Chapter 4

As he took his seat, Albus Dumbledore said, "Thank you."

The headmaster waited for his two students to sit down before he began explaining.

"First, I want to tell you how I know it's Harriet Potter that is at the school, as much of what I have to say is...somewhat hard to believe." He paused briefly, as the two men looked at each other before returning their attention to him. "I don't know how closely you follow current events, but last night was the drawing for champions of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. After the three champions were chosen, the Goblet of Fire spat out a fourth name...Harriet Potter."

"SON OF A BTCH!" Sirius yelled standing from his chair, and kicking the stool next to it across the room.

Remus' reaction was much calmer than his friends. He was still angry, but there was nothing he could do if things were as he feared they were. "You used the Goblet to summon her her, didn't you?"

His former headmaster sighed, and admitted, "I didn't have much choice. Once her name was drawn...there was nothing I could do. But that is also how I know this woman is our Harriet Potter, and not a non-magical that shares the same name. You may or may not know this, I'm not going to assume you do however, but magic is greatly varied. Some magic requires emotion, some intent, some structure, still other magic is wild and unpredictable. The Goblet of Fire, is an intent based object. Despite the fact that someone had to have tampered with it for a fourth name to be drawn, the way the Goblet works simply can't be changed without damaging it irreversibly. Considering the danger of the tournament, Harriet's own fame, and the amount of Voldemort's followers that escaped justice...I can see no other logical conclusion that the young woman the Goblet summoned is Harriet, as I can think of no other Harriet Potter anyone in our world would want to summon. A heritage test would confirm my theory, however, due to the nature of her being summoned and a lack of any real trust, I have not brought up the subject with her yet. That said...I believe my assumptions to be accurate enough that I am confident that the young woman is indeed Harriet.

"I can't argue with your logic Albus," Sirius growled out, getting his temper somewhat under control. "But that doesn't change the fact that my fourteen year old goddaughter is now entered into a tournament that is dangerous for fully trained adult witches and wizards."

"Not exactly."

At the Headmaster's words, Sirius turned back to face the elderly wizard while Remus merely quirked an eyebrow.

"Harriet...grew up in, literally, a different world. I haven't asked specifics, for the same reason I haven't brought up the subject of a heritage test, but time apparently travels differently there. While I do not know her specific age, she is not fourteen...she is an adult."

There was silence for a moment, as the two younger wizards tried to digest that information, and their elder allowed them that time.

"How old is she?" Sirius finally asked, softly.

"While I have not asked her, certainly older than twenty-five, but no older than forty."

The head of the Black family collapsed back into his chair. "We missed her whole childhood then?"

"Yes," Albus confirmed.

Silence once more descended upon the three men.

It was Remus who broke it.

"Is...Is there anything more you can tell us about her?"

"She does not go by the name Harriet Potter. She told me she was adopted, so it is somewhat understandable. She answers to Summer Rose. Her eyes are not the green they were in her youth, they are gray, silvery in fact. And while I don't know for sure what she does with her life, I do know that she has the skill to disappear from Hogwarts without a trace, only to reappear and infiltrate my office with the same level of stealth. She has also implied knowledge in investigation and crafting, though I haven't seen it for myself."

"And your just digging for information aren't you?" Sirius snarled.

"Sirius," Remus rebuked.

Dumbledore grimaced. "I can understand you're anger Sirius...but she does not trust me. She has told me that herself. If she felt she had any other choice, I doubt she would still be at Hogwarts. Digging into her life is not the way to build trust. As much as I want answers myself, I d not have any real right to them, and neither do you two," he added, giving Sirius a pointed look. "I would rather try and keep her alive, than drive her away just to sate my own curiosity."

"We understand...Don't we Sirius?" Remus gave his friend a pointed look.

Sirius gave both men dark looks, before sighing. Rubbing a hand through his hair, he sat back in his chair. "Yeah." A heartbeat later he asked, "So what are you doing to keep her alive?"

"Summer," Dumbledore ignored Sirius glower at the name, "does not actually know any magic. And she is too old to join my students in class. She needs tutors to educate her. I was hoping that you would both be willing."

For the first time since Albus had silenced the two men from their initial outburst, Sirius smiled. "I'm in."

Remus, however, was a bit more hesitant. "Does she know what I am?" he asked the Headmaster.

"I felt that that information was your right to give to her...or not," Albus informed him. "I admit that I do not know her well enough to even guess as to how she would react to that information. Though, having grown up in a different world, she may not even know what a werewolf is."

"Then I'm in as well."

"In that case, may I suggest that you come to Hogwarts after breakfast...or even for breakfast. I will introduce you to Summer, and the two of you may escort her to Diagon Alley for a wand and other supplies you feel she needs...you could also take her to Gringotts."

Sirius eyes lit up. He chuckled lightly and said, "I thought you said a heritage test would break her trust?"

"If I asked for it," Albus admitted, standing from his seat. "I have no real reason for it, and no reason for her to believe I haven't tricked her. However if the goblins do it, and she is indeed Harriet Potter, she gains access to the Potter vaults. And no one gives someone access to a large pile of gold if it's a trick...especially not the goblins. Now if you two will excuse me, it is rather late and all three of us will need to get up early tomorrow."

With that, the elderly wizard left his two former students alone, as he made his way back to the houses hearth s that he could floo back to Hogwarts.

Once Albus was gone, Sirius called, "Mira."

The house-elf, who had been standing to the side since escorting Albus to the room, stepped forward and asked, "Yes Master?"

"Bring us each a glass of fire-whiskey," Sirius ordered.

"Yes Master," the elf said, before leaving the room.

"Are you sure it's wise to be drinking?" his friend asked. "We have to get up early to be at Hogwarts for breakfast."

"We just found out Harriet is a grown-ass woman," Sirius muttered, somewhat angrily, "that we failed her. I'd say we earned this drink...besides, one glass won't hurt us." He snorted lightly. "Though I'll admit, if we didn't have to get up so early, I'd tell Mira to bring us each a bottle."

00000000000000000000000000000000

Having resigned herself to her current lodgings for the foreseeable future, Summer decided to take the opportunity to use the bathroom attached to her suite and shower.

Luckily, the attached bathroom wasn't really any different than what she was used to.

Her first step was stripping out of her clothes, and then washing them in the sink. It wasn't the greatest method of cleaning, but it was a method she frequently had to use in the field, albeit in a river or lake. Once she was done, she hung them up, knowing they wouldn't be fully dried by the time she was done with her shower...but, and she often teased Qrow about this, she had an advantage he didn't. She could run fast enough to, effectively, blow-dry her clothes.

Though she was going to wait until after her shower for that though.

Stepping into the shower, she let out a sigh.

When away from home, warm water was truly a luxury.

00000000000000000000000000000000

After showering, dressing, and doing a few super-fast laps around her room to dry her clothes, Summer exited her room.

The schools headmaster was waiting for her.

"Good morning Headmaster," she greeted, with a slight grin. "Decided to keep me from running off this morning I see."

The elderly man chuckled lightly at her joke. "Considering that there are people I plan to introduce to you this morning, it seemed prudent to catch you before you ran off as you did yesterday."

"And who am I being introduced to?"

"The schools staff for one," Albus admitted. "Since you will be staying here, it seems prudent that, at the very least, you know who the staff is should you encounter them. I have also found you tutors for your magical studies."

"That was fast."

Smiling, and gesturing for them to walk, the elderly wizard explained, "I was fortunate that my first choice of tutors accepted." As the pair began to walk to the Great Hall, he continued, "There are two of them you see. However, I feel I must warn you that they likely have motives beyond just teaching you to use magic. Both men will want to get to know you."

"I'm happily married Headmaster."

"Really?" the Headmaster asked, somewhat surprised. "I would like to ask about your husband, but you needn't worry," he assured her. "The reason they both wish to get to know you is that, had you remained in our world after your parent's deaths, they would be the ones raising you. Sirius Black is your godfather, and was your parents best friend. And Remus Lupin was also a close friend of your parents. Due to circumstances beyond each mans control, neither was able to gain immediate custody of you after your parents died. Once it was discovered you had disappeared, both men have been searching for you since."

"You're assuming I am in fact Harriet Potter," Summer pointed out.

"I have no doubt you are, even if I have no actual proof. Aside from your hair and eye color, you greatly resemble Lily Potter, and I can even see a bit of James Potter in you. And the nature of your arrival here only adds to my convictions." He grinned lightly, "Besides, I believe that we will both get the proof we need of your identity today."

"How so?" the Huntress asked, giving the Headmaster an odd look.

"Sirius and Remus are going to take you to Diagon Alley, so that you may purchase a wand, which is an essential piece of equipment for learning magic. To pay for that, they are likely going to stop at Gringotts Bank, which is run by goblins. They have a method of proving your identity. And if you are indeed Harriet Potter, they will grant you access to the Potter Family vaults."

"Alright," Summer conceded. "I just have two questions."

"Yes?"

"What are goblins, exactly? And what do you mean by Potter vaults?"

"Goblins are a race separate from mankind. They are shorter than humans, but they are also quite fierce and intelligent. Wizard-kind often looks down upon them, though I believe that to be most unwise considering they run the only bank used only by wizards, and the majority of wizards deal exclusively with them. As for what I mean by Potter vaults, old families in our society, like the Potters, often keep multiple vaults at Gringotts, if they can afford it. Usually they keep one for their primary wealth, and then the head of the family often sets up vaults for the various members of the family, into which they place an allowance of some sort. These additional vaults are often closed when a family member dies, is cast out of the family, or marries into another. However, as your father was the last Head of the Potter family, no one has authorized vault closures. So it is likely that there are at least two vaults open in addition to the main vault, one for you, and one for your late mother. Your father may have even opened additional vaults for various purposes."

"I suppose the matter will be put to rest one way or another then. However, just suppose I'm not, Harriet Potter, then what?"

Albus sighed. "If that should come to pass...I don't know. You were selected to compete in the Tri-Wizard tournament by the Goblet of Fire, which identified you as Harriet Potter. If the Goblet selected you, when you are not Harriet Potter...I fear you will still be forced to compete."

"I see."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have asked the house elves if there is a workshop in the castle you can use?"

"You don't know if there is one? And what's a house elf?"

"I forget that you do not possess knowledge of things common-place to myself and other magicals," Albus admitted. "House elves are another race. They are...servants, for lack of a better term. In exchange for working for a magical family, or another large group of magicals such as this school, they receive magic of their own. It's a symbiotic relationship for them...though it can be abused all to easily. They are the ones responsible for cleaning the castle, cooking meals, and maintaining the grounds. They know this school better than anyone else...even me. Despite my years here, as a student, teacher, and headmaster, Hogwarts has many secrets, and still surprises even me."

"In fact," he continued, "the room they told me about is one of those surprises. The call it the come-and-go room, or the Room of Requirement. It can, apparently, become anything depending upon the need of whomever finds it. Perhaps, after we eat and I've introduced you to everyone, we can take a quick detour to examine the room. If it has what you need, you could then purchase the materials you need while you're out with Sirius and Remus."

"Again, you assume I'm Harriet Potter."

By this point, the two had reached the doors of the Great Hall. Albus turned and smiled at her, and Summer could swear his eyes were twinkling. "I have no doubt that you are. Though if I am wrong, I will provide you with the materials you need for both learning magic and your project myself."

Summer smiled back at the Headmaster. "In that case, what's for breakfast?"

The elderly wizard gestured through the doors to the Great Hall, where a few students were already seated, along with two of the staff, a large man, bigger than any other Summer had ever seen, and a woman wearing rather grungy clothes. "Shall we find out?" he inquired.

Leading her up to the head table, the Headmaster greeted the two other staff members already seated. "Good morning Hagrid, Pomona. I trust you both slept well?"

"Sure did 'eadmaster," the large man replied.

"I did as well Albus," the woman answered next.

"Summer," Albus began, turning back to the Huntress, "This is Rebeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts as well as our Care of Magical Creatures Professor, and this is Pomona Sprout, our Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff House," he introduced, gesturing to each in turn. "Pomona, Hagrid, I'm sure you haven't forgotten who this is, however she prefers to go by Summer Rose."

Hagrid stood up, revealing he was even taller than Rose had thought. Smiling through his thick beard, Rose thought he had a rather kind face, despite his large size. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Rose," he greeted holding out a hand for her to shake. When Summer returned the gesture, his hand completely dwarfed her own. "I knew your parents...fine people they was. If you ever need a relaxing cup o' tea, you're more than welcome to visit my hut."

"Thank you for the offer Mr. Hagrid."

The large man waved her off. "You don' need to be callin' me Mister, Hagrid's fine...Everyone just calls me Hagrid."

"I'll try and remember that," Summer assured him, before turning to the woman.

"It my pleasure as well to meet you," Sprout greeted with a smile.

"Thank you," Summer responded.

"Now that introductions are done, for now, I believe it's time for breakfast," Albus said happily.

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Once more, Sorry for the wait.

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