Disclaimer: I am not, nor will I ever be, J. K. Rowling. I don't own Harry, Severus, or any other characters.
Saturday, 5th of September, 1987, early evening
Severus Snape rarely paced in his home office, the typical day at home lacking the stressors that drove him to do so at work. Today, however, was not a typical day. Sylvia hummed in the kitchen as she mixed cookie dough, seemingly unbothered by the revelation earlier. They had lived in this neighbourhood since Sylvia was adopted, as it appeared to be the best place to raise young children. Several young families had made the same decision, including one with the surname Dursley. It could only be a coincidence that these same Dursleys would hold custody of one Harry Potter. Yet Severus could not shake the feeling that this was arranged by some master manipulator who wanted to see him miserable.
"Da," Sylvia's call broke through Severus' thoughts. "They're ready for the oven!"
Severus shook his head to clear his still disorganised thoughts. It wasn't odd for his daughter to be whipping something together in the kitchen, as baking was one of her favourite pastimes. "If only I could get you to enjoy potions this much," He commented, placing the tray of cookies into the oven to bake. Severus started a timer for the cookies, and they left the kitchen together.
"There's a lot of differences between the two, Da," Sylvia remarked, "You know that."
"Yes, yes, I know. What's the occasion for these?" Severus queried as she frequently stuck with different types of bread rather than sweets.
"I thought it'd be a nice treat to bring to Harry and his family," She answered as she sat in her favourite plush armchair.
"Sylvia, you know we are not to concern ourselves with the Potter boy. We have been told many times that he is safer without our interference," he ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair, now freed from its neat ponytail. "Besides, we don't know where he lives, only that he is close enough to walk to the park."
"Da, I saw the tracking charm you placed on him."
Severus sighed. He knew that even with the distance between him and his daughter, it would be unlikely that she wouldn't notice the brief line of light between his hand and the small boy as they walked toward the benches. She was one of the most observant nine-year-olds he'd met. It was likely due to her constant need to proclaim the facts.
"Besides," she continued, "what better excuse than a 'new' neighbour dropping off some sweets to encourage good relations?"
"Clever, my child," Severus complimented. He planned to simply observe, but with an opportunity to enter the house, he could better satisfy the vow he'd given his first friend. "The cookies will be finished shortly. Go retrieve your coat and boots. I believe the rain is picking up again."
Sylvia obeyed quickly and grabbed a decorative plate from the storage pantry. They couldn't just leave the cookies in a sack and hope they didn't crumble; this gift had to be purposeful and presentable to fit the narrative they were attempting to give.
Harry rubbed the sweat off his brow, leaving a streak of mud on his face. His aunt had thrown him outside as soon as they returned home, "More gardening, pull every weed and turn over a new plot of soil. I want to have more daffodils and peonies along the wall of the house. Plant the vegetables against the shed. A new rose bush would sit nicely here. Do it quickly! If you've enough energy to run from Dudley, you've enough to sort out my garden." He had been at this for almost two hours. The rough logs his uncle had purchased for edging were heavy and left terrible splinters and blisters on his hands.
He had just gotten all the logs into place when a shrill voice called through the back door. "That's all wrong! I said clearly that the vegetable plot was to go here, along the back wall, and the flower plot over there, against the shed. Fix it!" A door slammed shut after his aunt finished speaking, and Harry sighed. He knew it was what freaks like him deserved, but couldn't he, for just one day, have it a bit easier? If only there were some easier way to move the logs, perhaps the ability to lighten or even levitate them into place. Harry shook his head. It was wrong to think like that. The only thing that could accomplish that for him was magic, and magic wasn't real.
Bending over, he rolled one log into the direction of the shed, lengthening the new bed for flowers and shortening the recently dubbed vegetable plot. Thankfully, Aunt Petunia hadn't changed the location of the rose bush. He'd already turned the soil and added the professional mix of rose fertiliser into it.
Severus checked his charmed compass once more, the needle adjusting slightly more to the left, and he led his daughter down the street. "Wisteria Walk," She commented, "Doesn't Mrs Figg live on this street?"
"I believe so, though I don't recall the last time we've visited with her, so I can't say for certain. She may have moved."
"I think she would've told me," Sylvia responded, "She promised me a kitten when you, as she said, 'learn to lighten up and allow children to thrive'."
"Ah, I remember that much clearer now," Severus answered with a chuckle. "I suppose you are right. That one must be hers." They passed a house with cats splayed across the yard and the roof. Several eyes looked in their direction and tracked them as they made their way down the long street.
At the midpoint and again at the junction of the next street, Severus checked his compass. The needle now pointed south, with a slight lean towards the southwest. They started down this new street, one they hadn't walked before since it was past Mrs Figg's house and in the opposite direction of the park. "Privet Drive," Sylvia named the street. "I don't recall anyone we know living on this street, so if anyone sees us, they wouldn't know if we are or aren't new to the neighbourhood."
"Very good," Severus praised. "I am, most of the time, grateful for your wonderful recall."
Sylvia beamed. She loved being able to help her Da as much as she could. "You're welcome, Da!" She skipped happily beside him as they turned onto the drive to number four.
Petunia sat on the plush couch next to her husband after scolding the boy in the garden. Hopefully, he'd learn his lesson and allow her sweet Duddy to properly chase and wear him down so he couldn't be freaky. The TV blared as brightly coloured characters wearing acorns as hats paraded across the screen, an advertisement for a new cartoon set to air in a week and a half. Dudley was excited. "That one is just like me! He loves to eat!"
Vernon nodded in agreement, his mouth too full of his 'TV snacks' to vocalise it.
Petunia's mind kept flowing back to the man in the park today. Just who was he? Why was he so familiar? Her thoughts were interrupted when a sharp knock came from the front door. "I'll get it, dear. It's probably Mrs Figg coming to pick up the boy early for our evening out." Petunia rose quickly.
Sylvia stood slightly behind and to the side of her father as he knocked on the door. She smiled faintly and rocked slightly on her heels as they waited. A dark curl slipped out of place and brushed over her eyes. She tossed her head back to fling the offending lock back into place. Footsteps approached the door, and she stiffened, maintaining her smile but stilling her body.
Severus cleared his throat as the door clicked open, revealing Petunia Dursley. "Good afternoon, Mrs Dursley. My name is Siberius Smith. My daughter, Sylvia, made these cookies for your family as we are new in the neighbourhood and hope to maintain a friendly discourse with you and yours. I apologise for not introducing myself earlier today. I was a bit out of sorts."
"Oh," Petunia answered, shocked to see the very object of her thoughts appearing before her. She stared, time dragging on uncomfortably until a shout came from the other room.
"Who is it, Pet?" Vernon called. "There's a draft!"
"New neighbours, my love," she resounded, opening the door further. "Do come in, we have a few minutes." She gestured them into the entry hall and to the living room on the left. "Join my husband, Vernon, and son in here while I set these in the kitchen."
Vernon clicked the set off at the entrance of guests, causing Dudley to start whingeing. "Go play outside, son, I'd like to properly meet our guests," Vernon stopped him short.
Dudley waddled as fast as he could out to the back garden as Vernon stood to greet the tall man and his daughter. "Welcome to our home and the neighbourhood! I'm Vernon Dursley, Director of Grunnings Drills, Surrey branch." He spoke as grandly as if he were royalty.
"Thank you, kind sir. Siberius Smith, and my daughter, Sylvia," Severus shook the large man's hand. "We just finished unpacking and are endeavouring to get acquainted with our neighbours. My daughter is starting at the local school on Monday and is hoping to make a few friends before then."
"Ah yes, perfectly reasonable. School without mates can be loathsome, not that I or my son have ever had that struggle." Vernon chuffed. "What's your occupation?"
"I am a chemistry professor at a prestigious boarding school a short distance away," Severus answered. The best lies always contain some truth in them.
"Ah, a wonderful profession, education is a noble career," Petunia joined in the conversation, having placed the cookies in the kitchen.
"Yes, yes, the education of the next generation is very noble indeed," Vernon agreed halfheartedly.
"Thank you," Severus nodded. "Would you mind too terribly if Sylvia joined your son outside? They can get to know each other and we can enjoy adult conversation without the prying eyes and ears of children."
"Of course not, that's a great idea!" Vernon spoke over Petunia's hesitation.
"The boy," she whispered, attempting to be discreet.
"Ah yes, well," Vernon stammered, then cleared his throat. "Our nephew is also in the back garden, doing some chores that he sluffed off this morning, he's a bit of a hoodlum, and a bit touched in the head, but not dangerous to your daughter with our son, Dudley, out there. As long as he is not disturbed from his work, she should be perfectly fine!"
"Very well, Sylvia, go make friends," Severus sent her out.
"Sta-ahp!" Dudley mocked, holding the small trowel Harry had been using out of his reach. "Try and reach it, 'ittle bitty baby!"
Harry jumped, but with how much bigger Dudley was, there was no way he'd be able to reach it. "Give it back! I have to finish before you all leave or I'll be in for it!" He didn't know why his aunt and uncle had sent Dudley out, but he did know that if he didn't get that trowel back, he'd be turning soil till midnight or later.
"No way, I think I'll tell Mum you threw it over the hedge so you wouldn't have to finish," Dudley started heading that way.
"No, please Dudley!" Harry's bright green eyes began to fill with tears. "I can't do all this digging without it! I still have the rest of this plot and one more besides."
Dudley's cruel laughter filled Harry's ears. He clamped his hands down over his ears and curled up, wishing that for once things would just go right for once. He could prove to his aunt and uncle that he could be just a regular, normal person, with no freakishness. If he could just finish the garden!
"Hey!" A familiar voice called out. "What's going on?"
Harry looked up at the source, the girl from the park, Sophia or something like that. He hadn't bothered to remember as it was highly unlikely he'd see her again. "I, he's, um, I need the trowel."
"Give it back to him, Dudley," Sylvia spoke calmly. She knew the best way to deal with a bully was to confront them. Typically they were cowards who'd quake in their boots once someone stood up to them.
"Or what?" Dudley asked. "I'm stronger than you, so you don't scare me."
"You may be stronger, but you don't scare me, either!" Sylvia stood firm, glancing around to make sure no neighbours were eavesdropping. "I've got strength that you don't."
"Yeah, right," Dudley rolled his eyes. "You're a girl!"
"Harry, you may wish to close your eyes," Sylvia ignored Dudley's barb.
He nodded slowly, still debating if he should truly trust this strange girl whom he'd only just met today. He didn't have long to decide, as the wind suddenly picked up and dust landed in his eyes, forcing them shut regardless. He rubbed at them forcibly, but by the time he could open them again, the girl (Sylvia!) was finished with whatever she'd planned on doing. Dudley had gone pale, and set the trowel near Harry.
"I ain't stickin' 'round, I'm gonna play my computer game," Dudley hightailed it inside, moving faster than Harry had seen him move before.
"Good choice, Dudley," Sulvia responded coldly. "Are you alright, Harry?" Her question was softer, and she bent to meet his eyes.
"I, I am now. Thanks, Sylvia." Harry grabbed the trowel and moved to get back to work. "My aunt and uncle are taking Dudley out to dinner tonight, so I need to get this done before they leave. Otherwise, I'll be stuck doing it when I come back from my sitter's, and I'd probably not finish till midnight."
"Let me help, Harry," Sylvia said gently. "Just tell me what needs doing and we'll get to it, together."
"I. You. But. They, they won't like it, me having help. I should just do it alone," Harry's eyes flashed with hope, and then faded as he remembered the last time he'd been caught getting 'help'.
"They won't even know, your cousin is up playing his games, and my Da is distracting your aunt and uncle with 'adult conversation.'" Sylvia mimicked her Da's voice easily, a giggle coming out afterwards though. Harry joined in cautiously.
"I guess, you could help, a little," Harry conceded, handing her the trowel. "The last of the soil just needs turned, and then fertilised, Aunt Petunia wants to plant the seeds herself, just in case my frea-" he cleared his throat. "In case I mess it up too much."
Sylvia frowned at Harry's pause, what was he going to say? No matter, with this much work to be done, better get on it right away. She rolled her sleeves up and started turning the soil over with the trowel, while Harry added the fertiliser behind her.
Neither of them spoke much as they worked, sweat forming on Sylvia's brow despite the cool weather and gentle misting of rain. Harry didn't notice Sylvia taking furtive glances at his hands, eyes widening as she saw the damage done to them. A tentative plan formed in her mind, as she put together the information that she'd gathered in her short time here.
"That's rich, a wonderful joke," Vernon guffawed at Severus' comment. "Not as good as my Japanese golfer joke, though, care to hear it?"
Just then, another knock sounded at the door, and Severus sighed in relief.
Vernon growled quietly, "Right, be right there!" Petunia had followed Dudley upstairs to see why he'd come inside before it was time to go, so Vernon was left to do any hosting, including opening the door. "Ah, Mrs Figg, wonderful to see you, right on time, as always!"
"Yes, well, I know how much your evenings mean to you," Arabella Figg replied, shaking some gathered raindrops from her umbrella.
Severus cursed under his breath, even though it had been a few years, Arabella would certainly recognise him or Sylvia if she saw them. Judging by the sound of it, she'd be coming in soon, he turned slightly to the side and loosened his raincoat, obscuring his profile. It was no disillusionment charm, but it would have to do.
Petunia clacked down the stairs, Dudley thumping behind her, and once again Severus was saved by sheer dumb luck. "Vernon, Dudley just wanted to play his computer games before we left, he's ready now."
"Perfect, well, Mr. Smith," Vernon said amiably, "I look forward to our next meeting, but we're headed out for the evening. Our last free night before Dudley is back in school, so we're taking him out to his favourite restaurant."
"Yes, well, allow me to retrieve my daughter and we shall leave you to it," Severus quickly made his way to the back garden, Mrs Figg still distracted by her umbrella refusing to close.
"Vernon, we need to go now," Petunia hastened, glancing at the clock above the mantle. "If we are even five minutes late, they will cancel our reservation!"
"Very well," Vernon grumbled, he hated leaving non-family in their home. You never know what they might dig into or even steal. "Mrs Figg, I trust you to take care of our guest and then see yourself and the boy out shortly thereafter."
"Yes, yes, of course." Her umbrella snapped shut finally, startling all of them. "It'll all be handled posthaste."
Vernon nodded curtly and the three Dursleys made their way to the car. Arabella shook her head, poor Harry. Ah well, what could be done? Time to get to the business.
Harry and Sylvia had finished both plots just before her Da made it into the garden. They were giggling as they slightly splashed each other with the water from the garden hose they were using to scrub the dirt off their hands.
"Sylvia, time to go!" Severus called hurriedly. "Mrs Figg is here."
"Why- Oh, she's his sitter, isn't she?" Sylvia quickly deduced. "I was hoping to convince you that we could watch him, I wanted to speak to you more in-depth though." Her brow furrowed in frustration. Maybe there was still a chance.
"Us? What do you mean 'we could watch him'?"
"Something's not right here, Da," Sylvia whispered quickly, Harry was still winding up the hose, but he'd be done soon. "Harry needs our help, badly. He's like me! From before!" Her eyes were wide with concern, and a touch of fear, as she tried desperately to convince her Da of Harry's dreadful situation. His brow lowered in confusion and then shot up as his eyes opened wide when he realised what she was saying. Harry needed help, and the sooner he got it, the better.
A/N: Thank you all for reading! It was hard to work on this chapter, as I've got two sick kids and I'm sick as well, but I'm glad I finished it. I'm starting to include a few more things from my first story, but it is turning into more of its own thing. Same premise, just a better rendition I guess. The next chapter will have a bit of a flashback, hopefully, that doesn't bother you, but I will mark the beginning and end of the flashback, so if you want to skip it you can. You will miss out on a tiny bit of backstory for Sylvia, from before she's adopted, but it might come out normally during the rest of the story, and definitely in the sequel if not.