Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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"Who is it, Mummy?" Mark whispered excitedly as he stood on Hagrid's stoop next to Harriet, beside his older brother.
Harriet ignored his question as she knocked loudly on the wooden door.
A dog's loud bark rang out.
"Fang's still alive!" Harriet exclaimed to herself.
"Who's 'Fang', Mum?" James quietly asked.
"You'll see in a moment." She whispered as she smiled at both of her boys.
The bark was heard again just before heavy footsteps boomed from inside as a gruff voice called out, "I'm comin'! I'm comin'!"
The wooden door swung wide open.
A brilliant smile flashed across Harriet's fair face as she beamed, "Hagrid!"
Her old friend had visibly aged since Harriet had seen him last.
There was more gray in his unkempt beard and wild hair, but the same friendly twinkle glistened in his beady eyes.
"HARRIET!" Hagrid boomed, "Well………Well, look at ya! Ya could 'ave mentioned ya were comin'! I…………" Hagrid stopped as he noticed the small boys beside her.
James tried to look brave while Mark cowered behind him.
Hagrid's size and stature were the epitome of intimidation, but he smiled warmly at the two boys as he identified them based on Harriet's letters, "You lot must be James and Mark!"
"That's right, sir. I'm James….Riddle." James nodded as he introduced himself before he pulled Mark out from behind him, "And this is my brother, Mark Riddle."
Harriet smiled while Hagrid stuck his massive hands out towards the boys and introduced himself in turn, "Well, it's nice to meet the both of ya! I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwart's gamekeeper! I've known your Mum since she was smaller than the both of ya!"
James and Mark laughed while Hagrid shook their small hands with his huge ones.
"Would the three of ya like to come in for some tea?" Hagrid offered as he glanced from the boys to Harriet.
James and Mark looked at their mother hopefully, desperate to learn more about the interesting character they had just met.
"We should find your sister." Harriet frowned at her sons, "I see she's gone missing…….I dunno, I suppose one cup can't hurt. Tea sounds lovely, Hagrid, thanks." She decided.
James and Mark expressed their joy through thankful gasps as they followed their mother into Hagrid's Hut.
While Tom spoke to Dumbledore in his office, Harriet decided to indulge herself in a cup of tea and a bit of reminiscence with her old friend.
Mae's abscense did not worry her.
As the firstborn of Tom's children, Mae would have full charge over the Basilisk and access to the Chamber of Secrets.
Harriet knew no harm would befall her eldest child inside the castle's walls.
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Tom had gladly made his children exceedingly aware of their heritage.
Mae fully understood her status as the heir of Slytherin, but instead of seeking out the Chamber of Secrets or the monster within, she amused herself by stalking through the dungeons.
Her emerald green robes trailed over the cold stones that lined the darkened hallway as she followed one distinct scent.
The smell reminded her of burning lavender and new ink on old parchment.
She raised an eyebrow as she thought.
An avid collector, Mae had a place and a plan for every one of her dolls.
The thrill of receiving a new toy never disappointed.
She eventually came to a small, wooden door towards the end of the hallway.
The enchanted lock on its outside posed no barrier to her as she raised her gloved hand and spread her fingers wide.
Severus Snape looked up from his seat on the stool at the front of the potions classroom once he heard that distinct metallic click.
The door swung open.
His dark eyes narrowed as Mae swept into the room.
At fourteen, she was still a child, though she looked mature beyond her age.
The meager rays of sunlight which entered the dingy room radiated off of her dark, wavy hair as it illuminated her green eyes.
Her flawless skin complimented her fair features.
Severus scowled as she approached him, with her hands clasped in front of her to visually distinguish the space between her budding breasts and lithe waist.
Her beauty failed to disrupt his moral sense of duty, although the fact that she held no wand unnerved him.
"I beg your pardon!" Severus snapped, "May I ask who's given you permission to barge into an empty classroom….uninvited?...Are you some sort of animal?...Have you been raised in a cage?"
"Perhaps I should have been." Mae chuckled, a dark, rich sound that echoed off the dungeon classroom's stone walls.
Never in his decades of teaching had Professor Snape encountered a child who had managed to blast through his complicated locking spell…….without a wand.
"Your name is Professor Snape?" Mae asked.
"...Yes." Severus replied in a voice barely above a whisper as Mae came to stand in front of him.
"...You teach Potions?" Mae asked.
"...Yes." Severus replied with the same unrivaled stillness in his quiet voice.
"...This is your classroom?" Mae asked.
"It is………" Severus said as he narrowed his eyes to slits, "May I ask what-"
"-If the headmaster agrees to let me enroll, what will you teach me, Professor?" Mae grinned.
There was something about her wicked expression that increased Severus's mounting anxiety.
He furrowed his brow as he began to answer, "You have no reason to be here. Where are your parents?...I'll-"
"-Forgive me, sir." Mae interrupted with a laugh, "I'm quite excited to come to school! I couldn't bear to listen to the negotiations on the matter."
Silence fell.
Severus glared.
Mae smiled.
For once in his teaching career, Severus Snape was not entirely certain how to proceed.
No student had ever willingly approached him, especially not in the summer, especially not alone, and especially not the Minister's daughter.
"Your name?" He drawled.
"Sabrina Mae Riddle." Mae slowly revealed.
"Very well, Miss Riddle." Severus said as he stood from the stool he had been seated on.
Mae smirked as he strode past, "Come with me and I'll return you to your parents."
Once Severus made it to the door, he swung it open with one smooth motion of his arm while he waited for her to step out into the hallway.
Mae slowly turned and took her time while she walked towards the door.
Severus scowled as she paused to stare up into his pale face.
"May I assist you in some other way, Miss Riddle? Class does not begin for several months, I'm afraid there will be no lessons today." Severus spat.
Mae cast him a radiant smile, which irritated him all the more.
Severus gnashed his teeth as he hissed, "Have your mother and father neglected…..to teach you that it is impolite to stare?"
"Oh, Professor Snape…." Mae exhaled in a breathy sigh that would have brought most alpha's to their knees, "It makes me so very glad to finally meet the man who dearly loved my grandmother."
What little colour Severus's face held vanished.
He scowled at Mae as if she had struck him.
"I've heard people say my eyes are exactly like hers." Mae whispered with emphasis as she leaned towards Severus.
She had to force herself not to laugh as Professor Snape quickly wriggled free and began his march down the hallway.
He said nothing else as he led Mae up to the headmaster's office, though he noticed as they passed a mirror in the middle of a corridor, a black, faceless figure loomed where her reflection should have rested.
Over the years, Severus had encountered many students he had absolutely despised.
Harriet Potter had been one of his least favourites, always chatting, never quite studying hard enough to ace her exams, and possessing the subtle, loathsome arrogance of her father.
In fact, Severus had imagined that for several reasons, he would never be forced to teach a pupil he detested quite as much.
A shiver ran down his spine as he walked Mae Riddle up to Dumbledore's office and contemplated the nauseating reality that fact may soon change.
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Harriet thoroughly enjoyed the hour she spent sharing tea with Hagrid, James, and Mark.
Hagrid kept the conversation rolling along while the Riddle boys eagerly asked him about his job, the castle, and his heritage.
Neither James nor Mark had met a half-giant before.
Once their cups had emptied, Hagrid, with Harriet's permission, brought his young guests out back to pet the three young mooncalves in his care.
He stood beside Harriet and watched James and Mark play with the harmless magical creatures as he laughed, "They'll do well, Harriet!...At the castle and all."
Harriet smiled softly.
"Mark may not……Mark may not receive a letter." She admitted, careful not to let her youngest son overhear.
"...What do ya mean?" Hagrid frowned.
"I don't think he can do magic, Hagrid." Harriet whispered with a shrug.
Hagrid's frown deepened as he looked at Harriet.
"But he saw the castle, didn' he?" Hagrid asked, "...And all that's inside?"
Harriet laughed as she considered his convincing point, "Yeah……Yeah, I suppose he did…..He…. He hasn't been able to do anything else though. Tom's frightened he'll end up in the muggle world. I just don't want him to miss out on…..you know, where his siblings will be going."
"Well….." Hagrid sniffed as he turned back to the boys once James let out a particularly loud shout of amusement while one mooncalf licked his hand, "If that's the case, you'll have to bring him by every once in a while."
"That's very kind, Hagrid. Thanks." Harriet nodded with a sad smile.
As Hagrid nodded in return, he failed to notice Harriet's bittersweet expression.
She had missed her old friend more than she had realized.
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"Tom……" Dumbledore said slowly as he peered at his guest over his half-moon spectacles, "We're not getting anywhere fast. Hogwarts does not accept fourth year students with no prior magical education. If your daughter is admitted, she would have to begin as a first year, with all the other new pupils."
"My daughter already possesses a greater magical aptitude than the entirety of the rising seventh year class, headmaster." Tom stubbornly insisted as he crossed his arms with a scowl.
"Our policies stand, Tom." Dumbledore staunchly replied, "As does my decision."
"I am the Minister for Magic!" Tom hissed.
"...And I am the headmaster of this school." Dumbledore smiled.
"It's odd that the Basilisk hasn't attacked a single student since I arrived at the castle." Tom smirked, "I wonder who's managed that all these years?...The beast must be starving, headmaster. It would be a terrible tragedy if it happened to go on a sudden rampage. We spoke about this years ago, but surely you remember…..it only obeys Slytherin's heir?"
A serious frown marred Dumbledore's wrinkled face.
Tom's smirk widened.
He cleared his throat as he held eye contact with the elderly headmaster, "Professor Dumbledore, I implore you, please give my darling daughter a chance. Let her enter…..as a fourth year and if she cannot maintain her coursework, demote her. What do you have to lose?"
Dumbledore stared at Tom in the silence that followed.
"If you could find it in your generous heart to acquiesce," Tom chuckled, "Then it would be my pleasure to ensure the budget for the school's aid at the Ministry is increased. I'll even add in a personal donation."
In his mind, Dumbledore weighed the potential risks and benefits.
Wisely, he put his battle with the current Minister aside for another day.
"How generous of you, Tom." Dumbledore smiled, "Perhaps we can reach an accord for the time being……Very well, I'll allow your daughter to enter Hogwarts as a fourth year student, but the moment her marks are less than satisfactory, she'll be placed with the first years instead."
Dumbledore stretched a hand towards Tom as he asked, "Do we have an agreement?"
"Gladly! Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, for your great kindness!" Tom grinned as he shook Dumbledore's hand.
The rest of the morning went by in a whirlwind.
Harriet and the boys re-entered Dumbledore's office shortly after Severus returned Mae to her father's keep.
After Dumbledore and Tom informed Harriet and the children of their decided arrangement, glad smiles and words of cordial thanks were exchanged.
Once the Riddle family left, Severus and Dumbledore were once again alone in the headmaster's office.
"...So you'll allow the girl to enroll?" Severus asked as he kept staring at the closed door, as if he expected Mae to suddenly reappear and rush at him.
"I have, Severus. The day will come when I have no choice but to refuse the Minister, but today is not that day." Dumbledore sighed as he sat down at his desk again.
"Forgive me, headmaster, but I beg you to reconsider." Severus frowned, "Allowing the child to study here will be a mistake. The girl disabled the enchanted lock on my door without a wand in her hand!...Her eyes are not normal, her eyes are-"
"-Lily's eyes?" Dumbledore asked.
Severus grimaced as his employer cast him a wry smile.
"Do not let your past interfere with your judgment, Severus. I'm certain Miss Riddle can benefit from the guidance and teaching she will receive at Hogwarts." Dumbledore quipped.
"...She bypassed my Occlumency." Severus whispered.
"Is that so?" Dumbledore blinked.
"Does that affect your decision, headmaster?" Severus asked as he raised his chin with a spiteful sneer.
"Indeed, it does." Dumbledore chuckled, "Perhaps you should be the one to teach the girl, Severus, I can't think of anyone else better for the job."