Evidence of Absence

Unnatural Selection

Harry took a deep breath when he recognized the grey owl winging towards him at breakfast. It had been a few days since his parents’ visit, and in that time, he hadn’t heard anything from them, and Angela hadn’t spoken to him, and no one had written to him.

Harry had tried not to take that as a bad sign. If Sirius and Remus were outraged about him being a Parselmouth or courting Tom, surely they would have written before now. But maybe they were also so upset about it that they couldn’t trust themselves to write a letter before now.

“It’s all right, mate.”

Harry started and glanced at Ron, who was also watching the owl, Sirius’s Stormcloud, fly towards them. Ron gave Harry a smile and nudged him in the ribs with an elbow.

“I’ve watched you with Sirius, remember? No way would he ever give you up unless someone was forcing him to. And I don’t think your parents could ever force him to.”

I might be able to.

But Harry didn’t intend to, not unless Sirius or maybe Remus was utterly irrational about Parseltongue. He took a deep breath, fed Stormcloud a piece of bacon when she landed next to him, and took the letter. His name was scrawled with a lot of inkblots and something near the end that looked like an exclamation point Sirius hadn’t had the time to finish before someone took the letter away from him.

And if he really was angry, he could always have sent a Howler, Harry pointed out to himself before he opened it.

Harry,

I’m so sorry to realize that you’ve been hiding this secret for so long. It’s not like I ever thought you would be a Parselmouth, but I’m not upset about it, either. And I gave both James and Lily a piece of my mind for making you hide it.

“Told you,” said Ron, making Harry jump. He hadn’t realized Ron was reading over his shoulder.

Harry shoved Ron half-heartedly with his elbow, and went back to reading.

I don’t even know what they meant to gain from doing that. Did they think it would hurt less if it came out later? That making you hide it for years would make it wither away? I don’t know, and I have to tell you that their explanations didn’t impress me, either.

I’m sure Angela didn’t take it well, but don’t let her worry you. She’s in a weird place, from the letters she’s written me, wanting to be noticed as who she is and separated from her parents, but also wanting to be respected as a Potter. Apparently one of the other Gryffindor girls has been telling her nonsense about how she’s less powerful because she’s a half-blood or something.

Harry opened his mouth and could say nothing. Luckily, Hermione, who had crowded in on his other side to read over Harry’s left shoulder, had plenty to say.

“That’s nonsense! Haven’t they read those studies done by purebloods in the ICW that finally established there is no difference based on family strength or blood status? I’m going to find out who did that, and—”

Harry tuned out Hermione’s ranting—something he had practice doing—and went on reading.

I’ve tried to help her, but she needs to help herself. If she rants at you, just remember that it’s coming from a place of being concerned about herself more than thinking your parents are right.

And I think your performance in Defense over the last few years may have contributed to that impression of hers, too. She would have seen a brother who was magically powerful for his first few years in school and part of her childhood, and then seemed to dive into the mediocre. I’m not writing this so you can blame yourself, so please don’t take it that way! It’s just that Angela is worried about her blood and her power and her social status and everything is mixed up together.