The first week of his school break, or as Ashley called it, summer vacation, was incredible. (Except for Minister Fudge trying to accuse him of murder, something that was swiftly disproven.) For once Harry had all the food he wanted, freedom, a huge room. The Dursleys were no longer his guardians. Ashley Katrina Hood was. And Harry Potter loved every minute of it.
The second week though Harry started to notice things. Ashley had stopped listening to music, not even the muggle parody artist, “Weird” Al Yankovic. She didn’t seem entirely happy either. She didn’t hum. It reminded him too much of their horrid school year when a magic draining vampire had taken control of her. Except her Heart Charm was now a part of her, used to free her from being a living statue when she thrown herself in front of the curse for Harry.
There was a scar on her cheek now, like that of a crack in stone, because of that. When Lord Voldermort had turned her to stone she had fallen and a split had formed in her right cheek, from the corner of her mouth all the way up to just before her ear. Now a delicate pink scar ran along her face. Harry often thought of his own scar when he saw her’s. At least his was faded with age, more flesh toned. Ashley’s stood out on her pale pink face like a sore thumb. Yet she never tried to hide it with makeup. Though she had developed a nervous habit of rubbing it when upset or scared.
Harry wrote to Ron and Hermione about this. Ron said that there was nothing to worry about, she’d be back to her old self in no time. Hermione suggested a number of books for Harry to read and maybe writing Dumbledore or talking to the butler, Jenkins.
Harry did neither. Instead he decided to confront Ashley about it, but no matter how he tried she wouldn’t talk about it.
“Harry, we have other things to worry about.” She’d said.
Other things meaning Lord Voldermort who was now after both of them. Harry for living and constantly thwarting his plans and Ashley for jumping in front of the spell meant for Harry. Also because she was a Siren, meaning she could attract people to her by singing. Control them. Even without her Heart Charm which protected Sirens, as long as they wore it, from Unforgivables, and allowed those that took it from them by force to control the Siren, Voldermort could still find a way to control Ashley, to make her sing for him. And now that her Heart Charm was part of her she was no longer fully invulnerable to Unforgivables either. Rather she’d get half the affect, and each time one was cast on her the weaker she’d get until she was as vulnerable as anyone anyway.
Still, living with Ashley was fun. She took Harry to her largest estate which was magically protected against muggles. It was huge. Every day they went out and practiced their broom flying. Hidden so from muggles they could work on their Quidditch. Ashley was not only going to be the oldest 2nd year at 27, but the oldest Beater as well. Still, she wasn’t very comfortable with flying. Sometimes she fell off. Which is why Harry forced her to practice for three hours a day.
It was during one of these practices that the event happened. A river ran thru Ashley’s land though it had a spell on it so muggles boating down it would never remember this stretch of the river. However it wasn’t a boat that they saw but rather a body.
“Wingardium Leviosa!” Ashley called out, levitating the body out of the river and onto the shore, laying it gently down. She jumped off her broom. “Harry, go get Jenkins!” She shouted even as she rolled the body over.
Harry didn’t wait around to see who it was. Instead he rushed off on his Firebolt. “Jenkins!” He called out for the wizard butler. While he got Jenkins Ashley had turned the man over, pushing the water from his lungs, then flipped him over again. After checking if he was breathing and if his heart was beating she began CPR. Four breaths, 15 compressions, she kept this up for about 2 minutes and checked again. Then she tried again. Turning him on his side as he vomited up water. Halfway thru the breathing part he suddenly coughed right into Ashley’s mouth, spewing a little more water and some bile. Ashley jerked back and spat to the side. He gasped and breathed on his own just as Jenkins, led by Harry, appeared.
Ashley was just helping the man sit up and breath when Harry laid eyes on the drowning victim for the first time.
“Professor Lupin!” The young man cried out. Recognizing instantly the best Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher he ever had - and one of his late father’s best friends.
“Hello, Harry,” Lupin said weakly as he leaned against Ashley.
Ashley for her part shushed him. “You can greet each other later. Jenkins, summon some Elves to get Mr. Lupin back to the house and set him up in the guest bedroom.”
Jenkins obeyed Ashley wordlessly. Soon about 20 house Elves had appeared and soon disappeared with Lupin. Ashley and Harry followed Jenkins back on their brooms. As soon as they were inside Ashley turned to Harry.
“Lupin is the werewolf you told me about, right?” As he nodded she continued. “Write Dumbledore, tell him what’s happened and ask him to send the recipe for the potion Lupin needs to drink. Jenkins, write the Weasleys, we’ll need Molly here too. Send Erik to them.”
Jenkins nodded and went to carry out the order, Harry wondered what Molly Weasley could possibly do but went to write Dumbledore. One thing was certain, they would need that potion.
He just hoped that the potion wouldn’t come with Severus Snape attached.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hello, Mr. Potter,” the greasy haired, crooked teeth professor of potions said as Harry opened the door to him. Sweeping by the young man Snape continued. “Where is he?”
“Upstairs in the guest bedroom.” Harry answered, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he looked at Snape.
“And Miss Hood?” Snape’s sneer softened a bit as he asked about Harry’s guardian. His beetle black eyes cooling a bit.
“She’s sitting with him.” Harry replied and was shocked at the look of anger and - well, jealousy - that filled Snape’s pale face. “This way,” Harry said, leading Snape up the stairs.
“I thought I had died when I first saw you,” Lupin was saying as Harry and Snape approached the open door, “for I was certain I was looking at an angel.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Remus,” Ashley replied with a chuckle. “Now stop trying to flirt and get some rest, dang it. Or do I have to handcuff you to the bed?”
Harry was just entering the room as Lupin replied, “Well, I’d prefer the other way aro.... Oh, Harry - Severus.” Lupin had looked embarrassed when Harry walked in and surprised when he saw who was behind him.
“Professor Snape!” Ashley exclaimed, a bright red flush in her cheeks, making her scar stand out all the more vividly. “I didn’t expect you.”
“This is a very complicated potion, Miss Hood, not to be attempted by a student without proper instruction.” He held out his long thin hand to her. “Come, we have much work to do if I’m to show you how to do this.”
“Her?” Lupin asked, pushing himself further up in bed. “Certainly Harry -”
“No,” Snape snapped. “Miss Hood, despite being a Gryffindor, is the best potions student I have ever had the - pleasure - of teaching. She will be learning the potion. Come, Miss Hood.” He still held out his hand, and seemed to grin triumphantly as Ashley took it. Harry felt his stomach sink even farther as Snape swept her out of the room, covering her with his long black cloak as he placed an arm uncharacteristically around her shoulders.
“Harry,” Lupin said, sinking weakly back into the pillows, “you have a lot to fill me in on.”
“What about you?” Harry countered. “How did you end up drowning in the river?”
Remus Lupin shook his head. “No, Harry, I can’t tell you that. Not yet. But you can tell me all about what’s been happening with you and at Hogwarts since I left.”
Knowing he wouldn’t get the story out of Lupin anytime soon Harry took a deep breath and began his story instead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Do you have to put your arm around me so possessively?” Ashley asked, shrugging Snape’s arm off. The adult Gryffindor tried to free her hand from Snape’s as she had freed her shoulders from his arm but he replaced the arm and held tight to her hand. “Let go of me, would you? You don’t own me!”
“No,” Snape replied with a sneer, “but you did ruin all of Dumbledore’s and my plans by forcing me to go against Voldermort when I was suppose to be spying on him. For that you owe me, Miss Hood. You owe the world.”
Ashley ripped away, slamming open the door to her dungeons. “I won’t be controlled by you! Or anyone ever again!” Tears sprung to her eyes. “Stop this, Snape, just stop this.” Backing up as he approached her, forcing her deeper back into the dungeons. She walked the entire set of stairs backwards, Snape forcing her back with every menacing step. Her pulse fluttered in her throat. Snape reached out and Ashley flinched, his hand paused as she did so, then continued, resting gently first on her fluttering pulse in the right side of her neck, then slowly moving upwards until he cupped her scared cheek. He ran his thumb up and down the part of the scar closest to her mouth and slowly leaned forward until their lips were barely touching, Ashley couldn’t tear her eyes from his.
“I don’t want to control or own you, Ashley,” he whispered, acting like if he’d kiss her, but never letting their lips touch. “I only wish for you to understand you’ve ruined everything. And for that I intend to punish you.” He released her cheek, pushing her face from his as he did so. Running his hands briefly along his robes, he pushed past her. “Come, we have much work to do.” His cape fluttering behind him like the wings of a giant bat, Snape walked to the waiting caldron and quickly started a fire.
Taking a shaky breath, Ashley followed after Snape. “Jerk,” she muttered under her breath, longing to say it to his face.
“I heard that, Miss Hood.” Snape replied as he began to fill the caldron with water. He gave Ashley instructions. “So, Miss Hood,” the potions master sneered, “how goes the singing? Still leading people to their doom?”
Ashley had been slicing up mandrake root. Glad it was long since dead and dried for to her there was always something creepy about slicing up something that looked so much like a man. However Snape’s question caused her to mess up and slice open her thumb. She quickly went to the shelf, thumb in her mouth, and grabbed some healing potion. Fumbling with the cork until Snape came over and pulled it out for her. He took her hand and stared with wide eyes at the oozing wound. Heaving a huge sigh he poured the healing potion over it and both of them watched it close.
“I haven’t sung since that night.” Ashley whispered, looking at her hand, still in Snape’s grip.
Snape’s hand released her’s and instead he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Repeat that, please.” He hissed.
“I - I haven’t sung since that night.” The adult managed to gasp out thru Snape’s grip, even though he wasn’t strangling her, rather just - stroking her throat with his long fingers. “I can’t.”
Snape snarled, “If you don’t sing you will eventually wither and die. Do you want that? Do you?”
“No.” Ashley whimpered, gasping as Snape suddenly released her. “Why are you being so abusive?” Even though she knew he really wasn’t. Rather - he seemed - concerned.
Snape whirled away and stalked to the caldron. “Sing the instructions, Miss Hood.” He said. “Don’t just stand there, sing the instructions, now!”
Returning to the mandrake root and picking up the knife, Ashley began to sing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly Weasley had come, though Harry still didn’t understand why she was there. But she took over the household and was currently forcing some hot soup and tea down Lupin’s throat. Harry just sat back and watched as a grown man was mothered.
Snape entered with a goblet full of steaming potion, followed by Ashley who looked pale, but better all the same. As if she had been revitalized somehow. She seemed to skip into the room. “Hi Molly!” She greeted the other adult. “Glad you could make it. Oh Remus you look better already, I knew Molly’s soup would perk you up.”
Saying nothing, Snape shoved the potion at Lupin who took it with a smile. He held it up as if toasting Ashley and said, “It wasn’t the soup, it was the thought of seeing you again, Lady Hood.” He winked and drained the goblet of potion.
Ashley blushed and Snape glowered. Harry wondered why Snape looked so upset. It couldn’t just be the presence of Lupin. It was something else.
Harry didn’t get a chance to ponder it more as Molly shooed them all out. “This man needs his rest.” The redheaded woman said as she pushed them all out. Even Snape couldn’t resist Molly’s gentle shove. “Get going, all of you. Ashley, I’d like to speak to your privately.”
Nodding, Ashley walked towards what Harry knew was the library. The two women leaving him alone with Snape. The potions master for once wasn’t glowering at Harry but rather the two women.
“Shall I see you out, Professor Snape?” Harry asked, having taken on the role of man of the house since the first day he had stepped into the place.
Snape turned on Harry now, his eyes boring into the green eyes of the young man before him. “No, you can show me to my room. I will be staying until after the full moon to make sure that the potion works. Dumbledore’s orders. My luggage will arrive later.”
There was that sinking feeling again. The next full moon was nearly a month away. Snape would be here, glaring at Harry, glowering at Ashley. Harry wondered if Mrs. Weasley might let him go back with her to the Burrow. Talking to a House Elf, Harry had the little fellow show Snape to another guestroom.
That was one thing about Ashley - she treated her House Elves differently then anyone else did. She gave them all uniforms. All the male Elves wore blue handkerchiefs with their names embroidered on them. All the females wore pink dishtowels, also with their names on them. She had found a way around their desire to not take time off by telling them it would make her happy if they each took a day off during the week. She used the same argument to get them to accept weekly pay. She had told them, “I’m from America where this situation would be viewed, at least by muggles, as slavery. It would hurt me greatly to feel like I’m treating you like slaves.” Hermione had been there during that speech and grudgingly agreed that Ashley was doing the right thing. Harry was just relieved that Hermione didn’t go into her SPEW spiel.
After seeing that Snape had his room, Harry wondered what Mrs. Weasley and Ashley were talking about. He slipped into his room and donned his invisibility cloak. Now hidden from view, he slipped out, avoiding the House Elves as he slide along the walls, stepping carefully and quietly. He had found a secret passage that went behind the library and even had a spy hole. It had a mirror so one could watch the entire room except for the wall where the hole was located and a way of listening in that reminded him a bit of a tv with the volume turned slightly louder then it should be. Touching a soft spot on the wall of the hallway, the passage opened just enough for him to slip thru, it closed swiftly behind him.
Now Harry took the cloak off his head and walked down the hall until he got behind the library. He looked up at the mirror, Ashley was sitting in a chair across from Mrs. Weasley, both were sipping cups of tea.
“Alright, Molly,” Ashley said, putting her cup down. “We’ve beaten around the bush long enough. What is it that you want to lecture me about?”
Molly put down her own tea. “Not lecture, question. I want to know how you talked Dumbledore into letting you take Harry from the Dursleys. You’re not fully trained in magic and already had one run in with You-know-who that almost killed you.”
“Voldermort. Call him Voldermort. When you call him anything else you’re giving him power over you.” Ashley said, “Don’t flinch like that, Molly.”
“You don’t know what it was like, living in fear.” Molly replied. “You call him by his name if you must but I prefer not to befoul my mouth with it.”
“Fine.” Ashley said, looking angry. “Alright, you want to know why I have custody of Harry - instead of you - don’t look at me like that I knew that’s what you really wanted to know.” Standing, Ashley began to pace, rubbing her scared cheek. “Snape was suppose to worm his way back into Voldermort’s good graces and spy on him, help develop a plan against him. When I summoned him to save Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself I destroyed that plan. Dumbledore was really mad about that. Now they have no reliable spy.” She rubbed harder, fidgeting. “But something else happened. You know how nothing ever happened to Harry when he was with the Dursleys? He was protected by both the magic of blood family and a secret keeper. Now the secret keeper is missing. Since Harry did the blood bond with me I’m now blood family. Harry doesn’t know of course but Dumbledore decided the proper “punishment” was to make me care for Harry. I’m to keep him safe. Which is the real reason I called you here, once I saw Lupin and realized who he was I knew we wouldn’t be safe without a secret keeper.”
“What made you come to that thought?” Molly asked, the look on her face a mix of curiosity and fear.
Ashley sat back down, draining her tea with one quick toss of her head. “Lupin - here, on land that’s suppose to be protected to keep all uninvited out. Lupin, dead when I found him. Barely brought him back. Which means he was pushed in not far from here. Far enough away for him to drown, but close enough that I could bring him back with muggle means.” Ashley sighed. “There’s danger nearby. I need a secret keeper now. I need you are Arthur to help me protect Harry.”
Molly nodded. “I’ll talk to Arthur but I’m sure he’ll agree. I’m honored you thought of us.”
“You’ll come and visit, won’t you? Bring the kids. Even Charley and Bill? Hermione’s going to stay a few weeks with us to prepare me for my second year. Harry could use kids his own age around. And this house, well, even with Harry and Jenkins and the Elves it gets so big and lonely.... I’m not use to it. I’m use to someone always being around.”
“Of course we’ll visit. I’ll go write Arthur tonight and tell him to bring everyone right over. He can get to the Ministry from here just as easily as from the Burrow with a little Floo Powder.”
“We have plenty.” Ashley said. “You can use Erik or you can use whatever other means you have to contact him. Thanks, Molly,” the adult said. “I appreciate this.”
“Well,” Molly said, “with that disagreeable Snape staying here you need all the moral support you can get.”
Harry watched all this. So caring for him wasn’t Ashley’s idea, Dumbledore had put him in her care as a punishment. He didn’t notice the bitter tears on his cheeks. Feeling betrayed, he started down the secret passage which ended in a bathroom. Unable to reconcile the thought of caring for him as a punishment for the woman who had nearly died for him. Did Ashley see this as a punishment? Did she look at Harry and regret the plan she ruined with one rash thought? Then why was she always so loving? Caring? Maybe she didn’t see it as a punishment at all. Even though she was in mortal danger - but then again she thwarted Voldermort’s plans so she would’ve been in mortal danger anyway.
Slipping into the bathroom, Harry decided to just forget it. He knew Ashley loved him like a brother like he loved her like a sister. She always treated him with respect and listened to him. And besides, they were family now. And family should stick together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next month was a mix of sweet and sour. The sweet for Harry was having his friends and Lupin in the house. Stealing kisses from Ginny when he got the chance. Ron caught them once but this time he didn’t beat Harry up for it, though he didn’t look happy either. All of the kids got together to give Ashley flying lessons. Only Harry had the Firebolt but Ashley “loaned” everyone some Nimbuses. She revealed to Harry she planned on them secretly finding their way back to their houses. Ron was still upset with Ashley for secretly buying him brand new robes but Ashley insisted on spending her money on people. Harry knew she’d charm her way about the brooms though Ron might never forgive her.
Snape was the sour. Whenever he could he was making snide remarks about everyone and everything. Especially once Lupin was up and around. Lupin spent a lot of time talking to Ashley, flirting with her. Snape would sneer and do whatever he could to break them apart. Often forcing Ashley down into the dungeons to make potions with him.
However Ashley started singing again. Without using her Siren powers. Not a single person fell into a trance when she sang, unless one counted the trance anyone would fall into when hearing something so beautiful as Ashley singing. Lupin seemed in a trance of another kind though. Harry liked it, if Lupin and Ashley fell in love they might marry and Harry could live with one of his parents’ friends as his guardian. Not the same as having his real parents, but it would be the next best thing, he decided. Except Snape also seemed to be in a trance of his own. One of jealousy and hatred.
“He’s in love with her,” Ron said, unwrapping a chocolate frog. “I heard my ma say to my da last night.”
“Don’t be silly,” Hermione said, “I don’t think Snape is capable of love.” She still hadn’t forgiven the potions master for saying he saw no difference when her teeth had been enlarged by a wayward spell. Even though her teeth were now “normal” size.
Ron popped the chocolate frog in his mouth and checked the card. “Dumbledore again!” He said in disappointment. “I must have a million of these.”
Harry chuckled softly. Ron was always getting Dumbledore cards it seemed. “Hermione’s right. Snape just hates Lupin. He’s not in love with Ashley.”
“I would be careful, Mr. Potter,” Snape said, suddenly appearing behind the three teenagers, “what you say a person does and does not feel.” His beetle-black eyes glared at each in turn. “Tonight is the full moon. You will all be confined in a special room I have set up with wolvesbane and silver incase the potion did not work.”
“You’re suppose to be the greatest potions master in the world,” Harry challenged. “And you said Ashley is your best student. How could it not work?”
“Don’t question me, Mr. Potter, just go to the room when ordered.” With that Snape left the room.
Thankfully the night was uneventful. Lupin didn’t change and the next morning after making sure there was plenty of potion in the house, Snape left. Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief, especially Ashley.
“I just wish I didn’t have to see him when school starts again.” The American said.
“Me too!” Chimed in Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eventually the Weasleys and Hermione went home, but Harry often went to visit them. The Weasleys he was allowed to spend the night but the Grangers he could only spend a few hours. Ashley always worried when he went to visit Hermione with her muggle parents. She always seemed so relieved when he returned. Especially since he refused to carry a cellphone. Though he understood Ashley’s reasoning Harry didn’t want to be checked up on constantly. Especially by muggle means. Besides that he remembered how she had said Dumbledore had made her take care of him as a punishment and part of him wanted to punish her for that, even though she didn’t know he knew.
Breaks must come to an end though and Harry soon found himself and his friends in Diagon Alley, buying school supplies. He held hands with Ginny on the sly in the bookstore. Until Ron stopped getting so upset they decided it was best they didn’t officially start dating. Ginny seemed especially apprehensive about it.
“I wonder who are new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher will be.” Ginny said as they started picking up copies of the required DAtDA books. These ones looked especially menacing with vampires, ghouls, and other beasts on the covers. There was two books of curses and poisons too. There were more books for a course that could never keep a teacher for more then a year then any other class.
“Well, it’s not Lockhart, that’s for sure,” Hermione said. “Not a single picture of him in the entire book.”
“I heard this year it’s going to be a woman.” Ron said.
Ashley shook her head. “That was suppose to be last year, but something happened to her and we got O’Connell instead.” The adult shuddered, remembering how O’Connell had controlled her and tried to use to destroy her friends. “I heard this year it’s suppose to be a ghost.”
As all of them paid for their books and walked out of the store, Ron said, “I hope it’s not Binns then. He makes everything so boring!”
“I kn-” Ashley began when suddenly she ran into something. Or rather someone. “Oh, sorry.... Mr. Malfoy.” The adult said, her voice changing from apologetic to disgusted as she looked up at Lucious Malfoy.
“You should watch where you’re going, Miss Hood.” Lucious Malfoy drawled as he looked down in disgust at the shorter adult. “Someone of your - heft - could do some serious damage.”
“Yes, well,” Ashley said, straightening her clothing, “you should watch too, Mr. Malfoy. You never know what diseases you might give people when you touch them.” Her insult was not so well worded but made Malfoy mad all the same judging by his red face and the vein thumping in his forehead. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have better things to do then to loiter about with trash.”
“Then what are you doing with two Weasleys and a mudblood?” Malfoy retorted. Boy did he regret that for suddenly Ashley just “happened” to drop a heavy caldron on his foot.
“Oops. So sorry.” The adult said, not sorry at all judging by her grin. “Well, Mr. Malfoy, have a nice day. Oh, and any one Weasley or muggle born wizard or witch is worth 50 of you. Have a nice day.” With that Ashley swept everyone away. Ron chuckled, suddenly forgiving Ashley for giving him new robes and the Nimbus.
Hermione quickly piped up as they left Malfoy behind, “Ashley, you shouldn’t do things like that. You could get into serious trouble.”
“Hermione,” Ashley said, “I’m already in serious trouble. First I sent Mr. Malfoy thru a window then I thwarted Voldermort.” The blond rolled her eyes as a witch who over heard her gasped and swooned. “I can’t get into much more trouble then that.”
“Ashley,” Ginny said, looking pale and shaken, “please don’t use that name.”
Ashley squeezed Ginny’s shoulder. “Ginny, I know it bothers you, but if you don’t call him by name then you give him more power, more control, over you.” The adult sounded so much like Dumbledore at the moment. “Do you really want that?”
The youngest Weasley stood there for a moment. “I just mean,” she said, suddenly grinning, “I prefer it when you call him Moldy Voldy!”
Laughing, everyone went on to continue their shopping. Never noticing the beady pair of eyes that watched them....
(Home
Page 2)