A Star Bright (why be ashamed of your light?)
Severus ran the way to the main entrance, and didn’t find Harry on his way.
He brushed past Molly Weasley, and didn’t pay heed to her advice that Rigel be left alone, for he looked like he needed it.
He left the house and looked everywhere nearby, only to find no sign of her.
Where could she have gone?
Potter Place? Surely not with her current appearance and state. He didn't think everyone there knew of the ruse fully yet.
Then where?
Severus had done his research, when he had first set out on his search for Rigel.
The only probable place that came to mind was her apartment in the lower alleys.
Severus did his best to picture the Dogwood lane flat from his little excursion there in search of answers (of which he had received none).
And a moment later he was at the door, and a knock later the door was opened and a pair of suspicious green eyes widened.
How did she reverse the effect of long-term polyjuice?
Severus was sure she had taken that variant, for she had been in his presence for much longer than an hour without taking anything.
His confusion was overridden by sharp concern when he realised her skin was red.
"What happened?" He snapped.
"P-Master Snape?"? She was staring, something like panic in her startling eyes. "What brings you here?"
Right. She didn't know Severus knew.
"I know it's you, Rigel." He said it as gently as he could, and still she flinched.
"May I come in?"
Her lower lip wobbled, but she made way nonetheless.
"...W-When did you find out?" She said, "Why are you here, if you know?"
"I… overheard your conversation with Potter." Severus said quietly. There were a lot of unresolved feelings that were linked with the memory, both for her and him.
Her face reddened even further.
"What happened to you?" He asked, in an attempt to change the subject.
"My Disguise Dissolution." Harry said, "I haven't perfected it yet: it still leaves burns."
"And that is?"
"My copycat version of Thief's Downfall."
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, "Of course."
"Professor," She looked very uncomfortable, "Did you hear everything?"
Severus felt a faint smile across his lips, "For the most part, yes. You seem to be carrying a lot of baggage, unaware that you needn't do so."
"...What do you mean?"
"We cannot control others' actions, Harriet. What matters is how we take any vitriol they may spew."
The silence that followed these words were more comforting than cutting.
"I'm sorry." Harry said, "I must have seemed presumptuous to you, claiming you were like a father to me. I know you don't… appreciate such sentiments."
A hollow laugh escaped him, "Oh?"
"I didn't mean to drag you any deeper into this." Harry said, curling her now long hair with a finger, "I'd understand if you hate me now, knowing who I am."
"You foolish child," Severus was more than exasperated, "do you think I would be here, if I hated you?"
She blinked, and her gaze flitted to him.
"...No."
Tears were brimming her eyes.
Severus didn't know what to do. What was there to say that would comfort her in this long coming breakdown? He had never known to handle such situations.
But as he saw her sniffling and turning away from him in embarrassment, he wished he did.
"...I somehow always manage to hurt everyone." She said after a while. Her voice was thick and hoarse. "No matter my intentions, no matter how I evade people, it somehow always ends this way."
It isn’t your fault Potter is a fool.
"Did you know…When he brought me aside, he rightly accused me of being Harry and when I denied it…" She inhaled, "He asked me to touch a pendant he was wearing. It apparently recognizes Potter blood and marital bonds."
Severus could see where this was going.
Harry gave a sad hiccupping laugh, "He asked me to prove him wrong. Just like Draco with the knife. I wished I could do it, I wished I wasn't Rigel, then, just like when with Draco I wished I wasn't Harry. And it did absolutely nothing. I know I started the ruse and I deserve this, but… I can't help but feel shattered. I couldn't be Draco's friend, and I couldn't be James' daughter. Can I ever really be myself, without someone else paying for it?"
"You shouldn't have to worry about what others think if you are simply being yourself." Severus snarled, "Nothing has the right to take that away from you, R-Harry."
She looked surprised, as though it was something she hadn't known.
Severus swore to hunt down James Potter.
"He isn't a bad person, you know," she said, correctly guessing his thoughts, "He was just mad… I guess I was, too."
He could tell she didn't really believe it.
"Listen," Severus said, "If Potter can't see what a gift you are, then he is blind. You needn't hurt yourself for it. Some people just are."
"I'm not, though. A gift." Harry said, "To the Potions community, perhaps,"— here her mouth hitched —"But to them? I have given them nothing but lies and pain and danger."
"What are you talking about?" Severus was seriously considering an eye roll, "First off, responsibility doesn't work like that. If they love you, they love you as a whole, not just some part of you. And have you forgotten what I once told you? You, Harriet Potter, are not just a gift to the potions community, but to the whole world. And problems aside, your parents better damn well be proud of it."