Chapter 12
Disclaimer. I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's elements, its ownership remains with JK Rowling.
Harry isn't sure how to feel about his newly found aunt. Ever since Headmaster Dumbledore had informed him about the knowledge that he has more family than he was aware of, he had been anxious to find out more about his father's sister. So when she appeared at Hogwarts wearing muggle clothes and looking almost exactly like him, he didn't know what to think.
And now, as he and his Aunt Heather followed Professor Snape's heel, Harry couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and curiosity. His aunt had taken his hand with a mischievous smile and dragged him into running after Snape. Harry's first impression of her was that she seemed very complicated.
Professor Snape was acting unusually formal towards Aunt Heather, which was strange. Snape only reserved that tone for his fellow staff and, sometimes, not even them. Harry recalled how Snape had treated Lockhart with utter disdain during the Duelling Club the previous year. But Aunt Heather was civil and respectful towards Snape, a stark contrast to how most people, including Harry, felt about the man.
After Snape swept away and beckoned for them to follow, Aunt Heather suddenly became cheery, taking Harry's hand and running after the Professor. Harry didn't know what to think. Now, they stood in front of an oak door, and Snape turned towards them with his usual blank stare. Aunt Heather didn’t seem intimidated; instead, Harry noticed a quick quirk of her lips, almost a grin, that she quickly suppressed.
If Harry wasn't closely inspecting his Aunt, he might have missed it. Snape gestured at the door. "This room is used by visitors of Hogwarts for private discussions. The Headmaster has lent it to you for your meeting."
"Thank you, Professor," Aunt Heather said warmly yet distantly. "Will you be staying with us?"
Snape's face remained impassive. "I am to be with you at all times, but I will graciously wait outside as you talk."
Aunt Heather smiled and gestured for Harry to enter. "After you, Harry."
Harry stepped inside, feeling awkward. The room was comfy and spacious, with a good view of the grounds and plenty of sunlight streaming in. It felt welcoming, yet Harry couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty.
"Harry," Aunt Heather's voice called, pulling him from his thoughts. She was sitting on one of the sofas, looking completely at ease.
Harry returned her smile awkwardly and took a seat on the sofa facing her. After a moment of silence, during which Aunt Heather looked at him expectantly, Harry broke the silence with a stammer. "I... I don't know where to start."
Aunt Heather's smile was understanding. "Introductions are a great place to start a conversation."
Harry felt a bit more at ease. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
"It's nice to meet you, Harry," Aunt Heather said warmly. "I'm Heather Potter, your father's younger sister."
The conversation began to flow more easily after that. Harry asked her why he had never heard of her before.
"It's because no one knew of my existence until recently," Heather explained. "I was four years younger than James. Our parents had a hard time conceiving children to term. I was a surprise to them, and they didn't know they were expecting me until my mother's water broke. I was born two months early, near a Muggle city. My health was fragile, and my birth was too known to the Muggles for obliviation. I had no immune system to speak of, and my magic had to replace it to keep me alive. The magical world had no way to support my continued life, so I was stuck in the Muggle world."
Harry listened, amazed. "That sounds... crazy."
Heather smiled amusedly. "It is like a curse in our family, having such crazy lives."
"How did you find yourself in the magical world?" Harry asked, curiosity piqued.
"The Unspeakables found me. My magic was detected and deemed curious enough to study. When my Muggle guardian died, they struck a deal with me. They would help me recover and learn magic if I let them study my case and invent ways to support premature babies and cure my lack of an immune system. I agreed, and it was successful. That's why I'm here now."
Heather continued, explaining that she had only recently found out about Harry. "We're both finding out about new family, Harry."
Harry felt a sense of ease wash over him. His Aunt hadn't abandoned him. She was here, now, ready to be a part of his life. "I'm glad to know about you, Aunt Heather."
"And I'm glad to know about you, Harry," she replied softly. "We have so much to catch up on, and I would love to know more about you."
---
Heather was amazed at how Harry seemed to be taking the news of a mysterious magical aunt so well. Despite the whirlwind of emotions he is surely feeling right now, he appeared composed, eager even. But she wasn’t entirely surprised; as his counterpart, Heather felt a deep connection with Harry, a bond that can only be shared with once self. She bet she was one of the few who could truly understand him as well as she did.
Underneath all their differences, Heather could see that they were the same at their core. She could see the wish to belong in his eyes, and the strength in his posture. They had been talking for close to half an hour, and Heather was delighted by how naturally their conversation flowed.
After sharing her made-up backstory, Heather had gently asked Harry about himself. Just as she expected, he was reluctant at first, hesitant to share the details of his life. To ease his discomfort, Heather decided to suggest they exchange stories about themselves, sharing only what they felt comfortable with.
"How about we take turns?" Heather proposed, a warm smile on her face. "I'll tell you a story from my childhood, and then you can share one of yours. Only the things we're fine with sharing, of course."
Harry hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Okay, that sounds fair."
Heather began with an edited memory from her past. "There was this one time when my guardian got really mad at me for ruining a dress I was supposed to sew. I wasn't very good at sewing at first, you see, and I ended up with a tangled mess of threads and fabric. My guardian was furious, but looking back, it's a bit funny how upset she got over such a small thing."
She painted the memory with a humorous brush, hoping to make Harry feel at ease. Harry chuckled, the tension leaving from his shoulders. "That does sound a bit funny now."
Encouraged, he shared his own story. "Well, once when I was cooking, my cousin Dudley accidentally burnt me. I was trying to make breakfast, and he knocked into me on his way to the table. My cousin really likes his food you know? It was just so clumsy, really."
Heather recognized the underlying pain in his story. She knew it was a thinly veiled account of the bullying he endured from their cousin Dudley. But she chose not to pry, not during their first meeting. She was still working to earn his trust, and she knew she wouldn’t let him return to that household next summer anyway.
"So, what about your friends? Do you have any close ones here at Hogwarts?" Heather asked, steering the conversation towards lighter topics.
Harry's face brightened. "Yeah, Ron and Hermione. They're my best friends. Ron's hilarious and always has my back, and Hermione… well, she's brilliant. Sometimes a bit bossy, but she's the best."
Heather smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. "They sound wonderful. I had friends like that too, back in the Muggle world."
Their conversation continued in this vein. They talked about Quidditch, the classes he enjoyed, and the antics of his friends, Ron and Hermione. Heather shared her own edited stories from her dimension, drawing parallels that made Harry laugh.
Their conversation continued, touching on their favorite classes, hobbies, and even their favorite foods. Heather could tell that both she and Harry were enjoying the exchange, the bond between them growing stronger with each story they shared.
They were having fun, their conversation flowing effortlessly until Harry asked about his parents, James and Lily. Heather’s heart ached at the question, but she smiled sadly at Harry. “Because I was in the Muggle world, I only know them from the letters my parents, your grandparents, sent me,” she explained.
She saw the disappointment flicker in Harry’s eyes. “I wish I could tell you more about them from personal experience, but my circumstances robbed me of that opportunity,” she added, her voice tinged with genuine regret.
Harry nodded, understanding glinting in his eyes. “It’s okay, Aunt Heather. I understand.”
Heather smiled, feeling like the bond between them had deepened. “I can still tell you what I do know about them from those letters,” she offered.
Harry’s face lit up. “I’d like that.”
Heather started her story. "According to the stories from your Grandparents, your father, James, was quite the troublemaker. He was always pulling pranks, but he was loyal and brave. And your mother, Lily, was incredibly kind and intelligent. She had a way of seeing the good in people, even when it wasn’t obvious."
Heather spent the remaining time sharing the stories she did know about James and Lily. She described James’s mischievous charm, his loyalty to his friends, and his love for Quidditch. She spoke of Lily’s intelligence, her kindness, and the fierce love she had for her family.
Harry listened intently, absorbing every word. He asked questions, eager for any detail about his parents. Heather answered as best as she could, feeling a mix of joy and sorrow. Joy for the connection she was building with Harry, and sorrow for the loss they both felt so deeply.
---
As Harry listened to the stories his Aunt Heather shared about his parents, Harry's heart suddenly ached with a bittersweet longing. Learning about his parents through stories instead of how it should be, with him listening to his Mum and Dad tell him about themselves, drives home once again how unfair the world is.
"I wish I could have known them," he said in a moment of frustration.
Heather's expression softened. "I know. But you carry their best qualities with you, Harry. From the stories I've read from those letters alone, I can see so much of them in you."
"Really?" Harry's voice was filled with hope.
"Really," Heather affirmed, squeezing his hand gently. "You are a reflection of their love and bravery. And I'm here to help you understand that, to help you see how special you truly are."
After that they continued their conversation, with Heather recounting tales from her own life and her experiences with the Unspeakables. Harry was fascinated by the idea of his aunt being part of such a secretive and powerful group within the Ministry of Magic.
"Working with the Unspeakables was challenging but rewarding," Heather explained. "I learned so much about magic and its intricacies. And it allowed me to contribute to magical research in ways I never imagined."
Harry felt a sense of pride in his aunt's accomplishments. "That's amazing. You must be really smart."
Heather chuckled. "I like to think so. But intelligence runs in the family, Harry. You have that same spark of curiosity and determination that we Potters do."
---
Heather was just starting another story when a knock at the door interrupted them. Harry looked towards the door, a mixture of curiosity and reluctance on his face. Heather felt the same; she wasn’t ready for their time together to end.
“Come in,” she called, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside her.
The door opened, and Professor Snape stepped in, his expression as inscrutable as ever. “I believe that it is time for this meeting to end,” he announced.
Heather and Harry stood up. Heather turned to Snape, her gratitude sincere. “Thank you, Professor. I think that it is time that I go, I heard from Harry that he does have homework to finish after all.”
Snape nodded curtly. “The Headmaster would also like to see you before you leave Miss Potter."
As they walked through the castle, Harry’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He glanced at Heather, who smiled warmly at him, and felt a renewed sense of hope. He had found a piece of his family, and it was more precious than he could have ever imagined. This was the beginning of something wonderful, and for the first time in a long while, Harry felt like he truly belonged.
Heather, on the other hand, felt a bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow. Seeing Harry's eagerness and innocence, she was reminded of all the pain he had endured, pain she had also faced in her own dimension. Yet, there was a warmth in knowing that she could be there for him, to guide and support him in a way she had always wished someone had been there for her.
As they walked through the familiar halls of Hogwarts, Heather couldn't help but marvel at how untouched and pristine everything looked. The Hogwarts of her dimension had been scarred by war, the echoes of battle forever imprinted in its walls. But here, it felt like a sanctuary, a place where the horrors she had known had never happened.
They reached the entrance hall, and Harry paused, looking up at her with a mix of curiosity and affection. “Will I see you again soon, Aunt Heather?”
Heather smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair. “Of course, Harry. I’m not going anywhere. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
Harry’s face broke into a wide grin. “I’m glad.”
As Harry joined his friends, Ron and Hermione, Heather watched him go, feeling a sense of fulfillment she hadn’t felt in a long time. She knew that this was just the beginning, that there would be challenges ahead. But for now, she allowed herself to bask in the simple joy of knowing that she once again has family, a new sense of purpose, and a way to change the fate of her loved ones.
Turning towards the man beside her, Heather caught Snape’s eye. There was a flicker of something in his gaze, something she couldn’t quite place. Curiosity? Intrigued? Perhaps both. She smiled at him, in which he instinctively scowled, making her feel a mixture of amusement and contentment.
"Professor, thank you for guiding me around the castle. I would further appreciate it if you were to guide me towards the Headmaster, please."
Severus frowned at her before once again nodding his head. "This way to the Headmasters Office, Miss Potter."