May 3rd, 1998
Harper was pushed into the "interrogation room", forced into a chair, and had to choke down a vial of veritaserum, not to mention the fact her arms were physically restrained by a simple spell that could be easily undone... if she had her wand. But it had been taken away before that.
The figure in front of her was easily recognizable. Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and her twin brother. His emerald green eyes met her own matching pair. The hurt in his eyes made Harper want to melt to the floor and evaporate. They were showing an obvious question.
"What is your name?" The person who'd restrained her asked. Probably an experienced Legilimens. They had already tried going through her mind, but Snape's lessons on Occlumency had paid off after all. Harry had never really properly picked up on it, did he?
"Ha-" Harper's throat choked. She didn't want them to have more evidence to be able to put her in Azkaban. Her emotions had to be forced blank. "Stop struggling, Harper." Her brother's voice came out, steely and demanding, a tone Harry never used on her "Answer the question.".
And there went the blank.
The answer had come out of her mouth before she could stop it "Harper Lily Potter."
"How old are you?"
"17."
"When were you born?"
"July 31st, 1980."
"Why?" It burst out of Harry, a mixture of emotions flowing through just one word.
"To- to protect you," she choked out. God dammit, that's why Harry was there. Harper couldn't hold her emotions back if he was there. She just couldn't. Tears started welling in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She couldn't cry. Not now. Especially not now.
"Can we have a second?" Harry asked the Legilimens. The Legilimens looked at the both of them, and then nodded, walking out.
"Har, I know what you thinki-"
"No!" Harper fell speechless. He sounded so... betrayed.
Harper couldn't stop the tears flowing down her face. Harry wiped a stray drop from his cheek.
"How could you...? You just stood there as people died. I died, and you just stood there."
Hurt, hurt, hurt.
"I knew you weren't. I don't know what I would have done if you were."
"That's what your excuse is. That's rubbish." Harry barked out a laugh. The coldness in his voice was unnatural.
"I know there's no reason that you should listen to what I have to say-"
"You don't understand, Harper. You're completely wrong. For once, you're wrong. I want to know why. Why? The Harper I kno- knew, wouldn't do that."
"So that's we're referring it to now-"
"Stop avoiding the bloody question."
Anger, anger, anger.
"I regret it. You know that, you wouldn't be here if you didn't. I wouldn't be saying it if it wasn't true. "
Harry pushed the chair backwards and rushed out the room, barely managing to conceal the waterfall streaming down his face.
For the couple moments she was alone, Harper curled her legs up to her chest and sobbed. Sobbed all her pent up feelings and frustration, sobbed all her stress, sobbed all her secrets, all of it.
Then the Legilimens came inside. "Are you ready to talk?".
Harper nodded.
"How did it happen? From the beginning."
She paused, readying herself to relive it all.
"I was brought as a baby to..."