The Other Potter

Part 9

The Other Potter

Chapter Nine

Harriet awoke to chaos in the form of her cousins; Bellatrix and Narcissa were seemingly attempting to wandlessly hex each other with just their eyes as they hissed threats and taunts almost sub vocally towards each other.

"...Needs her rest Bella! Last night was a lot for her," Narcissa argued.

"But my little star is finally taking her rightful place!"

"I know you're excited but-

"I'm more than excited, I'm elated! I always knew this would happen; I told you, the moment aunt Dorea introduced her to me, my magic sang, I just knew that she would be special, that my little Lyra would one day be great."

"Yes, yes, how could I forget; you knew from the very moment she was born-"

Harriet couldn't help but laugh at the sisters who had progressively gotten louder, she knew Bellatrix had always doted on her, she had never known why though.

"It's okay Cissa, I'm awake," she said, shaking her head as both sisters turned to her, Bellatrix looking smug while Narcissa looked fondly exasperated.

"How are you feeling today little one?" the blonde witch asked, gently sitting down on the edge of her bed while Bellatrix launched herself across it.

"I'm okay," Harriet said, leaning into the almost violent hug Bellatrix was giving her, the grip reminding her of a devil's snare trap they had studied in herbology.

"How did it go last night with your father?" Bellatrix asked, not hiding her disregard for Charlus.

She hated the man, hated his politics, his stance on magic and mostly how he treated her precious star. Oh, she knew Harriet wasn't mistreated by him, she could see that he loved her even if he had been distant in the past, but she couldn't stand the sadness his presence invoked in her littlest cousin. She hated how Harriet seemed to shrink around the man, her cousin was fierce, her magical potential great and her future bright, yet whenever Charlus was around that potential seemed to dim. He didn't see the star that his daughter was, didn't understand her nor did he try to- he loved her because she was his daughter, but he didn't love her for herself, it was for that reason why Bellatrix hated him. Lyra deserved better than to be treated like a passing thought and second best to James Potter.

Harriet sighed, "for all that I am grateful and honoured by uncles decision, I'm..." Harriet paused, she was scared, not of the responsibility of being an heir, but of what it would do to her family; she loved her father, and even James, for all of his faults, he was her brother... she didn't want to fight against them nor did she want to be branded a traitor to them, which based on what she could see would be inevitable. Still, she didn't know how to voice these fears, "...I don't want to choose between you all. I know that one day I will have to, but if I could, I would push that day back as far as possible."

Narcissa nodded in understanding and empathy, "you will always have us darling; we are here for you no matter what."

Bellatrix signed and released her hug slightly, turning It into something softer "I don't understand your hesitation," she said, tightening her hold momentarily when she felt the younger girl stiffen, "but, like Cissy said, you will always have us. If you father cannot see you for what you are, cannot see your value, then he isn't worthy of being called your father."

Harriet was overwhelmed by their promises, feeling in their very magic the strength behind their words and their conviction.

"Always?" she whispered.