Counting Stars || Poppy Snape

CHAPTER 9

Around two weeks had passed since the quidditch trials and the incident in Potions. I had gotten the position as chaser along with three other girls (we were all good so Oliver said we would be subbing). I hadn't been speaking to Father much other than me answering his questions in lessons. But I had been sending letters to my adoptive dad recently. I missed him so much, but I knew he wanted me to be here. He said that when an opportunity this big came up, I had to take   it.

I still remembered when he got the letter from Dumbledore, telling him that I was a witch and that they had found my Father, Severus Snape. He was happy for me of course, shocked as well, very very shocked, but it must have been hard on him. I remember him muttering things like "This is wrong..." and I couldn't help feeling bad for him.

Anyways, back to the matter at hand. It was late at night and while I should be sleeping in my nice comfortable bed, I was standing outside of Skinny Santa Claus's study. Apparently he had something he wanted to discuss with me. Again.

"Come in!" I heard Dumbledore's voice say as I stepped into his study.

I went in and greeted him promptly before sitting down on the same chair as last time.

"You must be wondering why I've called you here tonight" I nodded and he continued speaking, "I promise it's not to discuss anything about your timetable this time"

He smiled at me with twinkling eyes while I simply stared at him with the same hard expression.

Dumbledore cleared his throat before speaking again. "I see you want to get straight to it then." I nodded again, "Well, the reason you're here, Poppy, is because I don't think you're aware of the abilities you posses."

I stared at him in disbelief. Was this man for real?

"Excuse me?" I uttered with a look of annoyment.

"You heard me right, Poppy. You're a talented Occlumence, even though you've never been taught. And as I've been told by Severus, you're good at Legimency as well"

I had no idea what he was saying. But before I could even ask, Dumbledore started speaking again.

"You see, Legimency is the skill of looking into peoples heads. Reading their thoughts, exploring their memories." My eyes grew wider. "It's quite a rare talent too"

He stopped, waiting for me to say something, but I was still proccessing this.

"That's not all." Dumbledore started, "What's even more fascinating is your Occlumency skills. I don't know if you notice this, Poppy, but you have put up a barrier between your thoughts and the outside world. Quite a strong one too may I add."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I finally spoke up.

"It means that if I tried to look into your head right now, your Occlumency shields would stop me. Which is something only very strong Wizards or Witches can master, after years of practice. So for you to be able to do that without rest every hour of every day is simply... fascinating."

I stared at him with an open mouth. I knew I could look into people's heads but I didn't know I could stop people from looking into mine.

"I was told about the incident that happened during your first potion lesson." Dumbledore continued, breaking my thoughts. "I must say, Poppy, that kind of language is unacceptable at this school. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about"

I looked at him in puzzlement. "What is it then?"

"I want you to take private lessons with Severus."

"No" I replied without hesitation.

He let out a sigh, "Mr. Warrington came to me, Poppy. He told me that you looked inside his head and he felt it. That's what you need to aviod. If you want to be a skilled Legimens, you must do it in a way so that no one notices when you do it."

I looked at him, and as much as it hurt my pride to admit it, I knew he was right.

"Fine." I said after a while. "I'll take the lessons with Father."

"Splendid." replied Dumbledore with a smile. "But there's something about this that I can't quite place my finger on."

"Yes?" I said, urging him to continue.

"I understand that you would get some of your Occlumency and Legimency from your Father since he is an extremely skilled wizard. But it doesn't seem right to me that your shields would be in place all the time." He continued talking, but this time more to himself, as if trying to make sense of all his thoughts.

"It doesn't make sense. It must have been magically imposed on you. It could certainly be possible, hard, but possible-"

"What are you trying to say?" I interrupted him. He looked at me, with that same twinkling in his eyes.

"I'm saying that someone gave you those skills. And I have an idea on who I think it was."

"Who?"

"You're mother."

I froze, more interested in the conversation than before.

"You- You knew my mother?"

Dumbledore let out a heartly chuckle, before his expression settled in a sad smile.

"I did indeed. She was exceptionally bright. The brightest witch of her age, they used to call her."

I looked down at my hands and felt tears starting to well up in my eyes.

"She's dead isn't she" I said, in the softest voice, that was barely a whisper. Yet Dumbledore heard me and sadly nodded his head.

"And I don't know anything about her." I said, mostly to myself. Then my sadness started to turn into anger. "I don't know anything about her!" I repeated, my voice much louder this time.

"She gave me away!" I cried with tears rolling down my cheeks. "She got rid of me because she didn't love me! And now, I'm not even sure of what her name was and Father refuses to talk about her!"

I was crying now, but I didn't care. With that I got up and left Dumbledore's study hurriedly, and although he seemed slightly shocked, he didn't stop me from leaving.

As I made my way to my dorm, I kept telling myself that I would find out everything I could about my mother.

That was a promise.