7. A letter is worth a thousand words.
“Lead the way, Miss Potter.” Lyra glanced at the man, then down to Sirius, then back to him, watching as he banished his shopping bag off somewhere. He gave her an expectant look and Lyra just gave him an apologetic one.
“Tell you what, how about you just send me or Harry a letter detailing what you plan to do and we’ll decide on letting you in?” Lyra offered, taking a step back and pulling Sirius with her gently. The Grim goes with her easily, but the Professor doesn’t look too pleased.
“Miss Potter, you are a child. Your brother is a child. I cannot in good conscience-” He began to lecture, starting to follow her as she stepped back. Lyra rolled her eyes a little before quietly hoping this worked.
“Meepy! Get us outta here!” Lyra yelled loud enough to make the Professor flinch form the volume. She heard the tell tale pop of one of the elves and a hand touched the one holding Sirius’ lead.
“No-!” The Professor yelled, looking beyond furious. Lyra didn’t hear what else was said as she and Sirius where popped back into the house, it made her stomach churn and she ended up having to hold onto the wall of the front room so she didn’t puke.
“Meepy will get Little Mistress Lyra and Grim-Sirius some tea.” Meepy told them both, leaving with another pop. Lyra took another steadying breath before straightening up.
“Harry must have told her to call you that,” Lyra mumbled, rubbing at her face before settling on the old sofa. It was oddly comfortable in a ‘well-used’ way. Sirius jumped up beside her and rested his head on her lap, Lyra scratched his head quietly. “...I should probably warn Harry that I may have upset one of his Professors…oh god, what if he’s one of mine?” Lyra asked, starting to worry her lip a little.
“Warn me about what ?” Harry asked, half covered in dirt as he walked through the front door. Lyra was starting to dislike the open concept of the first floor.
“So…like, don’t freak out,” Lyra said, as Harry took off his shoes and dusted what he could off of himself. He shot her a dirty look. “I went to the shop, or I thought it was a shop but apparently its a local apothecary? Its like, invisible to muggles or something, I dunno I was more freaking out at that point because I ran into that tall wizard from the other Apothecary in Diagon, the one with long black hair and-”
“You ran into Snape ,” Harry sighed out, rubbing his face. “He’s the potions professor and head of Slytherin. What’s he doing all the way out here?” Harry asked, Lyra shrugged as she accepted the tea from Meepy as she popped back in. The little elf gave Harry a critical look before vanishing the dirt from him and pushing him into the front room a little. Harry rolled his eyes and sat in the red armchair opposite Lyra.
“He lives around here, apparently. But that’s not the point. He spotted me coming in, freaked a little over Sirius and then just kinda decided he was coming back here with me? I was mentally like ‘oh absolutely not, but outside I was all like ‘oh but of course sir! I’m sure you’ll be helpful sir!’ and then I kinda maybe totally used the fact he didn’t know me very well and started pushing for information on how to find tutors and such?” At the disapproving look, Lyra shrugged. “I called Meepy the moment I left the shop, and figured it was best to make a clean break before he could really figure out where we are.”
“... Lyra… ” Harry sighed out, burying his face in his hands for a moment before sighing. “He’s going to be so mad at you when you get to Hogwarts…Merlin, if he lives in this town and we run into him at the shops we might actually die.” Harry groaned more.
“...” Lyra pursed her lips for a moment and gave him an awkward smile. “I mean, I think I can wiggle out of it and justify that I didn’t recognise him as the man from the apothecary because of the whole…thing that happened there. And the fact a man claiming to have my best interest at heart was intent on me taking him to our home when there is a mass murder on the loose?” Lyra offered, the look she got in return did not make her feel better.
“...Just tell me how we’re supposed to find tutors or teachers, or whatever it is-” Harry sighed out. Clearly giving up for now.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
Dear Mr and Miss Potter,
I’m glad to see that you’ve both taken the initiative to owl me before the school year starts with your questions. I hope this continues and we won’t have a repeat of last year and that our Whomping Willow will continue to remain untouched by a Potter or Weasley.
Now, Mr Potter, after going over your previously completed class schedule and comparing it to the time table of the Arithmancy and Ancient Runes classes, you are lucky that you had some open spots in your time table and I have approved the additional classes.
However, I want it to be known, Mr Potter, that if you find your schedule too taxing or find a class is not what you believed it to be, you will be allowed to drop a single class. If you do choose to do this, you can always opt to pick that O.W.L elective back up once you start your sixth year or we can direct you to self study said elective over the summer with one of our many, many tutors on the subject.
Moving on to Miss Potter, we cannot legally deny you your familiar at the school unless it actively makes attempts to harm the other students. However, you are not the first child to have a canine as a familiar and I trust you’ve had time to assess and understand your familiar in a way that you feel comfortable bringing him to school.
I will state that it is unfortunate that you’ve named your familiar Sirius, with the mass murder around it could cause undue panic and I will insist that you use a nickname for him for the time being. Albeit the unfortunate name, your brother has assured me that you’d named him quite some time ago and you had both been unaware of said criminals' existence at the time.
I look forward to meeting you this coming September, Miss Potter, hopefully your school days are less exciting than your brothers.
On a final note, I was alerted to the fact neither of you are currently in the care of your relatives, nor are you located in the safe house that you had been placed in by the minister himself. I’m curious as to why this is as Dumbledore had repeatedly assured me that you and your relatives had a small disagreement but nothing serious and that your placement there-after was perfectly safe.
Please respond swiftly, as I am greatly concerned for you both.
Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
To Miss McGonagall,
Hello!! Thankyou for letting me bring Sirius with me! I was really, really worried about what to do with him during the school year! But now I only need to worry about him being spoiled by myself or Harry during Hogwarts. We do have some nicknames for him, the main nickname is Siri!
Harry said I could respond for us both because he’s trying to make sure we have everything ready for the school year as well as ensuring that the next three weeks aren’t wasted with little to do.
And I don’t know what Mr Dumbledore knows, as me and Harry haven’t seen him once since we left our aunt and uncles home. But I can promise that it was not a ‘small disagreement’. Our aunts husband’s sister (Aunt Marge), had come for a visit and had spent her entire visit sending her dog after us, talking badly about mum and dad and threatening us. Our aunt and uncle already barely care about us as it is unless we’ve done something better than their son or something.
Anyways, Marge had been talking horribly about mum and dad. She called our mum a - and excuse the language miss McGonagall but I’m quoting here - ‘An ill bred bitch’. Harry and I had been cooking their dinner all day and she had said some other stuff too, but next thing I know she’s inflated like a giant balloon and floating away!
It was a total accident and the Minister seems to think Harry caused it, though neither of us are too sure as both me and Harry were steaming before that. Uncle Vernon had gotten really mad and started spouting about making sure we’d never see the outside world again and had thrown something at me and Harry, not sure what it was, Harry had me running up the stairs to pack what we could and he got me out as quickly as he could!
And that supposedly safe location? It was the Leaky Cauldron. One of the most frequented places in England and they expected us to stay there with a serial killer on the loose. We’re grateful for the night we spent there, but we made quick work of locating a property and leaving. I can’t tell you where it is or such, as it’s important no one knows. But I can assure you that we are safe! I promise! We have Meepy and Peemy looking after us so it’s all good!
I’m also looking forward to Hogwarts this year and I can’t wait to see the castle and meet the other children in my year as well as start actually learning from professionals! Harry keeps taking my books off me at night and locking them away because he’s worried I’ll start taking his books if I advance too much.
I’ll end this letter here, but again! Thankyou for letting me bring Sirius, I’ll be sure to look after him and promise he’ll only scare people a little bit! (He won’t, not on purpose.) See you in September!
Sincerely, Miss Lyra Potter and Mr Harry Potter.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
Minerva looked over the letter once more, scrutinising every word with a critical eye as she took in the response from the youngest Potter. Her face felt stiff and ached with how much she was frowning.
There was so much said in this one letter and yet the things left unsaid made her stomach churn. This was the most information she’d ever gotten about the Potter children’s home life, with Albus constantly assuring her that they’re being spoiled by those muggles that she had once seen, all those years ago and with Harry being reluctant to talk of his life outside of school…
To have it confirmed they weren’t as cared for as she once believed made the churning intensify.
And to make it worse, this young girl had confirmed that Albus hadn’t even gone to see them after promising her that he did so and who in their right mind sends two children to the Leaky Cauldron to live for three weeks? Of all the irresponsible-
“Minerva!” Minerva was pulled from her silent spiral by Severus’ voice, a voice that sounded livid. “You will not believe the utter insolence and stupidity that I just encountered within my home-” the dower man stormed through her Floo and into her home, looking half ready to start hexing the shadows around them.
“Oh? Did the apothecary mislabel pickled newt eyes and pickled frog eyes?” she asked, curious as she watched the angry man settle in the chair opposite her, his face twisted as he worked his jaw. Minerva watched him for a moment, summoning an unopened bottle of firewhiskey and two glasses.
“No, I think we both need to be sober for this,” Severus refused the offering. Minerva frowned, vanishing the bottle and glasses - Severus always enjoyed a good drink over gossip…so, this was truly something upsetting. “The Potter brats are living within Cokesworth .” the man ground out.
“...Oh,” Minerva commented, glancing at the letter she had received not twenty minutes beforehand, then back to Severus. “And…you know where?” She asked, Severus made a noise almost akin to a dying elephant as he slumped in his seat.
“No, I would have if that girl hadn’t been so…so…” he cut off, fuming and Minerva raised a single eyebrow.
“Tell me what happened, Severus,” Minerva requested and he did just that. Going over their brief meeting in Diagon Alley and then Lyra’s accidental adventure into the Apothecary and her escape from him. She did her best to hide her mirth as he finished. “The word you’re looking for, Severus, is cunning. ” She told him, only to receive a truly venomous glare.
“How is disregarding an authority figure cunning . She disobeyed me, she ran off and now both Potters are without an adult within their home and there's a mass bloody murderer on the loose-” Severus fumed. “And their only protection is a blasted Grim.” he growled, rubbing at his face in annoyance. Minerva paused for a moment before letting out her own sigh.
“Her familiar is a Grim? Not just a large black dog?” she confirmed, at Severus’ nod she found herself regretting her lack of drink. “Read the letter,” Minerva stated, passing it over to him. “Whilst I pen a reply. I think it's best that we all meet for a chat, between the two of us they’ll have decent teachers for the summer and it’ll bring me peace of mind.” she said with a sigh as she summoned a quill, ink and some parchment.
“...Albus has a lot of explaining to do.” is Severus’ only reply as he re-reads the letter. Minerva can’t help but agree, but for now her focus would be on the children.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
Mr and Miss Potter.
It has come to my attention that your new accommodation is without an adult presence. I am, however, aware of the Potter family stubbornness that I’m sure you both harbour and doubt that you’d be willing to give me your address to provide checks upon you and your home.
I therefore have a different solution, if you are applicable. Myself and Professor Snape would like to provide you both with tutoring during the holidays, as he has informed me that Miss Potter was quite interested in finding someone for such a task.
All lessons would take place within Professor Snape's home as it would simply be easier for you both to travel there throughout the week compared to Flooing to and from Scotland. Professor Snape has agreed to tutor you both in Potions, Herbology, DADA and Arithmancy whilst I handle Charms, Transfiguration, History of magic, Astrology and Runes (for Harry). Care of Magical creatures and Divination is neither of our strong suits but three weeks will make no difference with the teachers assigned to you for this year.
Please let us know your choice, once you agree then myself and Severus shall meet you outside the Apothecary the day after we receive confirmation and one of us will send our pratonis to alert you that we are waiting.
Please write back swiftly,
Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
“....Harrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyy,” Lyra called, startling Sirius off her bed at the sudden yell. She gave the dog an apologetic look. The sound of Harry’s feet and the disapproving look she received from her brother when he arrived in her room made her squirm a little. “...Sorry?” she offered, knowing he wasn’t pleased with her yelling when she could have asked Meepy or Peemy to grab him.
She felt bad asking them to do things for her, alright? It made her feel like she was getting in their way.
“McGonagall get back to you?” Harry asked, walking into the room and plucking the letter from her hands, Lyra nodded and patted the bed for Sirius to come back up - which he does quiet happily and cuddles into her side. “...Fuck. Alright, ok…we could say no?” Harry said awkwardly, running a hand through his hair as he re-read the letter.
“...I think we should say yes. I mean, it’s at a professor's house and one of them is your head of house. I know you’re reluctant to trust them because of the compulsions and stuff, but-” Lyra started to ramble, Harry just scoffed and interrupted her.
“I’m pretty sure we can trust McGonagall, she’s never shown to have alternative motives when it comes to me - other than endocurating me into the world of Quidditch my first year,” Harry chuckled a little. “Snape…I’m not too sure on but maybe we can trust him, if McGonagall is there….” Harry rubbed his face. “Besides, its better to work with familiar people over strangers, at least for this year.” Harry sighed out.
“So…I’m telling her we agree right?” Lyra asked, watching her brother pace a little around the room. “Maybe they can help you open your monster book?” She offered, making Harry and Sirius scoff.
“...Fine. Yeah, I’ll write a letter and tell them we agree. Hopefully, we don’t regret it.” Harry muttered, looking resigned.
Lyra just smiled at him. Hopefully, his worries were unfounded and she could offer an apology to Snape’ for running like she did.