt your 'personal business,' but there's something I need to discuss with you. You have a few minutes?"

"A few," Minerva said.

"How was your morning?"

"Enlightening," she said, doing her best to hide her emotions and memories.

"Glad to hear it."

"I have an appointment at two, Albus. I would like to keep it." The subtle meaning was "get to the point." Dumbledore was never a direct person.

"Have you seen today's Daily Prophet?" Dumbledore asked.

"No."

He handed her a copy and she saw the headline, doing her best not to smirk. "I am aware you made a statement, Albus. Potter is dead. So?"

"I've highlighted a paragraph towards the end you should read."

McGonagall found the paragraph and read:

And of course none of these events or facts helps answer the other unanswered question from that night so many years ago: did Harry Potter have a younger sister? Rumors have circulated that Lily Potter gave birth to a daughter, Clarice only weeks, if not days before that tragic night. Of course, no infant body was ever found at the Potter's hide-a-way and, as the building was left in ruins, there was no evidence of one, but the rumors persist to this day. Given the clear cover-up regarding the location of the Boy-Who-Lived, one must assume that where there is smoke, surely there is a fire!

"So," McGonagall said. "This rumor has existed since that terrible day."

"It exists because one whom I trust with many things has a big mouth," Dumbledore said.

"Hagrid?"

"Who else? He never brags or anything like that, you know. He just has a bad habit of being too open."

"Particularly in the pubs," McGonagall nodded. "So this is true?"

"Clarice Lillian Potter was born July 12th, 1981. She was uninjured in the attack. You questioned me that night why I let Hagrid bring Harry to Surrey? Yes, I do trust him with my life - and Harry's. But I knew someone betrayed James and Lily and was certain it was Black. Black was there when I arrived, you know. He had just found the boy when the girl began to cry. I was certain he would have finished the job had I not arrived. I was surprised how he simply gave Harry up when I asked him to and asked him to see to the girl. Then again, he was her Godfather too.

"He was dating a Muggle who worked for the Muggle Government in some kind of work involving placing orphans with families. So I asked him to have Clarice placed out. He went his way, Hagrid and I went ours.

"I admit I have given the girl little thought over the years. But now with Harry dead, I find I must. She is the last survivor of the Potter line and caretaker of the legacy. We need to find out what became of her and if she is still alive, we need to keep her safe."

With the morning's discussions fresh in her mind, McGonagall knew this was not about the Potter estate, their wealth or bloodline. This was about the Magical Heir. It seemed Dumbledore knew that Harry was an Heir of at least one for the Founders. Were Harry truly dead, this Clarice would be the blood link to the line until she had a male descendent.

"You're much better at working the Muggle side of things than I am, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "True, there are others who are better, but I would prefer no involvement from the Ministry - even those who are loyal to me."

"I understand. And my duties here?"

"This is not immediately critical. Consider it a spare time and summer project for now."

She nodded.

"Oh, lest I forget. Severus would like to see you at your earliest conveniences about a member of your house."

"Let me guess," Minerva said. "Some of his Slytherin thugs got their asses kicked by one Charlie Weasley?"

"Severus did not enlighten me on the details, Minerva. But I would say that's a fair bet."

"Probably served them right."

"Arguably. Now, I'm sure you wish to get back to - well whatever."

"Thank you, Albus," she said before turning to leave the office.

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1988 - ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, LONDON, U.K.

"How are you doing, Clarice?" Hermione asked after a long silence.

"I'm so scared," she whimpered.

"I know what you mean," Harry said. "I was scared too."

"You were?"

Harry nodded. "Last thing I remembered, I was almost hit by a car while crossing the street. Then, it's about a week later and I'm here in this room. I hurt all over. I had no idea where I was and I don't know anyone. Then, I'm told I'm never going back to my Aunt and Uncles again 'cause they are bad people, but they did not tell me where I was going. I was so alone."

"Me too - not that way, but yeah. What's going to happen to me?"

Harry chuckled. "Well, if Hermione has her way, you're going to live with us."

"Why would you want me? Everybody I know dies!"

"I know what you mean," Harry said. "My real parents are dead, and I learned a few days ago my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin died in a fire. But that's just bad luck."

"You're not going to like me," Clarice moped.

"Why not?" Hermione asked.

"Nobody does - at least no one my age. They don't understand me and you won't either."

"Try us."

"Most kids live with their real parents - or at least a parent."

"I don't remember my real parents," Harry said. "I was fifteen months old when they were killed. They died trying to save my life from a madman."

"His followers killed my real parents a couple of weeks earlier," Hermione said, "I'm told it was just after my second birthday. They gave me up for adoption not because they didn't want me or love me, but because they were too young to take care of me. They still wanted to be a part of my life. I don't even know what they looked like."

"I don't even know if I have any other relatives," Clarice said.

"I am the only person left in my entire family," Harry said, "so far as I know."

"My Great-grandmother is still alive," Hermione said. "She had three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. I'm the only one left."

"Okay, we've got that in common," Clarice said. "Alright! I don't like playing with dolls."

"Neither do I," Harry chuckled.

"You better not," Hermione said. "And you won't be able to at my house. I collect them, but don't play with them."

"You collect dolls?"

"Fancy ones from all over the world - or at least they are dressed that way. Places I want to visit someday."

"What do you do for fun Clarice?" Harry asked.

"READ!"

"Makes three of us," Hermione said. "Harry and I read a lot too."

"What's your favorite book?" Harry asked.

"Watership Down," Clarice said. "It's a children's book, but all with words. My Mum said it was a critique of the problems of the world using rabbits instead of people. I thought it was pretty smart and fun to read. I also like The Secret Garden."

"I should probably read it," Harry said. "Right now, I'm reading the Lord of the Rings."

"I've read that one," Hermione said. "I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia now. Harry's already read those books."

"I'm the smartest in my class," Clarice added. "My teachers want me to skip second year entirely. Most kids hate me for it."

"I'm gonna skip third year," Harry said. "I'm also at the top of my class, 'cept no one knows that other than my teacher."

"I started a year early," Hermione said. "Kids don't like me 'cause I always make them look silly."

"You're still going to hate me," Clarice said. "You're going to think I'm a nutter." She then leaned in intently and whispered: "I can do magic!"

"Card tricks?" Harry asked.

"No! Real magic! Stuff I can't explain. If I want something to happen bad enough, it does!"

"I once grew my hair back overnight when my Aunt tried to have my head shaved," Harry said. "Another time, I was being chased by bullies and all of a sudden I was on the roof of my school - four stories up!"

"Some bullies were beating me," Hermione said. "So I wanted them to go away so I just burst into flames. Didn't hurt me at all, but two of them went to the hospital. You mean stuff like that?"

Clarice's jaw dropped open and her eyes widened significantly. "I thought I was the only one! I thought I was special! I thought I was a freak!" The last word made Harry wince.

"You are not the only one," Hermione said. "But you are special in your own way."

"What are you two?"

"I'm a witch just like you. Harry's a wizard."

"They're real?"

"Yup," Harry said. "We're learning about them."

"Can I - can I learn too?"

"Only if you want to be our friend," Harry said.

"I'd - thank you. I'd like that very much."

_____________________________________________________________

Minerva McGonagall returned to the hospital room where Harry was staying a few minutes before two o'clock. It seemed she had walked in onto some kind of conference. Harry, Hermione and the Grangers were there, but there were also three other people: two women and a young girl in a wheelchair. One of the women was talking.

"No, she does not and will not need the wheelchair. She can walk, it's just hospital policy."

"That's good," Rose said. She then noticed Minerva in the door. "Minne! Come in!"

Minerva walked in and approached the group. "Everyone, this is Minnie," Rose said. "She's Hermione's Great-Grandmother and teaches at a boarding school up north. She came to London to meet Harry."

"Good afternoon," Minerva said.

"Minnie, this is Amanda Riggs," Rose said indicating the older of the two women. "She's a social worker here at the hospital and was responsible for placing Harry with us. And this is Detective Sergeant Gail Nelson from the Metro Police. She worked with Harry on his case." Pleasantries were exchanged.

"Has something come up regarding Harry?" Minerva asked.

"No, Minnie," Robert said. "Not regarding Harry. Minnie, these women have asked us to consider taking on another foster child as well." Rose turned the wheelchair towards Minerva and she saw the young girl.

Minerva saw that the girl had the same eyes as Harry. It couldn't be, she thought.

"Minnie, this is Clarice Jameson," Robert said. "She was an orphan as a very young baby and was adopted. Her adoptive father died of cancer a little over a year ago. She lost her Mum in a car crash a few days ago."

"I'm so sorry," Minerva said softly.

"It turns out she has an older brother…"

"I do?" Clarice asked in shock.

"Yes, Clarice, you do," Amanda said.

"Don't tell me," Minerva said almost in shock, "Harry?"

Robert nodded.

"Me?" Harry asked in shock.

"I have a b-b-brother?" Clarice asked as she began to cry.

"Should have known," Hermione grumbled. "They have the same eyes!"

"I'm not alone!" Clarice sobbed.

Hermione noted that Harry was acting as if something was in his eye.

Mr. Granger picked up the crying girl and held her in his arms as she cried into his shoulder. She had not cried following the accident, not really. She had been too confused and too afraid to finally let go of her emotions. Now, the grief she felt of having lost the life she had known and the joy she felt at finding a life she never knew could exist for her intermingled and she could do nothing but cry. It was several minutes before she began to calm down.

When she was reduced to sniffling, Robert Granger spoke to her softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Clarice? These women here want us to be your family, but we can't make you join us. Do you want to live with your brother Harry and Hermione and of course me and my wife Rosie?"

Clarice could not speak just yet. She simply sniffled again and nodded into her now new father's chest.

"How 'bout you lot," he added looking at his daughter and Harry.

"I'm her brother," Harry said. "Of course."

"Yes, Daddy," Hermione said.

"It'll be a big change, Hermione," Rose Granger said. "You've been the only child in the house for ages.

"I think I can manage, Mother!"

"And, only one of you can have a room to yourself."

"That's okay," Hermione said with a bit of a smirk that only Harry caught. "Clarice can have her own room. I'll room with Harry."

"What?" her father coughed.

"Got you!" Hermione laughed. "Of course I'll share my room with my little sister!"

"Sister," Clarice whispered as a hint of a smile crossed her lips.

With that, Amanda and Gail smiled and took their leave to begin the paperwork.

"Alright," Harry said somewhat seriously, "who knew what when? Why didn't anyone tell me I had a sister? A real sister?"

"Sorry Harry," Hermione said. "I suspected something like that but - well I thought it was a - er - coincidence."

"What?" both Harry and Clarice asked.

"Your eyes," Hermione said. "They are identical and - well - a bit unusual. Throw in the same hair and…"

"Hold it!" Harry said, "Clarice and I might share the same color hair, but hers isn't all over the place!"

"I'm just saying, Harry. There were clues."

"We were told when we got back from lunch," Rose Granger said. "Amanda and Gail, those two women? Well, you and Clarice are on record with Social Services. Both of your files have your Birth Certificates. Harry was born to James and Lily Potter in the Village of Godrics Hollow on July 31st, 1980. Clarice was born to James and Lily Potter on July 12th, 1981 in the same village in Devon. They didn't know why you two were separated and wound up in separate homes. Amanda says it's not department policy to separate siblings except in extreme circumstances, but mistakes have been made before and since, so…"

"If you could call living with my - our Aunt and Uncle a home," Harry muttered loudly. "Somehow, I sense this Dumbledore's hand in this. Clarice had a loving family, and I was beaten!" Harry then glared at McGonagall. "Did you know about this?"

"Not until earlier today, no," she said. "I left earlier because Dumbledore summoned me. The story hit the papers this morning that Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, the baby who won the war was dead. But, it mentioned your sister by name. Clarice has been nothing more than a rumor in our world. Dumbledore told me today she was real and asked me to find her to see if she was still safe."

"He didn't even know where she was?"

"No."

"Why were we separated?" Clarice asked.

"It's a long story," McGonagall said.

"Hermione and I will tell her what we know," Harry said. "Why were we separated?"

"Dumbledore did not tell me everything today," McGonagall said. "You were sent to your Aunt's because of the blood protection she could provide."

"Don't you think I would have had it with Clarice? That blood protection was based upon my Aunt being my mother's sister. Clarice is her daughter! The wards that protected me would have worked with her, wouldn't they?"

"I can only assume that they would, Harry. But it was you who was in the gravest peril. Many people knew about you on both sides and it was you that You-Know-Who was trying to kill. Even though he was defeated, he still had followers who would have jumped at the opportunity to finish the job. Clarice was unknown. As I understand it, until today there were only three people alive in our world who knew she existed: Dumbledore; Rubeus Hagrid, who brought you from the ruins of your parent's home to the Dursleys and your godfather Sirius Black, who was Clarice's as well. He took her elsewhere. Dumbledore said he was dating an Muggle who worked for social services. Of course, Black's in prison, so…

"Anyway, Clarice was not in as grave danger at the time and my guess is Dumbledore wanted to keep it that way just in case."

"Of what?"

"If something had happened to you, Harry, Clarice becomes the last of your magical line. She's not the heir as you know. But if you were dead and she were to have a son, he would be. Dumbledore wanted to preserve the line at the very least."

"So I have to go away?" Clarice whimpered.

"If Dumbledore finds out," McGonagall said. "If he does, it won't be from me."

"Why?"

"Because Hermione is my family and I cannot go against my family. As you are part of her family, you've become part of mine. Dumbledore assumes that I have no family because he knows nothing of Hermione. If he knew, he would have sent someone else to check on Clarice."

"And what will you tell him?" Rose Granger asked.

"That I am looking. She'll be found when she comes to Hogwarts."

"And he'll know you've lied to him."

"No. That I doubt."

"Why?"

"Remember, he doesn't know about Hermione or you for that matter. He believes Harry is dead and won't learn the truth for three years. When he does, he may find out about Clarice, but not from me. By then it'll be too late."

"Why's that?" Hermione asked.

"Because, unless I am mistaken, the wards that protected Harry when he lived with his Aunt will re-establish themselves now that Harry will be living with another blood relation - Clarice."

"What are wards?" Clarice began to ask when suddenly her eyes grew large and her mouth dropped open. "Whoa!" she exclaimed.

"What?"

"Th-that man," she said pointing, "he just - er - materialized out of thin air! Just like the transporters on Star Trek!"

The others turned when they heard a laugh.

"Good afternoon, Sensei," Hermione and Harry said, subtly letting Clarice know that Sensei was normal, for lack of a better word.

"You two know him?" Clarice asked.

"Of course," Harry said. "In some ways, he's the reason I am here and therefore, the reason I met Hermione, her parents, her great-grandmum and now you. He's my magical teacher and Hermione's and - if you want - yours as well."

Sensei then explained to Clarice what he was.

"So, you're like a hologram, just like on the holodeck of the Enterprise?" she asked.

"A good analogy," Sensei replied. "I am not truly a hologram. A hologram is made from coherent light, I am made from coherent magical energy, but the concept is similar."

"You like Start Trek?" Hermione asked. "Which one? Original?"

"Both," Clarice replied.

"What's Star Trek?" Harry asked.

"It's a show on the Telly," Clarice said. "It's so cool!"

"It's on tonight, Harry," Hermione added. "Next Generation, that is. We can watch it if you like."

"That'd be brilliant," Harry said. "I've never really watched the telly before."

"You haven't?" Clarice asked.

"His Aunt and Uncle were not very nice to him," Hermione said.

"Sensei?" Harry asked. "Did you know Clarice in your timeline? Did you know she was your sister?"

Sensei had a sad look on his face as he shook his head. "I knew of her," he confessed, "but never knew her.

"Clarice Jameson was a year or so behind me at Hogwarts and in another House - Ravenclaw as I recall. We never had any classes together and she was not a member in any of the organizations I belonged to. She also was certainly not part of the Harry Potter Fan Club."

"The what?" Harry gasped.

"It was not a real club," Sensei said, "at least not that I know of. It's what we called the silly girls who - er - wanted me to marry them, I suppose."

Harry looked mortified which drew giggles from the two girls.

"In the summer of 1997," Sensei went on, "the war went from bad to worse. The enemy - Voldemort and his followers - overthrew the government. One of the enemy's sympathizers pushed through a law that called for the rounding up of all Muggleborns - witches and wizards who had no known magical families. Thousands were caught, men, women and children and sent to the wizard prison of Azkaban. Thousands more fled the country altogether. One in five who was sent to Azkaban died there.

"The war ended less than a year later and I was now an Auror - a wizard policeman. I was part of the team that prepared the case against those involved in the Muggleborn Registration. Over five hundred innocent people had died as a result of that pointless law. Among those who died was Clarice Jameson."

"I'm going to die?" Clarice whimpered.

"I don't know."

"But you said I did!"

"In my timeline, yes. But your timeline is already very different. You never met me in my timeline. You never learned I was your brother and you and I never lived together as a family after our real parents died. You see? All that's different now. You met Harry today and learned he is your brother and that you will live together as a family. Harry will see to it that you don't meet that same fate."

"You bet," Harry said.

"As Minerva said, for a long time there were only three people alive who even knew I had a sister for certain, much less who she was. Hagrid was loyal to Dumbledore even after Dumbledore died. I'm sure Dumbledore told him not to tell me about Clarice. Hagrid was a close friend, but never told me. For most of my childhood, our Godfather was in prison for a crime he did not commit. I only saw him as a free man - although a fugitive as he escaped - for two years before he was killed in a battle with the enemy. He never told me. Of course, Dumbledore never told me either. I was sixteen when Dumbledore died. The secret of Clarice was one he tried to take with him to his grave.

"It was not until I was twenty-one and getting married that I finally got around to checking on my various inheritances. It was when I was doing that that I saw our parents' wills. Clarice was to inherit half of everything - even with half, she would have been quite wealthy. But she had been dead for four years by then. Until today, there was a part of me that always wondered what my life would have been like if I had known about Clarice and she about me and we truly were brother and sister. Now, I guess, I will be able to find out.

"The war ended and I knew nothing of a sister. I was a part of what people called 'The Golden Trio.' Three of us had fought side by side in many battles and in the end we defeated Voldemort and ended that war. The three of us had been best friends since early in our first year at Hogwarts. In addition to me, there was my Hermione and a boy named Ron Weasley. In our first year at school, we fought a troll and defeated Voldemort's first attempt to come back. We had lots of adventures together growing up.

"But we did grow up and Ron and I became interested in girls and Hermione in boys. Ron and I both fell in love with Hermione. I dared not believe she could ever feel the same way about me as I did about her. Ron would marry her even though it turned out she was in love with me, but like me did not believe I could feel that way about her. Despite the fame and wealth, we were miserable.

"Perhaps your lives will be quite different. In fact, I am almost sure of it. The love problems that ultimately ruined our lives might not affect you three."

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.

"This time around there may be a new 'Golden Trio:' a brother, a sister and their best friend. The confusion that destroyed my life will not be there for Harry here - or the others."

"Sensei?" Hermione asked. "I have a question."

"Shoot." Sensei replied.

"Um - well you've told us only Harry can see you and only those others he trusts completely. I mean, I could see you almost immediately, I think, same with Mum and Dad. Minnie took a little longer, but not much. And now Clarice? Are you sure it's about trust?"

"Good question," Sensei said. "The magic used to make me is not well studied. Fact is, I am truly one of a kind. But I think I have an answer, Hermione. You are the reason most the others can see me."

"Me?"

"Harry has trusted you from the start. The 'trust' component of my magical algorithm might extend to those you trust implicitly. And I know you trust your parents and Minerva."

"And Clarice?"

"The fact she can see me after you barely met and before you became close friends tells me she's really his sister."

"How?"

"I would appear to Harry's parents, godparents, and siblings even if he did not know them. It's arguably a flaw in my matrix, but as I did not know I'd run into my sister and my parents are dead and I did trust my godfather, I considered that flaw as being of little consequence."

"I thought maybe Harry trusted a little easy."

"Hey," Harry said. "I'm right here."

"Sorry Harry," Hermione said sheepishly.

"It's okay."

"There may be some of that as well, but I can't tell yet," Sensei said. "I can assure you, I am keeping an eye out. I trusted too easily in my youth and am concerned. But no worries yet. I can say from my own past that you are the first person Harry has ever trusted. You are his first and best friend and that probably will not change. Naturally, those you trust earn Harry's trust."

"Sensei?" Harry asked.

"Yes Harry?"

"Were you going to tell me about Clarice?"

"I was planning to, Harry. Not today, of course, but I was. I surely did not expect her to drop out of the blue, as it were. And you must understand, I knew little about her except her name, that she attended Hogwarts and died in the camps in my timeline. That's it. But yes, Harry. She is your sister and you would have been told probably later this summer after you get out of here and when you could have had help in finding her."

"Oh. Okay. Could we have found her otherwise?"

"I don't know, Harry. I like to think so, but I don't know."

"So it's just luck we found each other?"

"That would be a fair assessment, Harry. While you sould not rely on luck, it is something that happens."

A/N: How was Clarice adopted? She was dropped off with Muggle Social Services the night of the attack. They had her papers and, of course waited and sent notice hoping family would take her in. Nothing happened. With her parents confirmed dead, she became Ward of the Court and eligible for adoption or placement. Being a newborn, she would have gone quickly once it was confirmed there was no family to take her in. (I can imagine Dumbles had something to do with that.)

As for how do we know she's his brother? In 1988 DNA test were not a matter of routine. (It was still new and just beginning to gain some acceptance as competent evidence.) The birth certificates would have been sufficient evidence absent a challenge.