Shiver

Shiver


Layla gasped in awe as she looked up at the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts. Severus had cast the spell she would need to see the castle when they had arrived.

“Welcome to Hogwarts, Layla.” Harry wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged her to him.

“Wow…” Layla was staring at the castle as they started to make their way towards the entrance Hall. She continued to look around in wonder as they made their way to the Headmaster’s office, passing many moving portraits. They stopped once or twice when she stopped to get a closer look at a few paintings.

“Smarties.” Severus told the stone gargoyle when they reached their destination.

“Cool.” Layla was amazed. “I so need to get one of those things.” Harry chuckled.

“Come on, then. Time for you to meet the Headmaster.” Layla followed Severus up the stairs, Harry right behind her.

“Enter.” The three of them entered the office, Layla’s eyes widening further as she looked at everything around her. She was gazing up at the previous Headmasters when Harry nudged her to take a seat. Layla accepted the offered Lemon Drop, Harry and Severus politely refusing.

“Harry, it’s good to see you again.” The warm voice of the Headmaster toned.

“It’s good to see you, too, sir.”

“How’s your summer been going?”

“It’s been good. Layla’s parents were going to let me stay the rest of the summer with them, seeing as how Professor Snape showed up and scared my relatives.” Albus smiled at Severus.

“Severus, my boy. I thought I told you to be nice to them.”

“Well, you didn’t exactly define what you meant in being nice, so I just thought you meant not to hex them.” Albus’ smiled grew.

“Well, I guess as long as you didn’t hex them, that’s the best I can ask for.” Severus raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Yes, well.” Albus turned to Layla. “You must be Harry’s friend. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure to meet you, too. My name’s Layla Merriweather.” She pulled her legs up and tucked them underneath her.

“And how have you come to know young Harry, here?”

“We meet when we were about three years old. My parents left me in the park with some of their friends. Harry came wandering along and we just started playing with each other. I brought him home that night to my parents and asked if I could keep him.”

“And I'm assuming your parents weren’t too keen on the idea, were they?” Layla laughed a bit.

“Not particularly. Mum was freaking out a bit, wondering where he had come from. But it all worked out in the end. Dad worked out a deal with the Dursley’s. For a few days or a few weeks each summer, Harry could stay with us.”

“And how, Layla, did you come to know about the Wizarding World?” Albus inquired.

“When Harry came back from his first year here, he told me everything. I didn’t really believe him until he showed me his wand and schoolbooks. Since then, he would always tell me about his school year whenever he got back. We do have some secrets from each other, but not many.

“And my parents know about the Wizarding World, too, but not as much as I do from Harry. Which I think is why they let me come here for the rest of the summer, because if they knew as much as I did, then I don’t think they would’ve let me come at all.”

“And why would that be?”

“Well, they don’t know about Voldemort or the Death Eaters and the things that have happened to Harry.”

“Well, what’s done is done.” Albus leaned back in his chair, a small smile gracing his features. “We just have to make sure that no one finds out about how close Layla is to Harry, for her safety. Severus?” he turned to him expectantly.

“Yes, Albus?” his voice sounded resigned.

“Would you be kind enough to show Harry and Layla to their rooms? It’s behind that portrait of Medusa. They can make their own password, so don’t worry about that.”

“If I have to, Albus.” He smiled.

“Wonderful! Now I’ll let you three get going, so Harry and Layla can have some time to unpack and get situated.”

“It was nice meeting you, sir.” Layla waved as followed Harry and Severus out of his office.

“Senile old bastard.” Severus muttered and Albus’ eyes twinkled. He looked at Fawkes and smiled.

“In time, my old friend, in time.”