Chapter 2
Minerva was going through last-minute paperwork for the school year when a school owl flew into her office and landed on her desk. She was a little confused; the school owls were used for sending letters outside Hogwarts, not inside. She checked the letter for any spells, and while she did detect a very powerful magical signature, she found no other magic. Minerva opened the letter.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
My brother, Harlequin, and I have never heard of Hogwarts. We have no idea where to go to buy our school supplies, or how to get to your school. We respectfully request a teacher to assist us and answer any questions we may have.
Sincerely,
Harrison Potter
Minerva stared at the letter. Her cousin had told her that the twins knew everything about magic, Hogwarts, and their parents' deaths.
Well, Patrick had been known to be wrong before.
With a sigh of frustration, she responded to the letter.
Dear Mr. and Mr. Potter,
Thank you for informing us of your ignorance. As per your request, all Muggle-raised wixen are required to have a professor answer any questions they may have in their home, then guide them through Diagon Alley, one of the best places to acquire any school items needed. I will be sending Potions Master Prince, although you will be required to address him as Professor Snape while at Hogwarts. He is the head of Slytherin and the Potions professor.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Head of Gryffindor
Transfiguration Professor
She knew Severus would never believe that 'Harry Potter' was ignorant about the wixen world, so she had to trick him. No easy feat, considering the man was a spy (and possibly a double spy)....
Severus Snape was very confused and slightly suspicious.
Minerva had sent him to another Muggle-raised wixen's house, but had given him little to no information about the children. All she had said was that they were twins, so clearly not Muggleborn, and that they knew nothing about Hogwarts or magic. She didn't even specify the gender.
The logical conclusion was that Severus knew the brats, and she didn't want him to jump to conclusions.
He set off to the address she'd given him with trepidation.
An overly-large child was waiting in the front yard of a small but clearly expensive home, looking nervous and sweaty. It was, of course, quite hot that day, but he didn't want to go inside. The heat was better than them.
A man suddenly appeared down the sidewalk, dressed in dark clothes and scowling. He swiftly approached the house and frowned at the boy.
"My name is Professor Snape," he said sourly.
Before the man could say anything else, the child nodded quickly. "They're inside, sir. With my parents."
Snape frowned a little, noticing how pale the boy was, but headed up to the house and knocked.
The door flew open, revealing a very skinny woman with hawk-like eyes, looking just as pale as her son.
Both adults clearly recognized each other, because they both gained a look of shock and disgust.
"You!" the woman exclaimed.
"Petunia," Snape sneered.
"Auntie, I don't think you want the neighbors to know Professor Snape is here," a calm but slightly cold voice called from inside. "Let him in."
Snape didn't know who the owner of that voice was, but he knew the tone. It was the same one Voldemort would use on his followers. And Petunia responded just like a Death Eater would: immediately obeying with a shudder.
Snape was led down the hall into the living room, where three people were sitting. Petunia's husband had taken up the chair, looking furious and terrified. One boy, with a shock of messy red hair, was sitting on the floor, bouncing and squirming, a maniacal grin on his face. A nearly identical boy, with long dark hair and a blank expression, was lounging on the couch, eyes on Snape.
The dark-haired boy glanced at Petunia, who said quickly, "Make yourself at home, I'll put on the kettle."
"Black tea, no cream or sugar," Snape said stiffly, eyeing the black-haired boy as he took a seat at the other end of the couch.
He had been expecting Harry Potter to look and act exactly like James Potter. Of course, that was a stupid conclusion, he realized that now. But Harry Potter didn't seem to be like Lily, either.
"Professor Snape," Harry said sleekly, "a pleasure to meet you. My name is Harrison Potter, and this is my twin, Harlequin Potter."
The red-haired boy grinned wider.
"This is my uncle, Vernon Dursley, and I believe you know his wife, Petunia," Harrison continued calmly, watching Snape with a blank expression.
"Yes," Snape agreed. He felt the need to be a little more honest. "We grew up on the same street."
"You knew our parents," Harrison remarked. Snape nodded. "Professor McGonagall said we could ask you anything?"
Snape expected both boys to ask about their parents, but Harrison just said, "I'd like to clarify a few things from the letter first. What are Slytherin and Gryffindor?"
"Two of the four Houses at Hogwarts," Snape began. "Upon arriving at Hogwarts, students are sorted into one of four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Those sorted into Gryffindor exhibit and/or admire the qualities of bravery and goodness. Those sorted into Hufflepuff exhibit and/or admire the qualities of hard work and loyalty. Those sorted into Ravenclaw exhibit and/or admire the qualities of cleverness and intelligence. Finally, those sorted into Slytherin exhibit and/or admire the qualities of cunning and ambition."
"What is the noise level and nosiness of each House, Professor?" Harrison asked after a small pause.
An interesting question, but Snape answered it to the best of his abilities.
"Gryffindor is the loudest House, by far," Snape said. "Their Head of House has long since given up on trying to reign them in. Hufflepuff is the second-loudest, but most of them will speak quieter if you ask. Ravenclaw and Slytherin are the quietest. As for nosiness, it depends on the person rather than the House."
Harrison nodded slowly. "Are there books that Muggle-raised wixen are given to help integrate them into the magical world?"
"Yes, although they are no longer required," Snape admitted with a scowl. "They teach you the basics of magic, how to use a quill, things like that."
"Does the magical world have its own culture or cultures?" Harrison asked.
"Most wixen are pagans," Snape replied, a little surprised at the question. "But-"
Vernon Dursley, who had been silent until that moment, suddenly exclaimed, "Paganism?! You freaks worship the devil!"
Snape was furious, but before he could respond, Harrison sat up very slowly, and turned his head towards his uncle. Snape couldn't see any change to the boy's blank expression, but Vernon apparently, did, because the color slowly drained from his face and he slouched in his seat, going silent. Harlequin cackled, but shut up when Harrison shook his head.
Snape stifled a sigh when he realized Harlequin's laugh sounded almost exactly like Bellatrix Lestrange's. He hoped the child hadn't gotten the Black Madness.
"Why are wixens pagans?" Harrison asked calmly, as if Vernon hadn't said anything.
"Paganism is very different from what Muggles believe," Snape said, sneering at Vernon. "The rituals we use make our magic stronger, especially our family magics. And we only have three gods: Entitatem Death, who does not have a gender, Lady Magic, and Lord Fate."
"Where would we learn the pagan rituals needed to strengthen our magic?" Harrison asked.
"There is a slight issue," Snape admitted. "The Ministry for Magic is slowly outlawing paganism, siding with the Muggle-raised wixen who believe it to be evil and wrong. You can still perform the rituals in the safety of your own home, but the books are illegal to sell. You would have to previously own the books, and you cannot lend them out."
Petunia came back with a cup of tea, disappearing as soon as Snape took the cup.
"Did our parents own the books?" Harrison questioned.
"The Potter Library should have them," Snape agreed, taking a sip of tea, "but you would have to get the keys to Potter Manor from Gringotts -- the wixen bank."
"I have no further questions," Harrison said after a pause. "Harley, do you have any serious questions?"
Harlequin pouted. "Aww, I wanted to ask if-"
"Harley."
"Fiiiiiiiinnnnnne," Harlequin groaned, flopping on his back dramatically. Exactly like his father, Snape thought resignedly. "Does Hogwarts cater to people with ADHD?"
Snape rubbed his face tiredly. "I'm afraid wixen don't know about mental disorders," Snape apologized. "I try to recognize them in the students and accommodate as many as I can, but a lot of the time wixen just assume their child is stupid or lazy."
Harrison's expression darkened slightly before returning to unreadable. "Thank you for recognizing that they are not."
"How does your ADHD present itself, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked Harlequin.
"It's really hard for me to do my homework on time," Harlequin chirped, sitting up at the speed of light and rocking on his feet. "I'm distracted easily and can't stop moving. I have a hard time controlling how loud I am and don't notice if I'm being too loud. Harrison helps a lot."
"The Sorting Hat will take that into consideration and most likely place you with your brother," Snape agreed. "But you will have to learn how to function without him at some point, and that is what I will attempt to teach you."
"You sort students with a hat?" Harlequin asked in glee.
"Yes, a hat enchanted by the founders of Hogwarts," Snape said dryly. Harlequin cackled again, and Harrison rolled his eyes. "Would you like me to take you to Diagon Alley now?"
Harlequin leaped to his feet, while Harrison stood more leisurely. "How will we be getting there?" he asked.
"Apparition," Snape responded, wondering how Harrison knew they weren't going to drive or walk. "Teleportation," he added when Harrison raised an eyebrow at him. "It is very uncomfortable, but no harm will come to either of you unless you attempt it without concentrating properly."
"Oh, is that what happened when we were trying to avoid Dudley's gang and ended up on the school roof?" Harley piped up. Harrison tensed. "That was really uncomfortable, like being squeezed through a tube, is that what it's like being born-"
"Harley," Harrison said blankly, and his brother silenced immediately.
Snape took a closer look at the boys, and he didn't like what he saw.
They were incredibly skinny and pale. Harlequin was wearing glasses, but judging by the way he kept squinting, they were the wrong prescription. Their shirts were sliding off their shoulders and their pants would have fallen off had it not been for the belts, which had holes poked into them to accommodate for their thin waists. Their fingers were slightly crooked, clearly having been broken and healed improperly.
Harrison noticed Snape's scrutiny and locked eyes with him. Snape didn't know what his expression was, but clearly, Harrison decided it was enough to trust him.
"Does the wixen world have Child Protective Services, Professor?" he asked sleekly. Vernon blanched.
"Yes, although it's called Heir Protection Committee," Snape responded quietly. "They rarely have to work because wixen are so protective of their children; fewer are being born each generation. I can get in contact with them for you."
"Thank you, Professor," Harrison said calmly. "Harlequin and I are ready to leave now." He paused, then admitted, "We have no money to pay for our school things."
"You do," Snape corrected. "The Potters were very well off, especially since they used to have a Lordship. They had to sell that when your great-great-grand-uncle broke a marriage contract with Gloria Abbott, but they are still very rich. And there are rumors that they are descended from the Peverells and Godric Gryffindor, who do have Lordships, although you'll have to take a Magical Blood Test at Gringotts to confirm it. You should definitely have enough to pay for everything you need."
"What's a Magical Blood Test?" Harlequin piped up as Snape set his empty mug on the arm of the couch.
He led them back to the front door as he responded. "A piece of parchment that will write down your parents, date of birth, and any Lord or Heirships you may have. You won't be able to take the Lordships until you are seventeen, which is the age wixen become adults, but you can take your Heirships."
"Cool! Why do you call it parchment?"
Magical Blood Test for Harrison James Potter:
Name: Harrison James Potter
Date of Birth: 31 July, 1981
Mother: Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans (deceased 31 October, 1982)
Father: James Fleamont Potter-Black Nee Potter (deceased 31 October, 1982)
Father: Regulus Arcturus Potter-Black Nee Black (deceased 10 November, 1982)
Godmother: Pandora Lovegood Nee Lestrange (deceased 12 Febuary, 1984)
Godfather: Lord Sirius Orion Black (living); and Severus Tobias Snape, aliases Severus Tobias Prince (living)
Heir to:
Slytherin (through mother)
Ravenclaw (through Prince)
Prince (through Prince)
Black (through Lord Black)
(CAUTION: BLOCKS DETECTED)
Magical Blood Test for Harlequin Eli Potter:
Name: Harlequin Eli Potter
Date of Birth: 31 July, 1981
Mother: Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans (deceased 31 October, 1982)
Father: James Fleamont Potter-Black Nee Potter (deceased 31 October, 1982)
Father: Regulus Arcturus Potter-Black Nee Black (deceased 10 November, 1982)
Godmother: Alice Longbottom Nee Selwin (living)
Godfather: Remus John Lupin (living)
Heir to:
Gryffindor (through Potter)
Hufflepuff (through Lupin)
Peverell (through Potter)
Merlin-Pendragon (through Potter)
(CAUTION: BLOCKS DETECTED)
Magical Aura Test for Harrison James Potter:
Affinity: Dark (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Level: Dark Lord (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Abilities: Animagus (direwolf) (BLOCKED), Parseltongue, Parselmage (BLOCKED), Natural Occlumency (ATTEMPTED BLOCK), Natural Legilimens (BLOCKED)
Creature: Dominant (will know at creature inheritance at fifteen or seventeen)
Mate(s): (will know at creature inheritance at fifteen or seventeen)
Other: Unknown magic from lightning scar (harmless, cannot be removed)
Blood Protection (powerful) (cast by Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans) (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Life-for-Life Sacrifice (used) (cast by Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans)
Mental/Physical:
Sociopath (due to disassociation from abuse) (high-functioning)
Underweight (due to malnutrition)
Mis-healed Bones (due to abuse)
Magical Aura Test for Harlequin Eli Potter:
Affinity: Dark (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Level: Minor-Major (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Abilities: Animagus (direwolf) (BLOCKED), Parseltongue, Parselmage (BLOCKED)
Creature: Submissive (will know at creature inheritance at fifteen or seventeen)
Mate(s): (will know at creature inheritance at fifteen or seventeen)
Other: Blood Protection (powerful) (cast by Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans) (ATTEMPTED BLOCK)
Life-For-Life Sacrifice (unused) (cast by Lily Potter-Black Nee Evans)
Mental/Physical:
ADHD (inherited from James Fleamont Potter-Black Nee Potter)
Black Madness (inherited through Regulus Potter-Black Nee Black)
Asthma
Underweight (due to malnutrition)
Mis-healed Bones (due to abuse)
Near-sighted, Almost Blind (inherited from James Fleamont Potter-Black Nee Potter/due to being kept in improper lighting for extended periods)