Cousins at the Bookstore
Harri decided that clothes shopping was really fun. She went to Twilfitt and Tattings and got helped by a nice woman. She told her that she had never had her own clothes other than her uniforms.
The woman had explained to her the difference between fabrics and why the colors she wore mattered. She found out that Potter's house colors were purple and gold and that the Black's house colors were black and silver. She also learned that Toujours Pur was the Black family motto, and the Potter family motto was Novissima autem inimica destruetur mors.
She was going to have to look up the Latin translation for both, but she got her outfits in her two main house colors. She was told she could pick them up in an hour.
She skipped out of the shop and went to Flourish and Blotts and picked out books on politics and being an heir. She needed all the help she could. She didn't want to seem completely stupid when Lady Longbottom started her lessons.
"Well, Potter, it's about time you took interest in your role," Malfoy's voice drawled from behind her. She turned to make a snarky response but held her tongue.
"Manners Draco. It's rude to start a conversation like that. I raised you better. It's a pleasure to meet you, Heir Potter," the woman with Draco said. "My name is Lady Narcissa Malfoy."
"It's nice to meet you, Lady Malfoy, but I'm Heir Potter-Black. I recently found out about my titles, and Lady Longbottom is going to start my lessons when she gets back from talking to the minster," Harri explained softly.
"How are you, Heir Black? That should be my title!" Draco asked unruly.
"I have two fathers, apparently James Potter and Regulus Black. Unfortunately, they are both dead," Harri said coldly. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the boy. You would have thought Draco was 5 and not 13.
"Oh my dear cousin," Lady Malfoy said softly. She composed herself and said, "That makes us second cousins, my dear. Regulus was my little cousin, and he had disappointed during the war. I had heard rumors, but I hadn't known it was true. If you ever need anything, feel free to owl me. Regulus was always my favorite."
"I appreciate the offer, Lady Malfoy. If you have any stories of my father, I would love to hear them. If you have stories of any of my parents, I would appreciate them. The only thing anyone will tell me is that I look like James with my mother's eyes," Harri asked desperately. She wanted to know about her parents.
"I wasn't close to James or Lily, but I will reach out to their friends and see what I can find. I'm sure Lady Longbottom has many stories of James as his godmother," Lady Malfoy reassured the girl. "I will say that Regulus always had a nack for runes. He could make the most complicated rune chains I have ever seen. His favorite meal was fish and chips, but if your grandmother had asked, it was Shepherd's Pie. I'll think of better stories and send them to you. Please call me Aunt Cissy."
"Thank you, Aunt Cissy. I'll write to McGonagall and see if I can drop Divination and take Runes instead. I had wanted to take it, but Ron had talked me out of it," she explained with a soft smile.
"Draco, look out for your cousin at school, would you? She is going to need your help," Cissy asked, but it didn't sound like a request.
"Yes, mother. I suppose I can't let her ruin the name of Black," Draco said. He almost sounded excited at the thought.
"Thank you, Draco," Harri said as she held out her hand to him. She hoped that they could move forward without so much hostility. Draco took her hand and shook it.
"Have you gotten clothes that aren't rags yet?" He asked after they let go. He was still as pompous as ever.
"I need to pick them up in a few minutes, actually! This has been the first time I've ever been to the Alley by myself, so I can actually get things," she said excitedly. "I've only been to the bank and clothes shopping so far, and of course I'm here now, but I don't really know what I'm looking for."
"Well, we can shop with you if you like, my dear," Cissy said. She grabbed a few books off the shelf and handed them to her. "These will help with your training as an heir. I'll get you books from the Black family home about how to be a proper Black Heir. I would ask your account manager to get you some grimoires of the Potter family as well. They you tell you the expectations for their family's heir."
Harri nodded. She and the two Malfoy's made their way to the register with Cissy telling them stories about Regulus and Sirius growing up. Harri was enthralled with them. She had never heard so much about any of her parents. They stayed with her as they got her a new trunk and school bag that had an undetectable expansion charm and a feather weight charm.
Narcissa made her change into one of her new outfits before they left Twilfitt and Tattings. She put on one of the outfits for the House of Black. She asked, "How do I look?" happily.
"Beautiful, my dear," Aunt Cissy said. "I do have a question about your glasses. They don't look like they fit your face at all. When did you get your prescription?"
"Oh, my aunt found these in a donation bin. I've never actually been to the eye doctor," Harri said with a shrug.
"And you can still catch a snitch?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Regulus had been an incredible seeker as well, so I'm not surprised. We will go get you some proper glasses," Narcissa declared and led her to an optometrist that she hadn't noticed before. She would not let her niece walk around blind.
It didn't take very long for them to get her proper glasses. It was weird for her to be able to see properly. She pointed out things she had never noticed before. She thanked Narcissa repeatedly as they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron. They got there just as Lady Longbottom came out of the fireplace.
She and Narcissa stared at each other for a moment before they both nodded. They seemed to come to some decision Harri and Draco weren't a part of.
"Did you have a good time shopping, Harri?" Augusta asked with a smile.
"Yeah! Aunt Cissy told me stories about my papa, and she helped me get glasses and a proper trunk and bag," she was so excited that someone actually cared if she had a good time.
"I also helped her pick out books to help with her lessons. If you need help with them, I'm only an owl away. I'd like to be a part of her life. I know that our families aren't in the best place given what my sister had done, and no amount of apologies could make it up to you," Narcissa said. She looked at Augusta with such dispare and hope.
"Your sister's sins aren't your own. The medwitches have told me about the research and the length you've gone to just to try and get them back. I won't keep you from Harri's life, but I want your husband nowhere near her," Augusta said firmly.
"That makes two of us. Lucius's and I's marriage was arranged and not one of love. Alice and Frank were my friends, and I was horrified of what Bella had done. I don't have the power to strip her of her place in our family. Sirius is the only one that could, but he's on the run," Narcissa said with a sigh. She looked so lost and hurt.
"Who's Bella, and what happened?" Harri whispered to Draco softly. She had no idea what was happening.
"Bellatrix Lestange is my aunt. She tortured Frank and Alice Longbottom to insanity in front of Neville a little after the war ended. She and the people who helped her are currently in Azkaban serving several life sentences," Draco explained softly. "Why don't we go pack your things?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan," Harri said. They started up the stairs, and the adults followed them on auto pilot. They were still talking about things, but it seemed to have moved on to Harri's education.
Harri unpacked her current trunk and repacked everything in her new one. Draco took her old clothes out and put them in the old trunk. "There is no way I'm letting you keep these rags when you have a proper wardrobe," he said with his nose in the air.
"But when I have to go back to the Dursely's, they will take everything but those clothes," she argued.
"Harri dear, you aren't going back there. I've gotten custody of you," Augusta said softly. She took Harri's hands and said, "You never have to go back there."
Harri hugged her and cried. She thought she would never be free from them. She thought that she would always be the freak in the cupboard. Now though? She had family that actually loved and wanted her. She couldn't wait to tell Neville they would be living together.