Ancient Magician (Severus x Reader)

Chapter 13: The Potters

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𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟏𝟑:𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

"𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔, 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔"

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Harry and I continued on foot through the quiet village of Godric's Hollow, the late afternoon light casting long, golden shadows on the cobbled path. He told me his family's house wasn't right in the centre — it was tucked a bit further out, up north. I didn't mind the walk. In truth, it gave me time to breathe, to think, to take in the air of a place that somehow felt like the past and present colliding.

When we finally reached the house, I wasn't sure what I'd expected — but it certainly wasn't this. The moment I stepped inside, I was stopped in my tracks by a large portrait hanging near the entrance. Six figures were gathered close together in the painting, their faces warm, their postures relaxed and affectionate. At the very front of the group sat a baby, round-faced and wide-eyed, positioned just before a striking woman with deep auburn hair.

My heart skipped a beat.

I stared at her for a moment longer, something tugging at my memory, a sense of familiarity I couldn't quite place. The woman looked so much like the girl I'd seen in a dream once — Lily. Could it really be her?

"Harry," I said, still fixated on the painting. "Is that you? The baby?"

He was already halfway into the kitchen, but turned back with a grin. "Yup, that's me! Want anything while I'm in here?"

I shook my head, still unable to look away from the portrait. "Nah, I'm good."

There was something sacred about it — the way the figures leaned into each other, the comfort in their eyes, the way even the painting itself seemed to hum with a quiet sense of home. I was still wrapped up in the moment when I felt Harry's hand rest lightly on my shoulder.

He handed me a slip of parchment with neat handwriting. "Good news — Mum and Dad are out tracking down troublemakers," he said, clearly amused.

I gave a soft laugh. "Oh? And who exactly counts as a troublemaker these days?"

"My uncles," he replied, pointing a thumb toward the portrait.

I tilted my head curiously, squinting at the figures. "One of them's in that painting?"

"Yup," Harry nodded, then added with a thoughtful smile, "Although... that woman next to Professor Snape — she really looks like you. I think it might be you."

My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Well... maybe. I mean, I can't say for sure. Could just be a weird coincidence," he said, shrugging, though he didn't seem fully convinced of that himself.

I didn't know what to say to that. My gaze returned to the painting, studying the woman's expression — the softness in her eyes, the way she was positioned protectively near the others. Something in my chest stirred.

Harry gently interrupted my thoughts. "Come on, get some rest. You've had a long day. I'll wake you up when Mum and Dad get back."

He led me down a hallway to a room I assumed was meant for me. I blinked, looking around. "Wait... this is my room? Do I have to share it with you?"

Harry paused, then glanced at me with a small smile. "Would you like to?"

I didn't hesitate. "Definitely. I don't want to be alone right now."