Harry Potter and the Exiled Heiress

After a quite family dinner, the party again shifted to the living room. Lily cleaned the table, helped by Sirius, and then went off to put the kids to bed. Harry was already half sleepy in her arms, where Miley was always hard to put to bed, and with guests around. Her gift had consumed her but now she too seemed tired for all the antics and did not object when told to go to bed.

Now that Lily helped her changed and put her to bed finally, sitting on the side of Miley’s bed her eyes fell on the pendant, Remeyerall, or whatever it was, it was indeed a remarkable object, she was mazed to see so many colored smokes sweeping inside the conical crystal pendant. It, in itself had some magic going around it, that took Lily in to a long trail of thoughts…Her life before she could ever had guessed of her magical attributes, her first hands at magic – which obviously noone could understand, her first meeting with Snape…. She did not know why everything went to Snape, why everytime she looked back, Snape came back too. The more she tried and harder she tried to Shake him out of her mind, the more he crawled back, “Why..?”, may be because, for whatever time or reason, he indeed was her closest confidante and she, his. When Petunia got, all berserk at her, Snape was all that she had in those times. Her starting years at Hogwarts were good and she really liked to see the way people accepted her immediately, unlike her very own sister, who called her a freak, oh how terrible it felt, your own sister not accepting you as who/ what you are. Snape was her only comfort in those moments. Hogwarts was a big contrast to what, she faced in, what you say the Muggle world. She remembered that day when Snape once reassured her that being a muggle born did not make any difference, tears came to her eyes because that memory brought along the day of her last O.W.L’s, how could she ever forget it, that day will haunt her whole life. She came out of the Hogwarts building to see James, Sirius and others again up on their ways and Snape suspended in the air, how angry she was, how she wanted to help him out of the situation, but before she could do anything, the words came out of Snape, “…….MUDBLOOD..!! , it felt like her whole world had collapsed, the only person she was ever close to and meant the most to her, called her a …., she had cried for weeks and went without having food, but no, why was she doing it, He was after all a Slytherin and was going to join his Lord’s charade. She knew how difficult it was for her, to compose herself in front of him, when Mary had come to her, telling that Snape was waiting outside the house doors and threatening to stand there until Lily came out. He had come for forgiveness, if it had been sometime different she would have thought about it, but now, it was too late, it was time to decide, either this way or that, and she knew, for her it was a different road much different than Sev’s ambitions. It was time to part ways. It had finally convinced her, that it was different in that world for someone like her, but James, Sirius and everyone, whom she used to dislike, totally disregarded it, For them blood status meant nothing.

It took time, yes, time for her to regain that lost attitude, but yeah Snape always came back. She knew how difficult it was, being different. Now, it was Harry, marked to be different, no she would do anything to protect him from that. Miley, too was growing up, and showing splendid signs of magic, but her magical abilities gave her those chills, James always said, it was normal and in this age children cannot control their magic, it just comes out. But, that could not convince her, Miley, she knew was extra-ordinary, she was proud but scared too. It was just one person whom she could look forward for guidance and she knew he was the best.

Albus, she was surprised to see him today, as if he had heard her heart, and came for her. She saw Miley, sleeping unaware and far from the nuances of the world, but the smokes still moving inside her pendant. She got up from the bed gave a sweeping look on Harry snuggled in the cot, switched the lights off and got out of the room, silently closing the door behind her. She was startled to see Albus standing in front of her.

“Hello, Lily. Sorry for giving you such a shock.”

“Oh.! Albus, no I just..”

“got startled…did you..?”

“Uh….well, I need ..”

“…to talk to me….and same reasons bring me here too.” He said still smiling. “I wish to talk to you about Severus.”

“But, what about him? His chapter is closed for me. Mile—”

“But, yet again, being human is strange, we think what we want to talk about is more important than what the other has to offer.”

Lily looked at him, with a strange expression in her eyes, she couldnot understand why Albus, all of a sudden wanted to talk to her about Snape. Dint he know, they had parted ways long ago, or he thought that whatever time she had spent with Snape, held the key to their safety, or Voldemort itself.

“Well, Lily, I don’t know exactly what went wrong between the two of you, but don’t you think that every one is entitled for a second chance.”

Lily expression was that of shock, she was surprised at what Albus was suggesting, did he know about her encounter with Snape, at Bathilda’s. Why all of a sudden was he taking a defensive of Snape, when he clearly knew that he was the one, who gave them away.

“We just go on with our lives, and blame others for changing towards us, never realizing or even thinking, may be it could be the other way round too. Or we never gave them any chance to prove their best to us.”

“Albus but, what are you suggesting? Can you be a bit more clear?”

“I, as you very well know, am talking about Severus Snape, your friend.”

“He is no friend of mine. He never was.” Said Lily with contempt. “I am ashamed of ever having him and believing him to be my friend, His loyalties were never meant for me.”

“But, Lily.” Albus was surprised at such a retort. Lily had started crying, with her back on the wall. Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder and said, “We should not judge people by what they did or could do, judging people by what they are is the best possible way Lily. You were friends, he came to you seeking forgiveness but you never listened to him and parted ways, following your better judgment. You never thought about, what he would have felt at that very stage to be forced to say something like that to a person who meant everything to him. You too oversaw your relationship at that stage. If you blame Severus then you too are equally responsible for what he is today.” He stopped to see Lily attentive, took a breath and continued “May be, if you could have given him a chance then, he could have been someone else.”

Lily was shocked to Dumbledore’s theory and every moment spent with Snape came alive in her mind. A new set of tears formed in her eyes, which slid down when she closed her eyes, leaning her back on the wall.

Dumbledore still continued, “You could see Snape giving you away to Voldemort, but you couldnot see the Snape who went all terrible at the realization of Voldemort hunting your family down post the prophecy. You could see Snape – The DeathEater, who could just hurt or kill, but you could not see the Snape, who came to you yet again at Bathilda’s, waiting for you to show up, to see you safe with his own eyes and talk to you. He tried talking to you, but you were not ready. Oh! You should have realized the better of him, when he did not kill Bathilda, how could have that mattered him – the Death Eater.”

“Snape is but, a victim of circumstances, forgive him if you can.” Saying this Dumbledore turned and left Lily crying on the wall.

The scene downstairs had not changed much, James and Sirius were still busy reminiscing the past and talking about the future, Voldemort, current ministry issues and safety measures. They could not guess what made Dumbledore to go upstairs after Lily, who came down after quite a while followed by Lily fifteen minutes later, who looked quite lost.

“I think I should leave.” Announced Sirius glancing at the watch.

“Oh, but how could you, I mean Lily wanted to talk to us about Miley, which is worrying her a lot – the issue of course.” Said Dumbledore instantly, which surprised Lily. Both James and Sirius got quite alert at this.

“But, Lily you did not tell me anything about this. What is it is?” asked Sirius worried. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah…uh…I mean.” Lily took a long breath and started after a while. “well as you all know, Miley is growing up, children start showing early signs of magic by now, and five being a tender age, no one can control their magic, but Miley’s magic is extra ordinary, way ahead of what I or James could ever do, or can do.”

“What do you mean, extraordinary?” asked Sirius. Dumbledore was all ears.

“She can already apparate.”

“WHAT…!!!” exclaimed a very surprised Sirius.

“Yes, we saw her do that.” Replied James.

“But you need a wand to do that.”

“Yeah. She used mine.”

“But, how did she know how to do, the exact method I mean.”

“That’s what the question is. She just said, she wanted to be here and did it. It just happened, according to her."

All this while Albus was quite with a smile on his face.

“The other day, I am sorry James for not telling you, she just disappeared, I think it was something close to Disillusion charm, which even I have a difficulty in doing, on being asked she replied – ‘I was here all this while’, it amazes me, yes, but worries me lot more.” She looked at Albus with pleading eyes.

Dumbledore was beaming when he said, “But she is a witch, Lily.” When he saw every eye on him for a explanation, he continued, “Miley, ah, Ana, I actually am doting on her. I knew she is going to be a great witch, since I saw her, at the very first meeting mind you. I don’t think there is anything to worry about.” “I think you are not aware but she is even capable of wandless magic, which you could have ignored assuming it to be Underage-uncontrolled magic. Miley is already much accomplished, what she needs is but proper training. I know what your concern actually is Lily, but don’t worry, she will be under good wizards at Hogwarts and I promise you, I will pay extra attention and nourish her under my personal self.” By that he stood up and announced to leave and Sirius joined him, after going to kids room to kiss them.