Chapter 13
Disclaimer. I do not own Harry Potter or any of its elements, its ownership remains with JK Rowling.
Severus Snape and Heather Potter walked silently through the dimly lit halls of Hogwarts. The only sound between them was the echo of their footsteps on the stone floors. Severus led the way, his black robes billowing around him, a dark cloud that seemed to swallow the light, while beside him Heather kept pace, her expression alight with contentment as she followed his lead to the Headmaster’s office.
Severus eyes discreetly flicked downward, glancing at Heather with his brows furrowing in thought. He wasn’t sure what to think of the woman beside him. When he first heard of Heather Potter, he had decided to treat her with cold polite detachment, at that time this was all that he could afford the witch. After all, she was a Potter, and his disdain for the family was deeply ingrained. The teasing comments from the Headmaster about his lack of control when it comes to Potters had been the drive he had needed to strive for cordiality, just for the chance to prove the doddering old man wrong.
To his mind Severus believes that his aversion to Potters in general is justified. After all, the name alone was enough to stir a simmering hatred within him—hatred that had festered ever since his first train ride to Hogwarts, where he met James Potter.
James, with his arrogant grin and effortless charm, had made Severus's life miserable. And it only grew worse when Lily, the one person who had ever truly mattered to him, ended up marrying James. The thought of Lily being blinded by James's personality, unable to see his true nature, had left Severus feeling broken. The fact that Lily had married James, one of his childhood bullies, was a betrayal Severus had never truly overcome. The birth of their son, Harry Potter, only deepened his bitterness. Severus had convinced himself that Harry was a carbon copy of his father, inheriting all of James's worst traits. He was certain that as Harry grows up that he would be a mirror image of his father—arrogant, reckless, and infuriating.
His mission to protect the boy as a means of fulfilling his promise to Lily did not help matters as he had to save the child from several life threatening experiences that could have been avoided if not for the child acting brashly. It had made Severus more determined to curb what he thought was Harry's unfortunately inherited personality.
And now, another Potter had appeared, one Severus knew little about. Heather Potter, James’s sister.
His first impression of Heather was that she seemed incredibly Muggle, an observation that made him almost dismiss her. He recalled that she had only recently learned to control her magic, and in his mind, this made her weak. Yet, when he first laid eyes on her, the first thing he did upon meeting her was attempt to penetrate her mind, expecting little resistance.
What he encountered was entirely unexpected.
Heather’s mind was fortified with impenetrable Occlumency shields, far stronger than anything he had anticipated. The moment he made contact, a flood of overwhelming emotions surged through him, emotions so intense and foreign that Severus had to retreat immediately, shaken and wary. It wasn’t just the strength of her defenses that startled him—it was the way those emotions had affected him, forcing him to feel things he had long since forgotten and closed off. It was a curious and effective defense, one that made him extremely cautious about trying it again.
What surprised him even more was Heather’s reaction—or rather, her lack of one to the intrusion. Despite Severus being certain that she had sensed that he had tried to breach her mind, she remained cordial, even respectful, in her interactions with him. It was an oddity that unsettled Severus, leaving him uncertain of how to proceed.
It was behavior he hadn’t expected from a Potter not to mention from anyone, especially for one who had just had their privacy invaded. Most people, upon realising they were the target of Legilimency, would react with anger or suspicion, but not this woman. She seemed unfazed, and it unsettled him.
As they walked, Severus’s thoughts wandered to the meeting he had eavesdropped on earlier between Heather and Harry. The stories they exchanged were disconcerting, to say the least. They didn’t fit the profiles he had built of them in his mind. Harry’s tales were self-deprecating, filled with embarrassing anecdotes that did not fit Severus's image of him as an arrogant, self-assured brat. It didn’t align with the image Severus had of the boy as the second coming of James Potter.
And Heather, his initial assumption of her is that she is a weak and inexperienced witch, but her accounts of her childhood—stories of a strict Muggle guardian, her rapid mastery of NEWT level magic under the guidance of the Unspeakables, and her involvement in developing new healing magic quickly disabused him of that notion. She wasn’t weak at all; she was far more capable than he had anticipated.
Yet, despite the seemingly genuine nature of their conversation, something about it felt off to Severus. To the Spy's trained ears, they sounded like half-truths, as if they were deliberately leaving something out. It wasn’t just the content of the stories, but the tone in which they were told. It didn't help that he still remembered how Albus had detected numerous privacy charms during his meeting with Heather Potter, but now those protections seemed to be absent. It made Severus wary, questioning whether there was more to the situation than what meets the eye.
Lost in thought, Severus barely noticed that they had reached the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster’s office. He stopped and gave the password, “Licorice wands,” his voice steady.
The gargoyle sprang to life, revealing the staircase leading to Dumbledore’s office. Severus gestured for Heather to go first. She didn’t hesitate, turning her back to him without a second thought, showing no signs of concern. The action was so natural, so unconcerned, that it made Severus pause. Was this a simple show of trust, or was there more meaning behind it?
Severus followed closely behind her as they ascended the circular staircase, his mind racing with thoughts. There was something about Heather Potter that didn’t add up, and Severus was determined to figure out what it was. For now, he would remain vigilant, watching and waiting for any sign that might reveal her true intentions.
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Albus Dumbledore was ensconced in his chair behind his grand oak desk, the soft crackling of the fire and the gentle hum of magical instruments providing a comforting backdrop. His office, always a sanctuary of wisdom and whimsy, was alive with the faint scent of parchment and old books. His attention, however, was focused not on the usual assortment of magical curiosities that lined the shelves but on the portraits of past Headmasters and Mistresses that adorn the walls. He listened idly to the latest gossip his predecessors had heard circulating around the castle, their voices overlapping as they discussed various topics. Most of their chatter revolved around the woman he had invited into Hogwarts, the newly discovered Potter girl.
Today's visitor was of particular interest to Albus. Heather Potter, the newly discovered member of the Potter family, had piqued his curiosity ever since he learned of her existence. Albus was eager to learn more about the girl. Their previous encounter had been brief, too short of a time to have been enough for gathering all the information that he had wanted, leaving him with more questions than answers. Adding to the intrigue was her association with the Unspeakables, which, while not necessarily alarming, warranted for him to be more cautious. The Unspeakables were a secretive group, and anyone who had dealings with them was not to be taken lightly. It was for this reason that Albus had asked Severus to escort Heather to his office today. He trusted Severus’s judgment, and the Potions Master’s insights would be invaluable.
Her decision to meet with her nephew, Harry Potter, was the first real test of her character that Albus had devised. If she could establish a genuine and positive relationship with Harry, it would be a significant step towards gaining his trust.
Albus musings were interrupted as he sensed the approach of the two people behind his office door. Even before they could knock, Albus’s eyes twinkled with anticipation. He had already been informed of their arrival and had given a prompt invitation for them to enter. The door swung open, and Heather Potter stepped in first.
Albus’s gaze fell immediately upon her, noting the warm, genuine smile that illuminated her face. It was a smile that spoke of sincere happiness, and Albus observed the contentment in her eyes. It was clear that her recent meeting with Harry had brought her considerable joy. The contrast between her current demeanor and their previous brief encounter was stark. If her happiness was genuine, then the relationship she was fostering with her nephew seemed to be a positive development.
Following closely behind was Severus Snape. His usual sneer was conspicuously absent, replaced by a carefully maintained neutral expression. His black eyes, however, were anything but impassive; they conveyed a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Severus took his place beside Heather, and Albus could sense his Potions Master’s unease. It was not a typical reaction, which piqued Albus’s interest even more.
Heather greeted him with a courteous nod and a bright smile as she stood idly from the opposite side of his desk. “Good afternoon, Headmaster.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Potter and Professor Snape,” Albus replied warmly. “Please, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable," Albus offered, his voice warm as he gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.
Heather and Severus settled gracefully into the offered chairs, the contrast between them stark—Heather exuded such happiness, while Severus remained a shadow of inscrutability.
“Miss Potter,” Albus greeted her with a smile, his tone formal but friendly. “I trust your meeting with Harry went well?”
“It did,” Heather replied, her smile broadening. “It was wonderful and we got along immensely. I can’t wait to see him again.”
“I’m delighted to hear that,” Albus said, genuinely pleased. “Have you arranged a time for your next meetings with him?”
Heather shook her head slightly. “I wanted to speak with you first, Headmaster. I don’t want to interrupt Harry’s education, so I thought it best to get your advice on when would be a good time for us to meet again. I’ll send him an owl once we’ve decided on a schedule that works.”
Albus’s eyes twinkled with approval. “How thoughtful of you, my dear. Thinking about our young Harry's education. The weekends would be ideal, I think, though we’ll need to consider Harry’s Quidditch practices as well. Thank you for consulting with me on this, it's much appreciated. ”
Heather’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she chuckled softly. “Yes, Harry did mention his love for Quidditch. I’ll make sure that any arrangements I propose would fit around his practice schedule.”
The Headmaster smiled, pleased with her consideration. "He is quite dedicated. Now, I was wondering if you would mind if Professor Snape were to accompany you on future visits, as he did today."
Out of the corner of his eye, Albus saw Severus’s glare, he also couldn’t help but notice the slight scowl on the mans' face, a clear sign that the Potions Master clearly did not appreciate having his time volunteered without prior consultation. Albus’s own eyes twinkled with mischief at the thought. But before Severus could voice any objections, Heather spoke up.
“I wouldn’t mind at all,” she said, her warm gaze shifting to Severus, who was sitting beside her. “Professor Snape was very professional and decent the entire time. He listened quietly without interrupting us, and I appreciated his presence.”
Severus’s eye twitched ever so slightly at her words, a reaction that did not go unnoticed by Albus. The Headmaster’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he leaned back in his chair.
“Is that so?” Albus said, his tone laced with a hint of mirth.
“Yes,” Heather affirmed with a nod. “I understand that he was there to keep Harry safe. He is, after all, Harry’s teacher, and I’m grateful for his vigilance.”
Severus, ever the stoic, responded with his usual poise. “I do not need the praise, Miss Potter. I was simply performing my duty.”
Heather turned to Severus, her expression sincere. “Being dutiful and responsible are qualities that should be commended, Professor.”
Severus inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, though his expression remained impassive.
Albus, ever the diplomat, decided to steer the conversation toward a new topic. “Now that you’ve completed your studies and are known to the Wizarding World, what are your plans, Miss Potter?”
Heather’s demeanor shifted slightly, becoming more thoughtful before answering. “Now that my work with the Unspeakables is finished, I intend to focus on my family’s affairs. As the last adult Potter, it’s my responsibility to ensure everything is in order for Harry when he comes of age. I want to make sure it’s all ready for him, that it’s easily manageable.”
Albus nodded, relieved to hear her intentions. “That is a wise course of action. I must admit, with my many duties, I haven’t been able to give the Potter assets the attention they deserve.”
Heather smiled, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. “I can imagine, Headmaster. You have quite a lot on your plate.”
Albus chuckled, then asked, “Does that mean you’ll be working at the Ministry full-time as a member of the Wizengamot?”
Heather shook her head. “No, not yet. I’m not ready to dive fully into politics. First, I want to secure a magical mastery.”
Albus’s curiosity was piqued. “In what discipline, may I ask?”
“I’m not entirely sure yet,” Heather admitted. “But I’m hoping for something that aligns with my Muggle degree in chemistry.”
Albus, unfamiliar with the mentioned subject, simply nodded in understanding. But Severus, who had grown up in the Muggle world, regarded her with newfound interest. Chemistry was not unlike potions, and the mention of it made him consider her with more interest.
Before Severus could voice his thoughts, the flames in the fireplace roared to life, turning green. A bowler hat appeared within the fire, and a voice called out for the Headmaster.
Heather rose gracefully from her chair, recognizing the signal for her departure. “It seems it’s time for me to take my leave.”
Albus stood as well, nodding in agreement. “Indeed. Thank you for coming, Miss Potter. You have my permission to write to Harry about meeting again next Saturday.”
Heather smiled warmly. “Thank you, Headmaster. I’ll send him an owl as soon as I can.”
As she turned to leave, she paused, her gaze shifting to Severus. “I look forward to seeing you again next week, Professor,” she said, her voice warm and sporting a polite smile.
Severus inclined his head once more, his expression unreadable.
With a final nod to the Headmaster, Heather departed, leaving the room as quietly as she had entered.
Albus watched her go and once the door closed behind her, his mind was already weighing the possibilities brought up by their conversation. Heather Potter seemed genuine, trustworthy even. Heather’s developing connection with Harry, her careful consideration of his schedule, and her responsible approach to managing the Potter family’s affairs all point to a trustworthy and capable individual. The fact that she managed to handle Severus with such grace was an added bonus.
Albus then turned his twinkling eyes to Severus, who still remained seated, deep in thought. The Potions Master’s usual composure was slightly off-balance, an indication of the effect Heather had on him. Albus’s eyes twinkled with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction. It seemed that Heather Potter was proving to be a most intriguing addition to their world, and her interactions had already begun to turn Severus' world onto its head. And anything that could unsettle Severus Snape’s firmly held beliefs about the Potters was nothing short of miraculous.
As Albus’s thoughts meandered through the implications of Heather’s presence and actions, he couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of optimism. It was a wonder that anything could shift Severus’s long-held views about the Potters, but Heather seemed to be achieving just that. And in the grand scheme of things, anything that brought about a positive change was something worth cherishing.
With a final glance at Severus, who was still processing the events of the meeting, Albus returned to his thoughts. Yes, Albus mused, this was certainly going to be an interesting development.