The Girl with the Stone

by AllISeeAreStars

Dove Potter has thus far lived an unremarkable life with her abusive family until Fate intervenes. Now she's off to Hogwarts and meets new friends, but maybe she was safer back in Surrey.

3. Outfitting

Chapter three: Outfitting

They emerged somewhere completely different, in a sitting room kept tidy, but cold and impersonal. Severus stepped out and brushed himself off before doing the same to her.

"This is home," he said. "If you make a mess, clean it. Keep your room clean, be respectful, and if I tell you to do something I don't expect to have to argue with you about it. Am I understood?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, sir. Sir? What should I call you?"

This hadn't actually come to mind during the process of retrieving her from Surrey or talking to her in the infirmary. Though, he had had the traitorous thought that this could have been his daughter had Lily chosen him instead of Potter, but he would not acknowledge that. Draco called him 'Uncle', but he wasn't sure that suited. "I suppose, whatever you want to within reason. Though, at school you will have to address me as 'Professor.'"

"At school?"

"Yes, I teach Potions, so I shall know if you misbehave. I expect you to keep your grades up and act like a young lady. Not a hooligan. Yes?"

"Yes, sir. I'm glad you'll be there." Dove had been nervous, not wanting to be away from her new guardian.

"Well let's go see you to your room. Shall we?"

The room was simple, a queen size bed, a desk, a bookshelf, and a dresser with a mirror. She hugged Severus briefly before letting go and feeling embarrassed. He cleared his throat and gestured to the room. "You can change anything you want to. We'll go shopping tomorrow for clothes and toys and such. Your letter for Hogwarts should come in the morning and we can get your school things as well. I think it might be best if you get some sleep. It's been a long day and it will be another one tomorrow. Do you need anything?" She shook her head. "Well, my room is just down the hall. Don't hesitate to come get me if you need something." And awkwardly, unsure if he should say anything else, he left.

"Malfoy Manor!" Severus called into the fire. "Lucius? Lucius, I need you and Narcissa."

"What is it, Severus? We're busy."

"Put some clothes on and get over here. Now." Five minutes later the Malfoy couple stepped through the fireplace, clothed but disheveled. They were both anxious as their friend rarely called for them through Floo, and even rarer than that demanded their presence together. When they arrived he was pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

"Severus, what's wrong?" Narcissa asked, mothering him as always. He walked to right in front of Lucius, ignoring her.

"When the Dark Lord comes back, will you be loyal to him?" Lucius paled, not having thought of his old master for years outside of nightmares. He looked at his wife.

"No. I made a foolish mistake then, but now I have a family to think of. I will not put my son through what I was put through." Immediately, Severus calmed down and collapsed in his favorite armchair.

"I am so lost." He groaned. "I have, as of today, a new ward. I don't know how to take care of a child. I don't know what it is they need, how to handle them aside from scaring them into submission. I need help."

For a moment the two were shocked into silence. Lucius was the first to recover. "What do you mean you have a new ward? Are you in some kind of trouble? I always knew Dumbledore was a bad idea." Severus waved his wand to check on the wards he'd placed on Dove's room to alert him if she needed him or woke up. She was asleep. He motioned for them to follow him and he opened her door just a crack. Her dark hair was fanned out around her and her face was at peace, but with her scar visible there was no questioning who it was.

"Severus," Lucius said cautiously after they were back in the sitting room. "Why do you have the Girl Who Lived in your spare room, asleep?"

"A second part of the Potter's will was found." He whispered. "Lily named me secondary godfather. Albus filed the paperwork today. She was being abused, Luc. She knew nothing of her heritage, thought her parents died in a Muggle accident. Calls herself 'freak'."

Narcissa's pretty face went red. "What do you mean, abused? I thought she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle."

"I knew Petunia growing up. She hated her sister's magic, envied it. The girl was starved, beaten, and living in a broom closet. You saw how tiny she is. She isn't but a few weeks younger than Draco."

No one said anything for a few minutes. Then Narcissa took a deep breath. "First thing is she'll need new robes, dresses, shoes- when are you taking her to Diagon Alley?"

"First thing tomorrow after breakfast."

"You said she didn't know anything. Does she know about the Dark Lord?" Lucius asked. Severus shook his head.

"No, we were too busy explaining about wands and such and ran out of time."

"You need to explain before you go out and she's overwhelmed by the masses of people wanting to shake her hand. I think maybe the three of us should come with you. You and I can control the masses, Narcissa can have a dress up doll, and the kids can get to know each other. Think she'll be in Gryffindor?"

Severus chuckled. "Probably, but I don't know. She definitely has Slytherin in her. Merlin, the girl told me I was being obstinate. Asked me if I was coy on purpose. She'll have no problem putting Draco in his place."

"Boy is a brat," Lucius agreed. "I have no idea how he became so stuck on himself the way he is."

"Really?" His wife asked him. "No idea at all?"

"I think it would be a good idea for the three of you to come along. It would give her more people in her corner and I would appreciate the advice where I can get it. How about the three of you come around just after breakfast. I can tell her about you and the Dark Lord while we eat and we can go. Her birthday is in a few days."

"Oh! Well you must do something for it then!" Narcissa exclaimed.

"I was planning to give her the locket I gave Lily that one year, but I don't want to overwhelm her with a bunch of new people."

Lucius leaned forward. "It might be a good idea to contact Potter's friend. Lupin. He wasn't as bad as the others, you have admitted that yourself, and she might like another connection to her parents. You can tell the stories about her mother and he tell her stories about Potter."

Severus nodded with a pale face. "I will be needing to make Wolfsbane Potion then. I won't let him around her without it, but I have had that thought. Merlin, I just got her yesterday and I can literally feel the gray hair growing. How do you do it?"

"He drinks a potion."

"Cissa!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want to keep that secret?"

Severus laughed at the disgruntled look on his friend's face when he heard, "Daddy?" The three of them stopped and looked over to the bottom of the stairs where Dove stood, rubbing her eyes. He'd told her to call him whatever she wanted within reason, and to be honest he supposed he should have prepared himself for the possibility it might have been that. He broke out of his thoughts and gestured for her to come closer. "Did we wake you?"

She nodded and climbed into his lap, tucking her head under his chin and peeking at the two beautiful strangers. They watched their friend and the girl with surprised interest. He was a natural parent. "Hello." She said to them quietly.

"Dove, these are my friends, Lucius and Narcissa. They and their son are going to come shopping with us tomorrow. Would you like that?" She nodded sleepily with a ferocious yawn. Narcissa smiled.

"How about I tuck you in, dear? We'll see what we can do about your night clothes." Dove looked back at Severus before consenting to being led back to her room by the new person. Once they were gone the two men just looked at each other.

"She looks to you for consent and acceptance," Lucius said. "That's good. With her back ground it isn't uncommon that she would latch onto the person she deems as her rescuer. Congratulations, Severus, you're a father."

Narcissa led Dove to her new room and looked around to take stock of what she had to work with. "I've always been good with Transfiguration, what's your favorite color?" Dove shrugged. "Now, shrugging is for people who can't think."

"I guess I like green." She whispered. Narcissa waved her wand and Dove's oversized hand-me-downs became a green night gown.

"Now, it won't due as a substitute, but it will hold until we go shopping tomorrow. I think I have something for you to wear out. I'll bring in the morning, but for now, it is time for you to go back to sleep."

"Thank you!"

"Oh! You can call me Aunt Cissa. I can't wait for us to get to know each other better."

Dove woke up better rested than she'd ever felt in her life. Her new bed was even more comfortable than the one she woke up in at the school and her night gown made her feel special. She ran downstairs to start breakfast, but it was already on the table and her Severus was there reading a paper and drinking what looked to be a very strong cup of tea. She gasped. The picture, it moved! "Sir, that picture just moved."

He folded the paper and set it down. "Pictures in the Wizarding World move. Paintings, can talk. Some I can think of particularly can be quite rude too come to think of it." Talking pictures. Dove smiled. "Well? Are you going to sit down?"

"I can?" She asked.

"We will usually eat together when we are not at Hogwarts, yes. You are no longer in Surrey, Dove. Things are going to be a lot different." He tossed a padded envelope with green ink in front of her. "This is for you," he said. "Your Hogwarts letter. Go on, read it aloud."

Ms. D. Potter,

Second Bedroom

7 Spinners End

Cokeworth

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

"What does it mean, they await my owl?"

"That's how we send letters and whatnot." He took a deep breath. "We still have something we need to discuss. Today you will meet a lot of people who will want to shake your hand, or thank you. I want you to be prepared that everyone will know who you are."

"But, why?" Dove asked, confused.

"First you should know that not all wizards are good. Just like Muggles, there are both good and bad. Do you remember about Muggles?" Dove nodded. "Good girl. Years ago there was one wizard who went about as dark as you can get. His name, though you will hear very few willing to speak it, was Voldemort. The Dark Lord gained followers, a lot of whom were tricked or didn't understand what they were doing. These were dark days, Dove. Muggles and Muggleborns were being targeted, Pureblood families who refused to side with him, and everyone in between. Your parents were both very powerful, but they defied him at every turn. So he went after them and no one lived once he decided to kill them. Except you. He tried to kill you, and he couldn't. That's how you have that scar on your forehead, and that's why everyone in our world knows your name. You're the Girl Who Lived."

Something painful was going on in Dove's head as he was explaining. Her dream of the green flashes, the pretty woman who screamed. "Where is he now? Is he dead?"

"No. Though, you will meet people who will want to believe otherwise. He's still out there waiting for his chance."

"Do you have a picture of my parents?" She asked with a lump in her stomach.

"I have a picture of your mother, but it shouldn't be too hard to find one of both of them." Severus closed his eyes. "I think you ought to know something else. I told you he had followers. There will be people who will make an uproar that you were put in my care. You should expect it to come up at some point, but I want to be the one to tell you before you hear it elsewhere." He folded his left sleeve up. "I made a mistake a long time ago when I thought I knew how the world worked," he said. "Others did the same, but some do not think of it as a mistake and are very loyal. I was once one of his. I thought I could protect someone I cared about, but I couldn't." Dove's eyes widened in realization. "Promise me if you see this on anyone that isn't me or Lucius you will run. Find help. Find me. Lucius and I will protect you, but you cannot trust anyone else with this. Promise."

"I promise," she whispered. "I trust you."

At that moment the fire roared to life and three blondes stepped into the sitting room. Severus guided her into the room. She remembered the two from the night before and remembered their son being mentioned. He was her age, though quite a bit taller than her. Narcissa- Aunt Cissa, she reminded herself, smiled at her. "Dove, this is our son, Draco. Draco, this is Dove." She nudged him toward her and he held his hand out, but instead of shaking it he placed a kiss on the back.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He said aristocratically.

"The pleasure's all mine," she replied nervously. Draco studied the shaking girl in front of him and decided she needed a friend, a protector. He could do that. He smiled at her.

"Well," Aunt Cissa said after watching the scene before her. "let's get you dressed for the day, shall we?"

Aunt Cissa had brought dresses, three to choose from, that were just her size. Dove looked at them with happy disbelief before choosing a pale blue one. Cissa brushed her hair gently and pulled part of it back with a matching ribbon. Dove sat back and just listened to her new aunt talk.

"Severus was telling us how well you two were getting along. I can tell he likes having you here." She said. "You look almost like you could be his daughter, and with you addressing him like that- "

"Do you think it bothered him?" Dove asked worriedly. Aunt Cissa tittered.

"Of course not, sweetie. He loved it, I'm sure. There, you're ready. You look so pretty in your dress."

"I've never worn one before last night," Dove said. She twirled around when prompted.

"That's awful! Well, I'm here now and that will be fixed."

Dove traveled with Severus through the Floo again, still too scared to do it alone. She, and all three of the adults, expected Draco to tease her. Instead, he patted her back reassuringly. They arrived in a dark tavern, where Dove was entranced by the casual magic going on. The barkeep waving the broom across the floor, a spoon stirring tea while the wizard read his book. Draco held Dove's hand and Severus held the other, bracing himself for the stampede. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to shrink away from the two men leading their group.

"Mr. Malfoy! Professor! Can I get you a table, sirs?"

"No, thank you, Tom." Lucius said. "We're shopping for school. It's Draco and Dove's first year at Hogwarts."

"Bless my soul, that's Dove Potter." She could feel all eyes on her. 'Tom' hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Dove and seized her hand, tears in his eyes. Draco kept a firm grip on her, wanting to pull her away.

"Welcome back, Ms. Potter, welcome back."

Dove didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at her. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Severus placed a propriatorial hand on her shoulder. Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Dove found herself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Doris Crockford, Ms. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."

"So proud, Ms. Potter, I'm just so proud."

"Always wanted to shake your hand - I'm all of a flutter."

"Delighted, Ms. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."

"I've seen you before!" Dove said, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop." Aunt Petunia had been angrier than Dove had ever seen her. She grabbed Dove hard and dragged her away from the shop. She didn't eat for a week after that particular incident, but couldn't find it in herself to hold a grudge against the dithering man in front of her.

"She remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? She remembers me!" Dove shook hands again and again -Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.

A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

"Quirinus!" Severus said evenly. "Dove, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts." Dove got the feeling he didn't like him.

"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Dove's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p- pleased I am to meet you."

"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"

"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.

But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Dove to himself. The people kept coming in waves until Severus and Lucius pulled the group outside to a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds. "I don't want you alone with Quirrell unless absolutely necessary," Severus told her as Narcissa counted bricks. She tapped the wall three times with the point of her wand.

The brick she had touched quivered - it wriggled - in the middle, a small hole appeared - it grew wider and wider - a second later they were facing an archway large enough for the lot of them to walk through fanned out, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight. They stepped through the archway. Dove looked quickly over her shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons - All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver - Self-Stirring - Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

"Yes, the two of you will be needing those," Severus said aloud. "But first, the bank."

Dove wished she had about eight more eyes. She turned her head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad..."

Dove examined everything in wonder and Draco was happy to follow and explain everything to her. Yes, they really did fly brooms. Quidditch was the greatest sport ever invented. No, you can not eat that. Severus and the Malfoy's watched in amusement until they came to the doors of Gringotts and they each pulled the kids closer. They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold was-

"Dad, what are those things?" Severus had decided not to approach the topic of her calling him that unless she did. Secretly he supposed it was kind of nice to hear.

"Those are goblins. Tricky little devils so stay close and don't wander."

"Okay."

After the bank they went to Madame Malkins where Aunt Cissa proceeded to order the seamstress on exactly what she wanted for both children, even new pieces for herself and the two men- under much protest. Then to the apothecary where Severus picked their Potion things out specially, arguing with the shop owner on quality. In the book shop Dove and Draco went off to find their books on their own.

"The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)" Draco said.
"Check!" She placed two in the start of a pile.

"A History of Magic?"

"Check."

"Magical Theory."

"By Adalbert Waffling or Terinal Dunde?"

"Waffling."

"Then check!"

"Look here, Forge, a couple of firsties." Two identical redheads came into view. Draco grabbed Dove's arm and pulled her towards him. She locked eyes with one of the boys- who subtly had more freckles on his nose and cheeks where the other had them on his forehead, and her stomach fluttered just a little. "Forge?"

The one she was looking at shook his head and answered his twin. "Yes, Gred, firsties." He held his hand out to Dove with a smile. "I'm Fred." Draco pulled on her dress when she stepped forward, but she shook the boy's hand anyway.

"I'm Dove, and this is my friend Draco. Do you go to Hogwarts?"

"Yeah. We're going into our third year. Are you excited?"

"Nervous actually."

"Don't be you'll do great."

"Mr. Weasley, did you require assistance to find your own group?" Fred jumped a mile high and swung around to the Potions Master, who was standing with his arms crossed and Lucius behind him looking rather amused.

"No, sir. Just helping some first years with their books, sir. Did you need assistance?"

Sensing danger, Draco stepped forward. He'd known Severus longer, so he knew this could be bad. "These gentlemen were telling us about Hogwarts. Right, Dove?" Dove nodded enthusiastically, over hearing Fred's teasing twin. "Hear that, Forge? We're gentlemen."

"Well then," Severus sneered. "you should probably be on your way. Shouldn't you?"

"Right you are, Professor Snape." Fred's twin said. "Say good bye, Fred."

"Good bye, Fred." Fred repeated, winking at the blushing Dove. They went off and Draco and Dove each grabbed their books.

"You be careful," Severus said to Dove on the way to Ollivanders. "Remember what I said this morning?"

Dove nodded obediently, but Lucius chuckled. "The Weasley's are the least likely to try harming her. Molly is more likely to smother her in sweaters and Arthur some infernal Muggle device."

"You never know."

"This is because that boy was making eyes- "

Severus interrupted Narcissa with a sharp glance and they entered the wand shop.

A bell rang when they opened the door and an older man came to view. He looked at the adults with eyes that were hard to describe, before settling on Lucius. "Eighteen inches, elm, dragon heartstring. A good sturdy wand. Take care of it."

"Yes, sir." He moved to Narcissa.

"Thirteen inches, oak, unicorn hair, pliable." She nodded.

"And young Severus Snape. I remember you and a certain redhead darkening my door. Fifteen inches, blackthorn and ebony, dragon heartstring, might I see it?" Without hesitation Severus handed it to the man who then turned it over in his hand. "I see. You have a very loyal wand here, Professor. Very loyal. And now then, the young Malfoy heir. I have just the wand for you."

Mr. Ollivander went over to a stack of long thin boxes and pulled one out. "Apple, Unicorn hair, eleven inches. Give it a wave." Draco jerked it to the side and a pile of boxes went in every direction. "Not that one." He then searched through a different pile and pulled out a box. "Hawthorn and unicorn hair. Ten inches precisely." As soon as he held it, he got this smile on his face and with a wave the boxes were put back in their original pile. Mr. Ollivander nodded. "Good, good. You will have a hard time should you need to replace it. That one won't let go so easily."

Then he turned to Dove with a sad smile. "I remember your parents here buying their first wands. I was very upset to hear of their passing, my condolences."

"Thank you." She said genuinely.

He pointed to Severus. "Stay close to this man and you'll be safe I can assure you." He moved her hair to see her scar and a sad look haunted his face. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did that. Yew, very powerful, but in the wrong hands- well. Which is your wand arm?"

"I'm right handed." She offered, shivering at the somber mood the shop had taken on all of a sudden. He measured her arm as he did Draco's and walked to the back to bring a small stack of boxes to try. He handed her the first one. "Right then, Ms. Potter. Try this one. Beech wood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave."

Dove took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of her hand almost at once.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try -"

Dove tried - but she had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.

"No, no -here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out." When that didn't work, Mr. Ollivander gave her a very strange look. "I wonder." He picked up a box at the bottom with a heavy blanket of dust. "Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

All three adults inhaled sharply and Severus went rigid, but when her fingers wrapped around it she felt a warmth and red and gold sparks flew from the tip and around the room in a spectacular display. Each adult in the room took a shaky breath. "Curious," Lucius said under his breath. "Very curious."

She looked back. "What's curious?"

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Ms. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother gave you that scar." Dove's face paled and Draco grabbed her hand. "The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Ms. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great."