House Call
The train chugged along beneath a clear blue sky, racing towards Kings Cross Station. Students pushed windows open and voices filled the passing air. Everyone was excited for summer holiday to begin. Harry, Irlynn, Ron and Hermione sat in a compartment together, enjoying a large pile of sweets that Harry had insisted on buying.
"You shouldn't have gotten so much," Irlynn laughed as she barely caught the chocolate frog that had just hopped loose of the packaging. Ron just stuffed more Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in his mouth and nearly gagged.
"Honestly, Ronald. You're going to choke yourself to death," Hermione chided. Ron managed to swallow but with a grimace plastered on his face.
"No….I got vomit flavored," he rasped.
"Gross," Harry laughed. The quartet fell into companionable silence as the train continued on it course to the station.
"So what are you two doing for summer?" Harry asked.
"We're going to Egypt. It's going to be so cool," Ron answered, grinning ear to ear.
"I expect we'll visit my aunt and uncle in Whales for a week. But I will be working on doing a first read through of the texts for next term," Hermione answered.
"You work too much," Irlynn commented as the train lurched to a stop. They checked the window to see they had arrived. After gathering their belongings they all said their summer goodbyes and stepped off the train. Mrs. Weasley waited on the platform anxiously. Harry gave the woman a wave and Molly rushed over.
"Hello, Harry dear. How are you?" she asked, pulling him into a firm hug.
"Fine, Mrs. Weasley. Thanks," Harry replied. Irlynn waited while he finished saying last minute goodbyes to Fred, George and Ginny.
"Thanks for saving me," Ginny whispered in Harry's ear as he hugged her.
"Harry, come on. They're waiting!" Irlynn called as she neared the exit from the platform. Hermione had crossed through just a moment before as Harry lugged his belongings after his sister.
"Remember, we can't leave until we talk to the Dursleys."
"I know…you only told me about five times since the train stopped," she huffed.
"Just making sure you didn't forget," Harry sighed as they made their way over to Victoria and William.
"Happy summer, dears," Victoria greeted, pulling both Irlynn and Harry into a big, hug.
"Thanks Mum," the said in unison. It was getting even easier for Harry to think of the McQuillens as his family.
"Are we ready?" William asked.
"Actually…there's something I have to do first…well we do. I'd like you to meet my Aunt and Uncle," Harry replied. He led them towards the outskirts of the station where the Dursleys' stood waiting, looks of annoyance fixed on all three of their faces.
"Let's go, boy," Vernon growled.
"Actually, Uncle Vernon, I'm not coming home this summer," Harry said confidently. Vernon's eyes bulged and he had to clutch at a nearby wall to keep from falling over.
"W-what?" he stuttered.
"Well…this is Irlynn…she's my…well my sister and I'm going to live her and her parents," Harry explained. Petunia paled as she looked at Irlynn. She looked eerily like Lily and it disturbed her. Irlynn shifted beneath the woman's gaze. It was one thing to see her through Harry's eyes, kept at a distance. But now she could see why these relatives made Harry's life a living hell.
"Are you trying to trick me, boy?" Vernon spat. Harry couldn't keep from rolling his eyes.
"No. I'm not lying. She is my sister. I thought you'd be glad to be rid of me," Harry replied as calmly as he could. Petunia glanced at Vernon and pulled him away.
"What….what about the letter?" she hissed.
"Who cares, Petunia? He won't be our bloody problem anymore," Vernon replied. Petunia looked back to Harry and the McQuillens.
"Fine," she mumbled and they walked back over.
"Come on, Duddykins. Let's go home." Dudley gave Harry a sneer and waddled off behind his parents.
"Was it me or did your Aunt seem a little worried?" Irlynn whispered in Harry's ear as they headed for their car.
Back at Hogwarts, Snape was pacing back and forth in his office. He didn't want to beat them to their house. It would seem awkward and he had no desire to appear to be a possible stalker. He had no desire to be accused of such things, especially against a student. Someone must have heard his heavy treads because the door opened and McGonagall walked in.
"Severus, are you alright? You seem…anxious," she said. He looked at her and stopped pacing.
"I was not aware you could hear my pacing all the way in your office, Minerva." She gave him a small smile. She walked over to his desk and leaned against it.
"I wasn't in my office. Albus informed me about your intentions and I wanted to lend moral support." He let out a small snort of laughter and looked her in the eye.
"I don't need moral support, thank you. I am capable of this on my own."
"Just…don't be too overbearing," she reminded him before walking out. He glared after her and took the step to close the door which she had left open.
All of this was still so new to him. He didn't need anyone else trying to tell him what to do. The only person he would have even considered listening to had been dead for almost twelve years. Severus checked the clock on the wall behind his desk and let out a deep sigh. After organizing a few shelves of potions, he donned his travelling cloak and made his way off the grounds of the school.
A short time later, the McQuillens pulled off of the ferry and onto the main road. Harry kept looking around and couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity about the trees and hills. This really was his home now.
"So, how was the rest o term?" William asked as he rounded a bend in the road.
"Went ok….the Defense Professor was a bit loopy," Irlynn replied.
"Especially after Professor Snape hexed him," Harry snickered.
"What was that?" Victoria interrupted. Harry and Irlynn shared a snigger.
"Nothing, Mum," Harry answered. Irlynn caught her father smiling a little in the rearview mirror but he said nothing.
"So what are you going to do this summer?" Victoria asked as they rounded the final corner before the house.
"Maybe go swimming. Maybe we can have Ron and Hermione over?" Irlynn suggested. Harry nodded his head in agreement.
"What about your girlfriends, honey? You don't want to see them?"
"Well of course I do but I want to hang out with Harry and our friends from Hogwarts too," Irlynn retorted.
The car fell silent as they pulled into the driveway. Together, all four managed to get the two trunks and owl cages out of the boot of the car. Harry and Irlynn starting to drag their trunks into the house but both stopped.
"What are you two thinking?" William asked, seeing their shared look. It was amazing how close they'd grown in the year they'd known they were twins.
"Just…something to make it easier to get the trunks upstairs," Harry answered.
"You can't use magic at home, remember."
"But you can be in another room…you won't see it….and it's only just to get them up the stairs," Irlynn begged but William shook his head.
"Sorry. We'll help you bring them up."
Several hours later, the McQuillens were about to sit down to dinner when a loud knock came from the front door. Victoria set her knife and fork down. All eyes followed her out of the room as she headed for the front hall. She peered through the peep hole and pulled the door open. Standing on the other side of the threshold was an unfamiliar man.
"Can…I help you?" she asked. Snape cleared his throat as he surveyed the woman before him. He could hear voices inside the house.
"Mrs. McQuillen?" he managed to get out. She nodded and both heard footsteps from the dining room. Harry and Irlynn had heard the voice.
"It can't be," Irlynn hissed in his ear as they came into view. To their dismay, Professor Snape was indeed standing in the doorway.
"And you are?" Victoria asked.
"My name is Severus Snape. I teach Potions at Hogwarts. I need to speak with you and your husband. It's urgent," he explained. She looked over her shoulder at the two twelve year olds standing in the hallway.
"Will! We have a guest," Victoria called, letting Snape over the threshold. He looked over at Irlynn and Harry as he took a seat. Harry and Irlynn raced of up the stairs. There was no way they were going to stick around for whatever was about to happen. William appeared in the sitting room.
"What's going on, love?"
"This is Professor…Snape. He needs to talk to us," Victoria reiterated. William sat down next to his wife and looked at the man sitting across the room.
""Is everything alright?" Snape took another deep breath and looked them in the eye.
"There's something you need to know about your daughter."