'TIS NOT A SIN TO BE BORN

CHAPTER 2:

A FORTHCOMING EXPLANATION

Nico Robin, the Demon Child of Ohara, wasn't so sure this was a place of safety. True, it was safer than before, because, if Harry was right, then they were on another world entirely, one ignorant of her so-called crimes, then there was no reason to be afraid of bounty hunters and Marines coming for her. All for the supposed sin of being born on Ohara, and being its sole survivor.

She had stayed on the sidelines after being escorted into that room. She did think she heard her mother's name being mentioned quietly, but she couldn't tell who said it, and she heard something of a small hubbub starting up as they left the room. Instead, she watched and observed, letting Harry take the lead. He wasn't as intelligent as she was, but she grew up on an island of scholars and intellectuals, honing her intellect was one of the few ways she could kill time away from that bitch of an aunt of hers.

It seemed that Harry was famous on this world for some reason, and he didn't know why. Around her at least, he was something of an open book, or so she liked to hope. So his surprise seemed genuine enough. Being a wizard or witch, less so. Some of those weird abilities he used, aside from Haki or that black smoke stuff, seemed like magic.

Of course, so too did Devil Fruits, but he had never eaten one. She saw him swimming more than once, and couldn't help a pang of envy during one time. She ate the Bloom-Bloom Fruit wholly by accident, when she spotted a weird fruit hanging from a tree while she was climbing it. It had many, many benefits, but it marked her as something other long before the Buster Call struck Ohara, and it prevented her from the simple joys of swimming or even bathing (without taking enough precautions prior to having a bath, anyway).

The headmasters of the other schools involved were indignant that Hogwarts had seemingly obtained another Champion, but she reckoned they protested too hard. That Karkaroff guy and that Maxime woman simply didn't care that Harry had no prior affiliation with Hogwarts. And the words of that bureaucratic prick Crouch and that fatuous moron Bagman didn't help. She'd only met them now, and already, she could tell what sort of people they were. And they said Harry must compete or lose his magic. Despite not having entered this farce himself.

And that was before that mangled scarred mess of a man who was introduced as Alastor Moody began saying it was a possible plot to kill Harry. Robin couldn't say that Harry was a friend. As fugitives, they had a relationship of mutual convenience, not friendship. But she would be lying if she said she didn't care for him to some degree. He certainly cared for her, and had been far more loyal and reliable than literally anyone else since the Buster Call wiped out her homeland.

She always had herself ready to use her Devil Fruit's abilities in case they needed to make a quick getaway, though. They might be on another world, assuming the old man wasn't lying, but that didn't necessarily make it any safer. And magic users had a bad reputation on her own homeworld, even if most reported powers were probably the use of Devil Fruits, Haki, or one of the Six Powers. Many children shunned Robin for being freaky, not helped by their parents, all because of her Devil Fruit.

Once that mess was over, Dumbledore had them come with them to his office. She had to admit, it looked interesting, with all the bookshelves, instruments, and the like. In fact, if this was a school, it may have a library with interesting books in it.

The red and gold bird on the stand drew her eye. "Is that a Phoenix of some sort?" she asked.

"That is indeed the case, Miss Nico," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Fawkes is an old friend. A very old friend. But perhaps we should get down to business. Firstly, I owe Mr Potter an apology."

"For what?" Harry asked as he and Robin sat down opposite the old man.

The old man met his gaze solemnly. "I was the one who left you with your aunt and uncle after your parents died." He held up a hand, cutting off any protest. "Please allow me to offer my reasons first. I made a mistake, and a substantial one at that, Mr Potter, but there were reasons I left you with them, despite my being warned that they were the worst kind of Muggles, that is to say, people without magic."

Harry glared at the old man, before nodding. "I'm listening."

"Firstly, they were your closest living relatives after your parents died, and our world places great store on blood relations," Dumbledore said. "Secondly, your only other guardians were unsuitable for various reasons. Your godfather was sent to prison, albeit for a crime we later learned he was innocent of, and it's to my shame I was fooled by the true perpetrator. Another, unfortunately, has an affliction that would have seen him unable to take custody of you. Thirdly…you are famous in Magical Britain, Harry, famous for the wrong reasons."

"What do you mean, the wrong reasons?" Robin asked.

Dumbledore shot her a glance, before saying, "Over two decades ago, a most terrible and cruel wizard who called himself Lord Voldemort rose to power. He and his followers, the Death Eaters, committed what the Muggles would call terrorist attacks on his enemies. He espoused that only wizards and witches of pure blood were worthy of magic, and that all who opposed this policy were traitors. He was so powerful, even his name was feared to be spoken, and indeed, he even placed a Taboo curse on his name, allowing him to track any who spoke his name with impunity. Amongst his followers, he was known as the Dark Lord, while amongst his enemies, he was known as You Know Who, or He Who Must Not Be Named."

"…He murdered my parents, didn't he?" Harry asked quietly.

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Your parents were betrayed by an old friend, and the blame was placed on your godfather. Voldemort murdered first your father, and then your mother. But when he attempted to murder you, the curse somehow backfired, and Voldemort's body was annihilated. Because you had survived that curse where nobody else had, you were hailed as the Boy Who Lived. You were famous…yet the people of our world too readily forget that your fame came at the cost of being orphaned."

Robin grimaced. In some ways, it was a warped reflection of her own life. She already knew about his uncle, aunt and cousin treating him like shit. At least her own uncle tried to treat her well, and for all that she was glad her aunt died when the Marines fired on their evacuation ship, her uncle was a good man, and her cousin, while a spoilt little shit, didn't deserve that.

She couldn't envy Harry his fame too much. True, she would prefer such fame to being known as the Demon Child. But he was clearly at sea about this.

"I had sought to shield you from your fame. In addition, your mother's love for you, coupled with an obscure ritual, conferred a potent protection on you from harm by Voldemort or his supporters," Dumbledore said. "I was able to ensure that protection could be renewed as long as you stayed with a blood relative. I knew Petunia and her family may not have treated you well, but after your disappearance…Harry, I wish there had been another way. What I found they had done to you was appalling, and all I can offer is my apologies."

"What about a promise that I won't have to live there ever again?" Harry asked in a tight tone of voice.

"Rest assured, Harry, those Blood Wards, as I have dubbed them, collapsed not long after your disappearance. You still have your mother's protection, but you will not have to live with the Dursleys ever again. In fact, I wished to discuss your living arrangements, but first…I know what I have told you has been something of a shock, and certainly has tainted your opinion of me, for which I will solemnly endure. But…what happened to you, Harry? I know what your cousin did during that school excursion, but…what happened since?"

Harry shared a look with Robin, before he shrugged. "I had to do what I could to survive on the streets of a new world. Unfortunately, it attracted attention. I ran into Robin, and, well, we teamed up, helping each other to survive. And stay ahead of the law."

"The law?"

"Mostly theft and stowing away, occasional trespassing," Harry said, before his face fell. "More than once, though…"

"…You've had to kill?" Dumbledore asked in solemn horror.

"Only to defend ourselves or others," Harry said quietly. "Believe me, there were more than a few freaks who wanted to take advantage of a couple of kids. Some of what we lived through was fun, but a lot of it was just running or fighting."

Robin nodded, speaking up. "While I do not trust you enough yet to tell you my background in any great detail, Professor, I have been on the run from the authorities of my world since I was eight years old, for the crime of existing. I was told to live a quiet, normal life by one of those who saved me, but I had no chance with those authorities coming after me. Killing someone is a last resort, but it's still an option. Harry is the first person I have met in many years who had helped me and never betrayed me." The word 'yet' remained unspoken.

"…Too young," Dumbledore said softly, shaking his head. "While I can't say I am happy to hear that, I…understand. I can see you both had a hard life on the run, and with Harry, part of the blame for that rests on my shoulders. But…it shouldn't be necessary here."

At least he wasn't being that judgemental. It felt slightly condescending to Robin, but at least he wasn't equating killing in self-defence with cold-blooded murder. Eventually, she asked, "What now?"

"That is, indeed, the question, Miss Nico," Dumbledore said quietly. "With Harry bound to compete in this tournament, he will need training. I am sure you are capable in your own ways due to what has happened, but Harry has magic. He'll need training to help refine his ability. I would enrol him here, but he would have three years of classes to catch up on, and for now, we should prioritise what he may need during the Tournament. In addition, we should find you both a place to live. Your godfather, despite my best efforts, remains a fugitive, with few willing to countenance his innocence, Harry. However, one of his cousins, I believe, would be willing to house you both. I will let you speak to that family prior to agreeing to that. For now, we have guest quarters we are willing to accommodate you in."

Robin shared another look with Harry. "Okay," Harry said. "I mean, we'll stay here for now, Professor. But…don't take this the wrong way, but…Robin and I don't trust easily. If something happens…"

"Harry, I will do what I can to help, to earn that trust, from both of you," Dumbledore said. "But for now, it's been a long night for us all, and I believe we should discuss matters further in the morning…"

He'd escorted Harry and Robin to guest quarters himself (the teenagers asking for a shared room, even if it had a separate beds), before heading back with a sigh. Albus felt the weight of his age and sins even more than ever now. No doubt he'd have to deal with Cornelius' questions before long, to say nothing of so many others. He only hoped he could earn that trust from those two, even if he didn't deserve it.

Minerva strode up to him as he approached his office once more. "Professor? Have you already finished with them?"

"For now, Minerva," Albus said quietly. "I fear they will take considerable work to gain their trust, but…I told Harry about what happened to his parents, why I left him at the Dursleys. I did not tell him everything, but I told him what he deserved to know. He was…not happy, but he took the news relatively calmly."

Except for the Horcrux in his scar, but that was a moot point now. Some sort of miracle had taken place, for when Albus did a discreet scan while speaking with them, he found no trace of that Horcrux. A small mercy, one he was relieved by.

"I warned you, Albus," Minerva said quietly as they entered his office, him giving her a brief rundown of what they discussed. "The worst kind of Muggles, outside of them being criminals. But what are you going to do about the Tournament? Mr Potter is stuck in it now!"

"I will reach out to Remus," Albus said. "As for where they will be going, I am considering speaking with Andromeda. I would have considered Arthur and Molly, but…those children have been fugitives, Minerva, on another world, and I fear it was a trying time for them both. Andromeda, growing up in the Black family as she did, is a better choice dealing with more damaged children. Molly, on the other hand, would smother them with love and affection, but it may be taken the wrong way. That being said, I may need to speak with Severus soon."

"Severus? But why?"

"When Miss Nico appeared, he seemed to recognise her, or at least seemed to know someone like her. He spoke a name, Olvia."

"But how could Severus know someone from another world?"

"I do not know, but I do suspect. Severus once spoke of a time a year or so before Harry's birth," Albus said. "He was asked by Augustus Rookwood to accompany him and other Unspeakables on a mission, one he did not talk about, especially as Severus was dismissed from his role." Not long before that fateful night when Severus overheard the prophecy Trelawney uttered, Albus added in the privacy of his mind.

"You think that…?" Minerva began, only for Albus to sense the Gargoyle's wards activate, warning him of Severus' approach. He gestured at Minerva to halt, as they were about to hear the answer from the man himself.

Severus looked shaken, his usually stoic, sardonic or sneering demeanour gone. And Albus suspected he knew why. "…Severus, what ails you?"

"…That girl…" Severus said. "I…I knew her mother. I knew her mother, Nico Olvia." His dark eyes flitted up and met Albus' own. "And…I think I may be her father."

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

Dun dun DUNNN!

In previous versions I considered of my Harry/Robin story, I had her (canonically unknown) father as a Potterverse character, with Sirius, Remus, and even Rookwood as options. But Snape actually gives some interesting possibilities.

While I like reading a few Severitus fics, like The Best Revenge by the late Arsinoe de Blassenville, or Maybe I'm Amazed by Alethea27, of late, I normally cannot write Snape as anything more than the self-centred bastard from canon whose much-vaunted love for Lily comes across as him fapping over her memory, and who would have been willing to make her a potioned-up sex slave. Yes, I have written him as more complex or at least less antagonistic before, and I do so when it suits the story. But I also feel that his so-called heroism and bravery were talked up way too much by Rowling. He's like Kerr Avon from Blake's 7, on nobody's side but his own.

But here, well, we will have a Snape who will become something of an anti-hero. The irony is, Nico Olvia and her memory will be a far better spur for that than Lily Potter.

No numbered annotations this time.