Chapter 10
Disclaimer. I do not own Harry Potter or any of its elements, its ownership remains with JK Rowling.
Harry Potter was having such a bad day. It seemed like nothing could go right for him from the moment he woke up. The morning had started with the usual chaos of trying to get everyone to Platform 9 ¾, which was further confused by Mr. Weasley's odd advice at the Leaky Cauldron. Despite the crowded platforms of King's Cross and the usual mayhem that accompanied any trip through the barrier to the Hogwarts Express, Harry had a lingering sense of foreboding that he couldn’t shake off.
The moment they boarded the Hogwarts Express, Harry's day took a definitive turn for the worse. Instead of enjoying the journey with his friends, Harry found himself stuck in a compartment with the new Professor, R.J. Lupin. While the man seemed kind enough in his sleep, Harry couldn't help but feel that this arrangement was a prelude to more bad luck. He had planned to sit with Ron and Hermione, discussing the summer and the coming school year, but that plan had been thwarted when they stumbled upon the sleeping professor and decided not to disturb him.
Harry’s suspicions about his bad luck were quickly confirmed as Ron and Hermione started bickering about Crookshanks and Scabbers. Their constant fighting grated on Harry's nerves, making the journey feel even longer. Ron's frustration with Hermione’s new cat and Hermione’s defense of Crookshanks' natural behavior made for an uncomfortable atmosphere that Harry found himself stuck in the middle of.
The worst part of the trip came when Hermione, in her usual well-informed manner, told him that Sirius Black, the man who had escaped from Azkaban, was Voldemort's right-hand man and quite possibly trying to kill him. The revelation left Harry feeling as if a cold hand had gripped his heart. He already had enough to worry about without the added threat of a deranged murderer on his trail. It seemed like just when he thought he could catch a break, another dangerous situation would crop up, adding to the problems he already had to bear on his young shoulders.
The tension in the compartment escalated further when the train was attacked by Dementors. Harry had never heard about these dark creatures before, but experiencing their presence firsthand as a way of introduction had probably scarred him more than he wanted to admit. The chill that filled the air, the overwhelming sense of despair, and the haunting screams that filled his ears were too much. The feeling of icy cold dread that enveloped him was unlike anything he had ever felt before, as if all the happiness had been sucked out of him in an instant. Harry fainted, succumbing to the heavy feeling they brought forth upon him.
When he came to, he learned that it was Professor Lupin who had saved him from the Dementors. Despite the humiliation of fainting, Harry was immensely grateful to Lupin for keeping him safe. The Professor's presence had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Lupin's calm demeanor and prompt action had saved Harry from what could have been an even worse ordeal. However, the fear of the Dementors lingered, making Harry anxious about the creatures. Would he have to face these creatures again?
Unfortunately, Harry's troubles were far from over. News of his fainting spread like wildfire, and by the time they arrived at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy was already taunting him mercilessly. Malfoy had wasted no time in bragging about Harry’s moment of weakness, using it to his advantage to ridicule Harry in front of everyone.
"Fainted, Potter? I didn't know you were such a weakling." Draco's mocking voice was heard by the remaining students getting into the carriages. Harry clenched his fists, trying to ignore the snickers from the Slytherins and the pitying looks from some of the other students. Harry could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, and the embarrassment was nearly unbearable. The last thing he wanted was to be the center of attention. He hated the whispers and stares, knowing that Malfoy's taunts would only make the rumors worse.
As if things couldn't get any worse, Harry was ordered up to the Hospital Wing to get treated for Dementor exposure before he could join his friends in the Great Hall for dinner. Madam Pomfrey fussed over him, making him drink a potion to help with the aftereffects. All Harry wanted was to blend in with the crowd and forget this terrible day.
The Hospital Wing felt cold and sterile, and the potion Madam Pomfrey gave him tasted bitter, leaving a lingering unpleasantness in his mouth. As he laid on the hospital bed, Harry's thoughts drifted back to the Dementors. He couldn't shake the feeling of dread they had induced. The cold, the hopelessness—especially the screams. Harry could not forget the screams that he heard when the Dementors got near him, for when he asked his friends about them they said didn't hear the woman's screams when they were in the presence of the creature.
His brooding was interrupted when Headmaster Dumbledore approached him after dinner, instructing Harry to stay behind. Harry was confused and a bit nervous. He couldn't think of anything he'd done wrong, at least not recently. Dumbledore’s presence usually meant that something important was about to be discussed, and Harry readied himself for whatever news the Headmaster had to share with him.
Once the Great Hall emptied, Dumbledore addressed Harry. "Harry, I have some news for you. Please, sit down." The tone of Dumbledore's voice was gentle but carried a tone that made Harry's stomach churn with anxiety.
Harry complied, his mind racing with possibilities. "What is it, Professor?"
Dumbledore's expression was gentle as he spoke. "Harry, we have found your Aunt."
Harry blinked in surprise. "Aunt Petunia?" he asked, puzzled. "I didn't know she was missing, but I'd be happy to hear if she's lost again." Harry's statement was more of a reflex than an attempt at a joke, though it did not serve to hide his sudden shock and confusion.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement at Harry's answer, but his tone remained serious. "No, Harry, not your Aunt Petunia. This is your father's sister, Heather Potter."
Harry's confusion deepened. "I have another aunt?" The thought was baffling. How could he have gone his whole life without knowing about another member of his family?
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed. "She has recently entered the Magical World and is looking forward to meeting you." The meaning of Dumbledore's words sank in, and Harry's mind whirled with questions and a great deal of emotions.
Harry's mind was reeling. "Why am I only finding out about her now?" The shock was quickly turning into a mix of excitement and frustration. Why had this information been kept from him for so long?
Dumbledore sighed. "I only learned of her existence recently as well. I met with her before the school year started. She seems genuinely excited to meet you, Harry." Dumbledore’s calm explanation did little to calm the storm of emotions within Harry.
Harry's emotions were a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety. "Why hasn't she visited me before?" The idea of having another family member, someone connected to his parents, was almost too much to process. The thought that his aunt never visited him during all these years, and possible explanations as to why are already forming inside his mind. It brought up old wounds and new hopes in equal measure.
"She did not know about you for a long time," Dumbledore explained. "And even if she had, she was not capable of visiting you due to circumstances that I believe she will explain to you herself when you meet her this weekend."
Harry was startled. He had just learned of his aunt, and now he was going to meet her. It was all happening so fast. But despite the shock, he felt a flicker of hope. He wasn't the only Potter left after all. "I'd love to meet her," Harry said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. The prospect of meeting his aunt filled him with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. What kind of person was she? What if his aunt meets him and it turns out that that she didn't like Harry?
Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Wonderful. Don't worry, Harry. Your professors and I are here for you if you need to talk." The Headmaster’s reassurance was of small comfort, but Harry appreciated it nonetheless.
Harry nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and excitement. This weekend, he would finally meet his Aunt Heather and maybe get some answers about his family that had eluded him for so long.
The thought of meeting another relative stirred something deep within Harry. He had grown up with the Dursleys, who had made it clear how much they despised him and his magical heritage. The idea of having a family member who might actually care about him was almost too good to be true. Harry spent the rest of the evening in a daze, half-listening to Ron and Hermione bicker as they tried to bring him into their argument.
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Severus Snape waited for Dumbledore in the staff exit from the Great Hall. The students had finally left, and the hallways were growing quieter. After a few minutes, Albus Dumbledore appeared, having finished his conversation with Harry. The sight of the Headmaster is a source of great stability for the Potions Master, though Severus rarely showed it.
"You finally told Potter about his newly discovered aunt," Severus stated the obvious, his tone neutral. He was accustomed to trying to be in the loop about significant developments, especially those involving Harry Potter.
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Severus. I think it went well, all things considered." The Headmaster’s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the ball of confusion Harry must have been feeling.
"How did the boy take the news?" Severus asked, curiosity tinged with his usual skepticism. He had a vested interest in Potter's well-being, though admittedly not that focused in helping in the upkeep of the Gryffindor's mental health.
Dumbledore sighed. "He was shocked, as expected. But he seemed open to the idea of meeting her." Dumbledore’s assessment was typically accurate, though Severus couldn’t help but wonder what Potter's true feelings were.
They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes, the quiet of the castle settling around them. Severus broke the silence first. "Did Potter's aunt set a time for their meeting?" The question was pragmatic in any case, but the Headmaster couldn't help but detect a deeper reason as to why it was being ask.
Albus smiled humorously. "Why do you ask, Severus?" The Headmaster’s tone held a note of teasing, which Severus found mildly irritating.
Severus's response was immediate and defensive. "As a spy, I am naturally curious about such matters. And you insist that I protect the boy. How am I to shield him if I do not know where he is at all times?" The practicality of Severus’s argument was unquestionable, though he suspected Dumbledore had anticipated this concern.
Dumbledore chuckled, which only served to irritate Severus further. "Calm down, Severus. I was merely finding some humor in these dark days. I was already considering having you accompany Harry as a chaperone for the meeting."
Severus, who had absurdly been contemplating volunteering for this role just a moment ago, responded with a negative tone to mask any semblance of concern that might have been perceived by his almost request. "I doubt Potter would appreciate my presence during such a personal meeting, and as you have voiced during our previous staff gathering, Headmaster, that I am not the best person to get involved with the Potters." The memory of past discussions about his complicated relationship with the Potters was still fresh in Severus’s mind.
Dumbledore, not deterred by Severus's attitude, and ignoring his earlier reasoning for not allowing Severus to attend his first introduction to Heather Potter, continued to cajole him. "I believe you would handle the situation with the maturity and professionalism that you possess, Severus."
Severus wasn't sure if he should take the statement as a compliment, a play for sarcasm, or criticism for his infamous grudge against Harry, which stemmed from his issues with the late James Potter. Either way, he knew that he was not getting out of it. He reluctantly agreed, but not before bargaining for one concession. "Fine, but I will not stay in the same room as the two Potters." With at least this one compromise the Potion Master hoped that he would feel as if he'll walk away feeling that he'd won against Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, knowing that he got his way once again, graciously accepted this condition with a twinkle in his eye. "That's perfectly reasonable. Thank you, Severus."
As Dumbledore climbed the stairs to his office, Severus was left standing at the bottom, feeling like he had somehow been duped into agreeing. The Headmaster's charm was undeniable, and despite his initial reluctance, Severus knew that accompanying Potter was the right decision. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Albus had expertly maneuvered him into it, as he so often did.
After Dumbledore departed, Severus found himself standing in the empty corridor, his mind awash with conflicting thoughts. The revelation of Harry Potter having another living relative was unexpected and deeply unsettling for him. The boy had always been a source of irritation and painful reminders of his own past, and now, with the introduction of Heather Potter, Severus's life had become even more complicated.
He wandered the darkened hallways, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors. Memories of his own childhood and the choices that had led him to this point flitted through his mind. Despite his outward hostility towards Potter, there was a part of Severus that felt a grudging respect for the boy. Harry's resilience, his bravery—it was reminiscent of Lily.
Severus shook his head, as if to dispel those thoughts. He couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment. Protecting Potter was a duty he had accepted, albeit reluctantly, and he would see it through. He just hoped that this new development with Heather Potter would not complicate things further.
As he finally made his way to his quarters, Severus resolved to approach the upcoming meeting with a clear mind and a professional demeanor. He would observe, protect, and ensure that Harry's safety remained paramount. No mat
ter what personal feelings he harbored, his duty to the boy—and to Dumbledore—came first.