Alana Potter picked at the puzzle delicately in the late evening light. She maybe had a half hour before it got to dark to continue. The attic skylight woke up every morning and told her when to sleep. It's what happened when an old man made a bad judgement call.
It used to be worse. She used to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs in their last home. When they told her her parents had not loved her, dumping her on her aunt and uncle then dying in a car crash.
And then one day her Aunt Petunia had went to pick her up from Mrs. Figgs house after taking Dudley to a friends birthday party and an old man had come out the fireplace before they could make it out the house. her aunt seemed to recognize him and with a screech of horror, yanked Alana out the house back home.She watched out the window for days as she packed the house up.
They were in a moving van by the end of the week. As she had never been out of Surrey the hours of driving were fascinating as she watchign the scenery pass then by.
They moved into a small town called Ottery St Catchpole. It was quiet much like surrey but with older housing. The house they moved into was at the edges of the town with wide open space behind it. The house was a mix if grey stones and light brown woods. It was actually really pretty. It also came with a third floor tower that was apparently an attic. She should have known she'd be living in it.
Her cousin Dudley had complained about the move until he say his oversized bedroom with its own bathroom. They took him shopping as soon as the house was unpacked.
Most days she was locked in the tower. She didn't mind though. Because it meant she could learn magic. Because that was how the man came out the fireplace, right? And then because of the move, she had found a trunk with L.E. carved on it. She could feel the magic coming from it so she took it up to her new room and hid it until she was alone in the house.
She learned it was her mum's and she was a witch, which meant maybe Alana could be a Witch. She read all the books inside and tried on the clothes and read the diaries.
What she learned left her shaken. But also it helped her make sense of it all. LIke why she was treated so badly by the Dursleys. And when she tried magic for the first time? She never felt more complete. That was back when she was 8. She was a few hours away from turning 11 years old. She was quite good at magic now.
The Dursleys had left on a trip to see Aunt Marge, Uncle Vernon's older sister. Mean woman that was. Hated Alana. The feeling was mutual.
Alana wasn't expected to clean anymore as the family now had people come in to do the work. She always wondered how they paid for all of this but didn't bother asking, knowing she'd never be told the answer. They didn't trust her staying with a neighbor again since that fateful day so maybe it was a good thing these hired people. She wasn't being used like a little slave...actually looking around the tower. Like Cindrella without the mice and fair godmother or the prince. Just the way they treat her part.
She lay in bed dozing off to sleep, not able to stay awake til midnight.
She woke up to the sound of pecking at the tiny round window across from her bed, the only oither window besides the skylight. She opened it often through the daytime to let air in. The skylight said it was late at night. Confused at the sound she slips closer to the little round window. She blinks at the sight of 2 owls staring at her. They had envelopes attached to their claws.
One of them pecked at the window again without breaking eye contact after she stood there frozen for too long. She opens the window. They jump off to give her space then fly their way into her room. One drops their letter and leaves but the other goes to settle on her bed frame.
She reads the dropped letter first since it wasn't attached to a bird that could bite her or worse.
Ms. Alana Potter,
You have been accepted to Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
She couldn't believe her eyes. She had got a letter just like her mum. Deep down she had been worried she wouldn't be good enough to attach the school her parents had went to. Obviously those fears have been misplaced. She read through the letter and the school supply list. She was glad she had her mother's diary because it did not tell her where to buy the supplies.
She sets it aside to look at the owl sitting near her. It lifts its leg up at her. She does her best to carefully remove it. The letter only had her name on top. Taking a deep breath, she opens the envelope. Out came a good dozen parchements of writing.
Dear Ms. Potter,
I am an old friend of your mother's and wanted to first wish you a Happy 11th Birthday...
The letter went on telling her everything it could about the wizarding world and things she needed to do to prepare herself for entering it. It was honest and parts made her cry. She now knew the hows and whys of her parents death. About her fame and the dangers targeted at her. She would be in danger entering the wizardig world but she would also gain so much from entering it as well.
She sets the letter down in a daze. There was so much to wrap her mind around with the new information given. She appreciated the warning though. With the long letter came a train ticket for platform 9 3/4 and instructions on where to find and enter it. Also the owl was hers now.
It was a barn owl She loved the shades of brown with the spots of gray. Her name was Lotus. Cute.
She went to her desk to write a confirmation to her acceptance to the school and let Lotus take it. She had a new problem...how to get to this Diagon Alley in london to do her shopping and go to that bank.
The problem seemed to be answered a few hours later after she awakened properly with the morning. Lotus was back and had a friend with her. The new owl had a package with her namein the same writing as the letter.
'tap the package with your finger and it will unshrink' It was shrunk?? She did as it was told and suddenly a very large box filled the center of her room. She opened it was a gasp at its contents. They had sent her a birthday gift.
Once everything was out she evaluated the items.Books on a range of magic subjects including wizarding ettiquete and traditions. Her text books for school, a box full of parchment and quills, 3 shrunk cauldrons, dragon hide gloves, brass scales, telescope, 2 sets is vials, a potions ingredient set and a box of other ingredients with a set of potion prep tools, a wand holster, 3 sets of every day robes that week resize to fit her, a witches hat, winter gloves/ hat set in black, a timer, dragon hide boots, owl treats and a stand, a cross body bag her whole arm slipped into and it still had space, a wax seal kit with a variety of colors and the seal the Potter logo, a couple leather journals, handful of regular notebooks and pencils. And floo powder for the fireplace travel she saw those years ago.
She pretty much had everything she needed except her wand and her uniforms. She looked down at herself... maybe some new clothes too to blend in a little. Hopefully this mystery person wasn't lying and her parents left her money so she could buy these things. First she'd have to find a fireplace that's connected.
It was another 2 weeks before that could happen. In the meantime, she got to reading and practicing. Many of it she already knew after she had been using her mum's school books these past years but anything updated in these new books she made sure to overview. The extra books given helped with plenty of it. A spare book for every subject she would be taking.
The magical studies books explained things her mother had not had information on. Which was more than she expected. She knew her mother was a muggleborn but was the gap in knowledge that big?
The finding of the floo fireplace had been a fluke. She had been kicked out of the house for the day so she had gone wandering into town. She was in a bit of a mood as she had only meant to go to the bathroom at the bottom of her tower when she had been pushed outside so she didn't even have her shoes on and nothing with her but what she was wearing. She was sure she'd be receiving more odd looks than she already did if her pants... her too big pants... weren't covering her socked feet.
She was looking at a menu in a small pub when she had the need to go the bathroom. It wasn't a place she had checked out before. The menu looking was for her to just check out not order anything. So when she went looking, she went the wrong direction and found herself in a small room... with a fireplace! Nothing else was in the room except for a set up in the mantle that she could tell was that floo powder. This one she had to pay for though and she couldn't help but noticing she couldn't reach. Determined though, she went to the bar to ask for help.
"Excuse me, sir, I couldn't help noticing the fireplace in the other room? I was wondering if I could get some help with it?" He looks at her suspiciously but walks with her back to the floo.
"Aren't you a little young to be going off on your own?" She knew how she looked so she wasn't offended. Wearing Dudley's over sized hammys on her tiny body did her no help.
"I'm just small... I'm starting at Hogwarts at the end of the month... my family hates magic so I'm alone in this adventure. This is the first floo I've seen since we moved here and I need to purchase for school."
"Alright alright, stand in the fireplace. Yup, there you go. Here's the power... I'll let it be free this time but your on your own after this. Now throw it down to the ground and say a very clear Diagon Alley. When you are ready to come back say Alasdair Pub." She waved as she disappeared.
She landed in a open walkway right next to Ollivanders wands. Well at least she knew where that was. She needed money first though so she walked to the large white building at the end of the alley.
"Hello, I was told I need to ask to go to my vault and talk to my account manager," she tells an open teller goblin. She had not had a chance yet to learn their customs but she knew just being polite would work for now.
"Key please," he glares at her.
"I do not have a key, I just recently learned of the vaults existence, I apologize," she tells him. He was looking at her strangely but pulled out parchment and a knife. The letter had already informed her this would happen so she placed her hand forward before he could ask. He gives the smallest nod as he pricks her finger.
"Very well, here is your new keys. A goblin will be wiht you shortly to take you to your account manager Miss Potter. Do NOT let anyone else ever have your key." She waited all of 2 minutes when another goblin came forward to walk her to the back.
She didn't understand half the things he was talking...yet. But she made sure to at least make some decisions to help him along. She was handed her rings and then to the vaults she went. They were huge! She also wondered now if this explained how the Durseleys were able to afford the house and servants. Warhook promised to look into it.
When she left the bank, she looked around trying to decide where to go next. In the end, she chose to get the priorities first. She didn't need to buy a wand after being in the vaults. Her grandmother Dorea Potter nee Black's wand had accepted her so she skipped Ollivanders to get her uniforms. She picked out 5 in the suggested high end fabric and then also got some regular clothes made including sleepwear. She picked some shoes out and 2 cloaks, the one asked for in the list and a nicer one in her favorite color and a hood with an enchanted pocket on the inside.
After that she may have went a bit crazy, in her opinion, on jumping though the shops to see it all. She bought more of the basic supplies to add to her stash for school like parchment and quills and ink.
The best part was when she found a shop for glasses. She had to get a new prescription but they had new ones made within the hour. She picked frameless heart shaped lenses that had runes carved on the side to help block the sun and prevent breaking.
She tried not to get distracted for too long. As the sun hit its peak, she wrapped up her shopping and head back to Ottery St. Catchpole. It was easy to slip back into her room while the Dursleys watched their TV.
When September 1st came around she emptied her room, except for the furniture of course, into her bag before using her wandless magic to seal her bedroom door from Dudley.
The Dursley's were eating breakfast.
"Um...Aunt Petunia?"
"Hmm?"
"I apologize about saying this last minute but...I knew how you felt about it. But I've been doing my research and I do believe this is the best decision," She began. Both adults were looking up at her now in confusion.
"What are you going on about girl?!" Uncle Vernon glares.
"I have been accepted into Hogwarts much like my parents. They sent it on my birthday. I sent my agreement to go." The yelling immediately began.
"ESCUSE ME!" she yells out to shut them up. "I know about the money you get paid to take care of me." That shut them up fast. "I know we do not get along and I was not something you wanted in your home. But you did decide to let me stay when you found me on your doorstep no matter your reasonings and you accepted the money. Now that I will be going to Hogwarts, I will be gone for 10 months out of the year for the next 7 years. I can stay there for the holidays and only have to be here during the summer. We already pretty much ignore each other since we have moved here so it's really not that much of a change." They seemed to be contemplating these words.
"I'm still not paying for this school..." Uncle Vernon grumbles.
"And nor will you have to, my parents had sent that up with the wizarding bank a long time ago. You don't have to drive me or pick me up early from the train station, I already have a way to and from. I don't need anything from you except for my room when I am here and the basic necessities of living as usual."
They nodded and nothing was said more. She told them goodbye and set out for Alasdair's pub to use the floo. She slipped out to the muggle word through the Leaky Cauldron and got a cab to the train station.
It was easy enough to get into the Platform to Hogwarts. She gasp at the beauty of the red train. She picks a compartment near the front where older students seemed to be sitting and setting into a book about Beginners healing.
"Is it okay if I sit here with you? I seem to be having a harder time speaking to people than my sister." She looks up into the eyes of a boy around her age with short curly brown hair and dark dark brown eyes they could be black.
"Oh, um, yes, sure." He settles in across from her with his own books in hand.
"Jericho Granger, muggleborn 1st year. My sister is also somewhere around here in the train. 2nd year. Her name is Hermione."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alana Potter, also 1st year." She shakes his hand.
"Potter...are you related to Harry Potter? He's one of my sister's best friends." And there it was...something she had been ignoring her whole life because what was the point? She had an older brother who was quite famous. They had the same eyes from what she heard.
When her parents were murdered, it had been pure luck that Harry, the target, had not been home, but wiht his godmother and her family to have a play date with young Neville Longbottom. Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had placed her with the Dursleys with the plan to add Harry once he got his hands on him. Except the Longbottoms were not gonna take that. No one had fought for her too. She was a nobody in the mist of it all.
She was glad she had her own heir rings and a vault to pay for her schooling, Harry had gotten the Heir Potter title being the oldest.
"Um...yes he's my older brother but...I have never met him." He arches an eyebrow at that but doesn't question it which she was grateful for. They talked a bit about Howarts and which house they might get into.
She was sure she had made a new friend. It gave her hope for the rest of the year.
There were whispers as her name was called to be sorted. She was in perfect view to see Harry Potter look up at her as well. She didn't return the glance. SHe had a sorting to attend to.
"Well aren't you unexpected. I can see you going multiple directions. You are suitable for all 4 houses. Do you have a preference?" She thought of a spinning wheel in her mind. He chuckles and spins it, letting magic make it real. They agreed to whichever house got 2 spins. She didn't care at the stares of her apparent hatstall. It took 4 rounds but one of the first 3 spins got landed on a second time. "Looks like you will be in GRYFFINDOR!!" She runs off to sit next to Jericho.
The sorting finishes with a Ginevra Weasley also being added to their table. She enjoyed the feast though she had to empty her cup of pumpkin juice to get herself some water instead. Jericho liked that plan so she taught him the spells to do it.
Soon enough the tables were clear and they were off to Gruffindor Tower, led by Ginevra's brother Percy who was a prefect.
The common room was already packed when they entered. A boy with matching red hair as Ginny and Percy and apparently, also a set of twins was being cheered for, for his alternative way of getting to school after missing the train. Jericho's sister Hermione and Percy seemed to be the only ones scowling like they had sticks up their arse. Did they not understand we are all just children? Percy had a reason to be upset at least, what was this Hermione's issue?
She dismissed the thought of meddling into the crowd to meet everyone and instead went up to her new dorm to find her bed. She didn't see Harry's quizzical gaze on her as she went up the stairs.
The next morning, she got the experience of hearing her first howler at breakfast. This seemed to make Hermione happy. Jericho rolled his eyes at her direction as they got up to head to their first class. Potions.
The dungeon was dark and a little chilly. But the Potions lab was interesting to look around at. She watched as the professor billowed in , his robes flaring out dramatically. He wrote the Potion they would be working on on the board. She had to control her smile as she recognized the writing.
She and Jericho worked side by side on the potion after Professor Snapes introduction. They shared the class with Hufflepuffs who were pretty nice and seemed to have a good hand on the subject for first tries. Colin Creevey seemed to have the worst color at the end of the class but it was at least blue like it was supposed to be. She lingered behind as everyone walked out and then nudged closer to the Professors desk.
"Professor?"
"What can I do for you Ms. Potter?"
"I was wondering...were you the one to send me that letter??" He looks up at that question, having been avoiding her eyes when she walked up.
"Yes Ms. Potter...well I guess it is time to officially meet. Hello Alana, I am Severus, your godfather. You already know why I haven't been able to talk to you or meet you before but I am glad we are able to now," he holds his hand out to shake. She stares at it a second before dismissing it. Instead she jumped around the desk to hug him instead. he stiffened at at the hug at first but eventually relaxed to hug her back. "I know you are a Gryffindor, and have your own head of house, but if you ever need anything or just want to chat, my door is always open to you."
She took him on his word on that. She visited him often, sometimes dragging Jericho with her when she felt he was in the library too much, much like his sister.
She did pretty well in all the classes that often she and Jericho were tied for top of their year. Not that they were competing, its just how everyone else seemed to see it.
Despite never talking to Harry, she couldn't help defending him sometimes. It had started with Colin and his camera.
"What are you doing?" He was trying to sneak another photo of Harry again.
"Oh hi Alana!"
"Okay, we need to talk Colin. I understand Harry is famous but he still has a right to his privacy and to just be a boy in school. How about you talk to McGonnagall about starting a photography club instead and doing something with that? Perfect the talent and maybe you can become a professional photographer for the newspaper or even have your own business." He seemed to like that idea and ran off to talk to their Head of House.
Ginny was the other one she talked to about her obsession with Harry but so far nothing she said seemed to get through to the girl though she did control her stalking. At least being seen in her stalking. If it kept up after Halloween, she was talking to her brothers about it. It wasn't healthy.
Spending time with Severus perfected not just her potion making but also her Defense work. Lockhart was a joke. No year had a good thing to say about him. She had incinerated the books and kept to the Defense book Severus had given her and she was given the book the 2nd years used last year from Pavarti Patil.
Septemeber ended quickly. Ahead in her classes, she got back to expanding what she could do wandless and even a few basic spells wordless too.
She created a routine for herself that had the bonus of avoiding Harry. He seemed like he wanted to ttalk to her but never stepped foward. She often got curious looks for his 3 closest friends. Hermione so far had been the only one to talk to her, what with her brother being her best friend. But even though she is decently nice, she couldn't help not liking her all that much. She kept that to herself but it never went away.
Falling the twins mid October led her and Jericho learning about the kitchen location. It was there they spent Halloween afternoon until it was time for the feast. She and Jericho took turns teaching the elves new recipes and drink options. Apple Harvest punch, Caramel apple cider, pumpkin white hot chocolate. Pizza, baked chicken with pasta, donuts, spaghetti and garlic bread, green bean casserole, baklava, brown sugar glazed salmon. The list went on. Jericho promised to bring some cookbooks and popcorn kernals back from winter break in december.
In the end, they had no need to go to the feast. The elves set them up in the kitchen since they were having so much fun. Severus checked up on them right before the feast to make sure they were doing okay.
It was Severus who came rushing in after to walk them to their common room. He looked very concerned and when she saw the wall going up the stairs, she understood why. He reluctantly told them about the petrified cat and what the chamber of secrets was as they walked.
When they entered the Gryffindor common room, Hermione rushed to her brother, hugging him and twirling him around to make sure he was okay. The wall was the talk of the room. Echausted from her day in the kitchen, Alana slipped away to her dorm. As she gets ready for bed, her eyes focus on the closed curtains around Ginny's bed and a peak of a feather sticking out from it. Shaking her head she settles into bed, adjusting her own curtains.
The next days were all filled with the mystery of the writing on the wall and what or who could possibly hve been the one to petrify Mrs. Norris. Filch had even took to guarding that part in the wall as if the attacker would return.
Jericho was getting worried for Hermione. She was practically glued to the library trying to find out about the chamber. Though he did smirk later when they heard her complain to her friends about the book Hogwarts A History being all checked out.
"Luna in Revenclaw checked them all out on purpose and I have Hermione's copy in my trunk so I could read it," he leans in and whispers. Alana giggles at the prank. The girl was going to agonize over this for awhile, she had been going through every book in the library aside from the restricted section, looking for it. And Alana likes Luna, she was quirky and colorful. Alana was considering bringing her along to their next trip in the kitchen.
Alana's talent for blending in and being forgotten that she was a Potter, tended to help her sit without distubances...and to hear about things she wasn't interested in hearing about. Hermione, Harry, and Ron had decided to play detective which from the rumors, was not a new thing. Hearing the bushy haired girl continuiously speculate on who the heir of Slytherin could be was giving her a headache.
Luckily, Alana had the chance of escape through Severus's lab where she complained often about those around her. He usually agreed with her and/or gave her advise. Sometimes he would just solve some of the issues. Like warding Myrtle's bathroom door that not even a 7th year could get in if they tried. The Polyjuice situation...She watched as he placed ingredients that are only used for Polyjuice and not other potions away into his office. She was the only lion he would ever consider to allow into his den of snakes. He also pulled a luna, and had the book Hermione had brought up taken off the shelfs and into the back of Madam Pinces storage space behind her desk.
Severus and Jericho had to force her to go to the first Quidditch game of the year. It wasn't that she was uninterested, but she had wanted to use that day to work on a 3rd year potion. But since Severus had to be at the game, she couldn't so she reluctanly followed them though the 2 kids stayed near the edge of the stands so she can be out of there first.
The rogue bludger chasing her brother made her a little green just watching. They were the only ones with umbrellas and had charms on them to keep them dry and warm. When a time out was called and she watched Harry argue about keeping going, she realized he was insane. Who does the shit he does without logic or reason?
In this case, it got his arm broken. She rushed forward to keep Colin from taking a photo and then when she saw Lockhart walk forward to 'assist' much to Harry's dismay, she cast a protego without a second throught but just in time to block the DADA teaches spell that didn't sound like one she had ever heard before.
She watching as his friends helped him to the hospital before the blonde smiling man could try again. She shares a look with Jericho before catching up to Severus to work on her potion. While they worked, he told them the process of the potion to unpetrify the cat. They still had majority of the school year before they could help him make it.
Harry was back on his feet within the hour of being in the infirmary and the common room was celebrating the win.
She stayed in a corner with Jericho, Colin and the other 2 lions in their dorm Michael and Samuel playing a board game an older student, muggleborn, let them play.
As December finally entered their lives with a couple layer of snow, she asked a prefect to help her order christmas gifts through owl post since she was staying in the castle.
Severus was right grumpy when the day came for the trio to attempt stealing the 2 ingredients they needed for their potion. Alana had not been able to figure out what room they were using what with the bathroom blocked form entrance. In fact, she was curious where they got the recipe for polyjuice. Either way, they caused quite a mess as a diversion just for them to coem back empty handed. What made him even more grumpier was that he had been dragged into helping Lockhart with his attempts at a dueling club. She had been learning from Severus so knew he was quite good at it but did wonder what Lockhart was playing at.
To get him to stop whining, she promised he could use them as examples at the club as support to him.
And indeed thats how it went. The first rounf went wrong so the demonstations were brought up for the stage. She and Jericho went forward upon Severus's orders like planned.
They made a good team. When she attacked he reflected and when he attacked she reflectled so that they could give a good example of the type of spells in offensive and defensive movements. When they were done, as a reward, they got to pick the pairs for everyone to practice with. Jericho put Harry with a ravenclaw third year. She put Draco Malfoy on the other side of the room with the hufflepuff Ernie.
"Jer, I didn't know you learned how to duel," Hermione walks up to her brother after her practice with Susan Bones from hufflepuff. People were already getting up to leave.
"Oh, yes, I don't like Lockharts classes, so I asked to learn things from other teachers," and he left it at that when she tried argueing on how great of a teacher Lockhart was.
The castle settled into silence as nearly everyone left home for the holidays. Hermione had tried getting Jericho to stay with her but he wasn't goign to miss out on their annual trip to France to see their nan.
Immediatley from the first day of break, she escaped to the potion's lab. She wasn't going to linger in the tower while the 'detectives' plotted.
Severus had the right thing to cheer her up.
"What's that?" She slides a stool over to the other side of his work station. He looked to be investigating the contents of the Cauldron in front of him.
"I found their hiding space. This is the potion they were brewing. Now to figure out what it is because this is no polyjuice." While he figured it out, he told her stories about her mum.
"She used to hiss back at garden snakes like she could understand them, and make flowers bloom right in her palm. She often challenged me in potion making and created spells and enchantments. She had plans to get her Mastery in Charms after the war was over."
"She sounds amazing..."
"She was. She may not have been blood but she was my sister in my heart and I regret everyday that I didn't do more to protect you all."
"I wish I had been old enough to remember her..."
"Well you were all of 2 months old when it happened. I'm sorry too you couldn't have properly met her. I thought she had a portrait done if them but I don't know where it is. I'm sure Mr. Potter will eventually find it when he comes of age." She watches as he scribbles notes down next to the cauldron.
"It's already the end of December and he's never said a word to me. Are... are you sure my parents loved me? I've heard some conversations around them. How come he got the life we both should have had had but I have to live in cupboards and attics?" It had been a discussion they had before. Dumbledore had told no one of her location but this summer they were hoping to at least get Severus marked as her magical guardian so she could spend at least majority of summers with him.
"They loved you both equally. I can't speak for Sirius Black, he was besotted with Harry upon birth despite having no plans to have any of his own. But Alice would have taken you in immediately like I would have if we knew where you were. I promise you. "
"Then how come she hasn't tried writing me? Did she ever respond to your letter." Hours no answer was an answer. He gave her some potions to prep with a promise to take her to Hogsmeade the next day for her first try of butterbeer.
The trio were sulking in front of the fire when she got back to the tower later that night. They didn't even hear her ever the room.
"I can't believe all my hard work is gone!" Hermione cried out. The boys nodded sadly.
"Sirius is coming to get me tomorrow morning, there's no need to stay here. Would you like to come with?" That seemed to cheer them up a little.
Sirius Black was not dressed like what she thought a Lord world look like. She stood in the shadows as he greeted the three teens with hugs and barking laughter. She wondered if he always laughed like that or was it after he became an animangus.
She was waiting for Severus which is how she ended up seeing the group enter the area.
"Ready?" Severus appears behind her. The sound of his voice startles the group ahead of them. Lord Black seemed to automatically sneer at the sight of her godfather.
"Snivellus."
"Black," Severus rolls his eyes as he guides her around them. She thought it was peculiar that the man didn't even glance her way as she passed them. Harry turned away to look outside while the other 2 chatted between themselves as if they suddenly had something interesting to say. She just... she didn't get it.
She didn't bring it up until they were settled in at the Three Broomsticks.
"I guess I should take that as a sign he wants nothing to do with me?" He frowns at the words.
"I don't understand either, young one. Something doesn't add up yet, did it...I promise to do my best to get to the bottom of it though. " She got her butterbeer and a meal then they hit every shop.
Later that night, she lay on the floor in front of the fireplace last in thought. She wished she wasn't a Potter...
Severus straightens his robes as he waited 6 for someone to answer the door to Longbottom Manor. Eventually a house elf opens the large double doors.
"I am here to see Lady Longbottom," he tells her. He follows her to a seating room while she called on her mistress.
"Severus? Is that you?" Alice Longbottom enters the room is full auror garb.
"Apologies, I have not heard back from you and I felt it was an urgent enough matter to come and speak to you in person."
...
He left the Manor angry. This was definitely more complicated than the girl needed. And it looked like he would be the one to tell her.