Chapter 5
Disclaimer. I do not own Harry Potter or any of its elements, its ownership remains with JK Rowling.
The sun rose over Diagon Alley, its golden rays filtering through the morning mist, illuminating the bustling streets with a warm glow. It was early August, and the air buzzed with the excitement of witches and wizards preparing for the new school year. As the shops opened their doors and the scent of fresh pastries wafted from the bakeries, an undercurrent of gossip spread through the alley like wildfire.
Several people who had been conducting business in Gringotts the previous day couldn’t stop talking about the witch who had claimed she was a Potter. The news quickly became the talk of the town.
An old witch, hunched and wrapped in a worn, patchwork cloak, barged into the Leaky Cauldron. Her eyes were wide with excitement, and her voice echoed through the pub. "Tom! You won't believe what I heard!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "A Potter, a Potter seen in Gringotts! And the goblins didn't bat an eye, so it must be true!"
Tom, the barman, looked up from polishing a glass, his bushy eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "A Potter, you say?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Yes, a girl too!" the old witch continued, her hands gesticulating wildly. "I've never heard of a female Potter in a long time. This is big news, Tom. Big news!"
As whispers spread like wildfire, the pub's patrons leaned in, eager to catch every word. The shopkeepers of Diagon Alley soon caught wind of the gossip, and it wasn’t long before the entire alley buzzed with excitement.
In Twilfitt and Tattings, an elegant, posh-looking pure-blood woman with the surname of Parkinson overheard the shop assistants gossiping about the mysterious Potter girl.
"-and she was a girl too, I never heard of a female Potter in a long time," one of the assistants whispered excitedly. "Do you think it's true?"
Mrs. Parkinson, her curiosity piqued, decided this was a piece of gossip worth sharing with the Malfoys.
At Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy listened intently as Mrs. Parkinson recounted the tale. His icy blue eyes gleamed with intrigue. "A Potter," he mused, a sinister smile curling his lips. "How interesting. How shall this affect our world?"
Narcissa Malfoy, sitting gracefully in a high-backed chair, exchanged a glance with her husband. "We must tread carefully, Lucius," she warned, her voice soft but firm. "The Potters have always been a powerful family."
Lucius nodded thoughtfully, his mind already whirring with schemes and strategies.
In Hogsmeade, the news reached the cozy pub of the Three Broomsticks. The air was filled with excited chatter as patrons discussed the latest developments.
Doge, a regular at the pub, was just about to leave when he overheard whispers of the Potters. The excitement in the air was reminiscent of the events twelve years ago when Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord You-Know-Who.
Surprised by the news, Doge made his way directly to Hogwarts, where Dumbledore was in the middle of a heated argument with the Minister for Magic about the posting of Dementors at Hogwarts.
"Headmaster! You won't believe it," Dodge exclaimed, bursting into the room. "They say a Potter, a girl, was spotted doing business with the goblins today!"
Dumbledore and the Minister both turned to look at Doge, their expressions a mixture of shock and curiosity.
"A Potter?" the Minister repeated, his eyes widening in surprise. "Are you certain?"
Doge nodded vigorously. "That's what they're saying. She was seen in Gringotts, and the goblins didn't seem surprised at all."
The Minister immediately headed to the Floo network to confirm the news at the Ministry, while Dumbledore sat back in his chair, deep in thought. The implications of this revelation weighed heavily on his mind, particularly how it might affect Harry.
Meanwhile, in the quiet town of Leeds, Heather was blissfully unaware of the commotion her presence had caused in the magical world. She was busy getting her story straight, carefully crafting a narrative that would withstand scrutiny and allow her to execute her plans to save the world.
Her new home was modest but comfortable, with warm wooden floors and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. She had spent the past few days unpacking her belongings and setting up her new life. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with volumes on magical theory, history, and potion-making. The air was filled with the comforting scent of parchment and ink.
As she settled into her new routine, her thoughts often drifted back to Severus and the unfulfilled love they had shared with each other. The silver necklace with the hexagonal onyx pendant, covered with microscopic runes, hung around her neck, a constant reminder of him. She absentmindedly touched the pendant, feeling the slight warmth it emitted, and wondered what it meant.
Suddenly, her Floo network flared to life, and the face of Sharpclaw appeared in the flames, his sharp smile causing a mixture of dread and curiosity to wash over her.
"Sharpclaw," Heather greeted him, trying to keep her voice steady. "What brings you here?"
Sharpclaw's laughter echoed through the room, a sound both unsettling and oddly comforting. "I just wanted to let you know that you are once again the talk of the wizarding world," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Everybody knows about you."
Heather groaned, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Why can't anything just be easy?" she muttered, her mind already racing with the implications of this new development.
Sharpclaw's smile widened. "You should know by now, Miss Potter, that nothing in life is ever easy," he said, his tone teasing yet sincere. "But that’s what makes it interesting."
With a resigned sigh, Heather thanked Sharpclaw and closed the connection. She knew she needed to act quickly to control the narrative and ensure her plans weren’t derailed by unwanted attention.
Determined, she began drafting an important letter to one key figure in the wizarding world, carefully worded to introduce herself and establish her intentions without revealing too much. She knew she had to tread carefully, for the stakes were higher than ever before.
As the sun set over Leeds, casting long shadows across her new home, Heather's resolve hardened. She would not let this unexpected turn of events deter her from her mission. With a final glance at the silver necklace around her neck, she vowed to honor Severus's memory and protect the people she loved, no matter the cost.