Jane Peverell sat back from her desk and sighed. Tom and Tabby were due back in Godric's Hollow today, and she knew from her late-night Floo conversations with Tom that Tabby had been asking more and more questions about Snape and the Potters recently.


She let a small smile creep across her face as she looked at the photo of James and herself, taken when she was 14 and James was 17. It was on his graduation day, and he was almost bursting out of his skin with excitement. Jane was brought back to the present when her eyes fell back upon the family tree before her. She slowly let her eyes drift from her name and up to her mother... Geraldine Potter... across to Geraldine's brother, Charles Potter... and down to his son, James Potter. She knew the Potters were descended from Peverells too, but family rumour said it was Ignotus, while her side of the family was rumoured to have descended from Antioch.


She looked at the clock hanging on her wall. Quarter to four. She would be joining her family back at Godric's Hollow that afternoon, once her work was finished. She sighed. What was she going to do with Tabby? At seventeen, she was certainly old and clever enough to do a bit of research herself. But emotionally, she was still too immature to deal with things. Jane cast her mind back to the visitor she'd had the week before.



"Jane? Jane, if you're there, show yourself. I have to speak with you."


Jane walked out of her study and into the living room. There, having just stepped out of the fireplace, was Severus Snape. Jane eyed the slightly older man warily, reluctant to let herself fall back into the old friendship. She knew they still meant a lot to each other, but would never be quite as friendly since the night Lily died.


"Hello, Severus," she said. "What's the problem?"


Snape fidgeted slightly, a sure sign he was nervous. He was almost always calm and collected, even cold.


"I'm going to leave Harry the memory of Halloween, 1980," he said. Jane frowned slightly, recognising the date, but hesitating. James and Lily had been killed 1981. What had happened Halloween 1980? Suddenly her eyes darkened.


"Severus, why?" she whispered frantically. "Do you know what type of holes that would cause in his understanding of his life?"


"It would close more," he replied darkly. "I had to use Mensi Vinci during the battle. Harry is far too curious for his own good, and will go looking for answers. With that Granger girl, he will find out far too much anyway. Better to give him the information he needs than have him stumble over that which he doesn't need in his search."


Jane scrunched her eyes up tight and shook her head. "Where will he find a pensieve? They're not terribly common these days."


"James had one and left it to him. I've got a letter from James, I suspect it probably tells Harry where to find his pensieve. I'm going to leave it with the memory."


Jane sighed tiredly.


"I don't want him finding the connection to our family. He's got his life, we've got ours, there's no reason to connect the two."


"I see no reason why he'd be concerned with your family. The majority of my memory concerns the Dark Lord and Mensi Vinci, you make only a brief appearance. If I recall, you spent most of that night with Lily and James."


Jane nodded. She knew Severus was right.


"What is it you'll be revealing to him?" she asked, as Snape turned to step back into the fireplace.

"Enough to let him know the relevance of the spell I used when I saved him in the battle."


Jane brought herself back to the present. She rubbed her eyes wearily. The fact remained, that if Harry was as bright as she had heard, he would pick up on one of the few things Jane actually said in Snape's presence that night.


"James has given me the sister I never had..."

~*~



The group watched as Harry and Hermione finished cleaning out the penseive. Almost as soon as the last of the dirt was gone, the silver mist-type substance seeped back out of the stonework and swirled about in the bowl. Hermione looked at Harry.


"Did you bring the memory with you?"


Harry nodded. He pulled the vial out of his pocket, and pulled the stopper out of it. Slowly, he poured it into the penseive before him. He looked up.


"Ok, let's put this in context. Halloween 1980. This is before the prophecy has been made. Long before I was even thought of. 'Harry Potter' was a nobody. Snape was a dedicated Death Eater, he didn't know Mum was in any danger," Harry said, pausing in his stream of recollection. "I think that's pretty much all. Anyone care to join me?"


Ginny nodded her head and stepped beside Harry. At the same time, he felt Ron's hand clap down on his other shoulder, as his best friend moved forward to stand beside him.


"Coming, Mione?" Ron asked. Harry was relieved to see her nod. She hadn't been able to join him on many 'adventures' during the Horcrux search, and it would be nice to have her along this time.


"I think I'll sit this one out," Colin said. "Those things freak me out."


Harry gave a lopsided grin before turning back to the pensieve.


"Ok, here goes," he said. He leaned forward and felt his three friends doing the same. Suddenly, he was sucked down, and he landed with a thud outside a small house in a small village. He heard three more thuds and knew the others had joined him.


"Ouch," Ginny muttered, rubbing her knee where she'd hit a rock.


Ron looked around slowly. "Any idea where we are?" he asked.


"Haven't the faintest," Harry said. The small, white-washed house stood before them, silhouetted against the almost-set sun. Its roof was missing a few tiles, and it looked like it probably leaked in any decent rain shower.


Suddenly the sound of footsteps came from behind them. The group jumped up and moved to the side of the path as Snape strode past and entered the house without knocking. After a quick look at each other, the group followed him. The stepped over the threshold and closed the door quietly behind them. Looking around, the house appeared neat and orderly.


"Not a bad pad," Ron murmured. "Needs a bit of fixing outside, but otherwise..." he drifted off as he noticed Snape stoop down and light a fire. Before long, a face appeared in the flames.


"Lucius," Harry choked out.


"Ssshh," Hermione whispered. She indicated for them to follow her closer.


"... the Dark Lord wishes to move your meeting forward to 10pm," Malfoy was saying. His voice dripped with envy as he continued his message. "He realises your gift for magic of the mind... occlumency and legilimency... he wishes to teach you a new trick, it appears," he said. Jealousy of Snape's favour in the Dark Lord's eyes embittered Malfoy deeply. "Be here at 10," Malfoy said in farewell. His face disappeared out of the flames.


Snape sat back in an armchair. His eyes were alight with the possibility of being taught new magic, personally, by the Dark Lord. Magic that only he could perform, because he had a gift!


Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione watched as the young man- hardly older than they were- stood up and began pacing the room, visibly excited. Suddenly the room dimmed and their vision became fuzzy. The room before them disappeared, and suddenly they were in Diagon Alley.


By Harry's guess it was probably about 9pm. The sky was dark, and there were few shoppers around. Harry reminded himself they were in the prime of Voldemort's reign, and people were probably too terrified of him- and Death Eaters- to step foot outside at this hour. He saw Snape exit Gringotts and hurry down the street. He was moving so quickly he didn't see the girl in front of him who he crashed into.


"Sorry," Snape mumbled, grabbing her to hold her steady as she regained her balance. He released her and was about to head on his way when the girl spun around and grabbed his arm.


"Severus?"


Snape looked back, surprised. For the first time in his life, Harry saw a smile cross Snape's face.


"Jane," he said quietly. Suddenly, his smile disappeared. "Get off the street, Jane. It's too dangerous."


"Dangerous because of what?" she muttered. "Because of people like you?"


Snape frowned. "The Dark Lord has the right idea," he said, "but you know I wouldn't touch you. No. You and Lily... no."


Jane returned his frown.


"Did you hear they got married?" she asked.


"Who?" Snape asked, appearing to snap out of a reverie.


"James and Lily."


Snape's eyes darkened slightly. "It doesn't surprise me."


"Oh, be happy, Severus," the girl pleaded.


"How old do you think she is?" Ron whispered to Harry. Harry just shrugged.


"She's younger than us," Hermione said. "I'd guess about 17 or 18."


Jane was still talking. "Can't you be happy for Lily, at least? For me? James has given me the sister I never had."


Severus smiled slightly. "I'm glad you're happy, Jane. I'm glad Lily's happy. Keep away from me, though. I might not hurt you, but some other people... who don't understand the... the real way to power... just keep hidden, Jane."


Snape turned from her and began walking down the street. Harry felt sorry for the girl who watched him with forlorn eyes.


"S'pose we'd better follow him," Ron said. The group followed Snape down the street, then as he turned into Knockturn Alley. He stopped and looked around, before opening a door and walking into a derelict shop with no sign. The group followed him into the building, and stopped in horror once they entered.


Before them was Lord Voldemort. On one side of the room was a much younger Lucius Malfoy, who looked eerily like Draco. Harry felt Ginny begin to shake, almost imperceptibly. He slid an arm around her waist.


"Are you ok?" he whispered.


Ginny nodded stubbornly. "I'm fine," she said.


"Severus, you're early," Voldemort hissed softly.


"Yes, my Lord," Snape said, bowing his head.


"Eager to begin your training, I presume," Voldemort continued.


"I only want to be as useful as possible for you, my Lord," Snape continued.


"Look at me, Severus," Voldemort said. Snape obeyed. Voldemort began to pace the room.  "As you know, there are certain among us not as... gifted, as you and I are, in the arts of reading others' minds... or protecting their own," Voldemort said, shooting a look in Lucius' direction. Lucius kept his eyes averted. "I have discovered an old dark spell," Voldemort continued, "which will allow you to protect others' minds."


"Others?" Snape asked, intrigued.


"Yes... the wonder of conquering the mind... Severus, see into Lucius' mind," Voldemort suddenly ordered.


"My apologies, my Lord, but did you just ask me to see into Lucius' mind?" Snape asked, clearly baffled.


"You heard me," Voldemort said.


"Lucius," Snape barked. Lucius looked up into Snape's eyes. Snape stared at him, into his eyes, probing... suddenly Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were transported to Snape's mind, and could see what he saw. He saw an image of Lucius and Narcissa from their sixth year... another of Lucius doubled up in pain, on the receiving end of a hex from James Potter... oh, a brick wall now? It flickered slightly. Snape smirked as his mind demolished the wall before him... there was Lucius, dressed in a frilly dress robe for his sister's eighteenth birthday party...


"Mensi Vinci," Voldemort hissed. Suddenly the images in front of Snape's eyes disappeared, and there were Voldemort's eyes. Instead of images of Lucius, he caught a quick glimpse- ever so quick- of a young Tom Riddle and a burning wardrobe. And then it was gone, a brick wall in its place. This brick wall was firm, there was no way through it.


"Very good," Voldemort approved.


"How did we see into Malfoy's mind too?" Ron asked, frowning.


"We're in Snape's memory, remember," Hermione reminded him. "We see what he remembers. Of course he remembers what he saw in Lucius'- and Voldemort's- minds."


"How do I do it, my Lord?" Snape asked.


"Concentra---" suddenly the images went fuzzy. It was as if they were looking through jelly, and the words were muffled. Occasionally, the people in front of them disappeared momentarily.


"What's happening?" Hermione asked, anxious.


"He's modified it," Harry murmured with realisation.


"Who? Modified what?" Ginny asked.


"Snape's modified the memory. He doesn't want us learning how to do Mensi Vinci."


"That makes sense," Hermione said quietly.


And then they felt themselves get sucked back out of the scene before them, before landing on the floor of McGonagall's office.


"Well?" Colin asked eagerly. "What did you see?"


"Snape got taught Mensi Vinci by Voldemort so that he'd be able to protect the minds of Death Eaters who couldn't perform Occlumency," Hermione said in a rush. "He was hardly older than us at the time."


"So Snape was basically just telling you that the spell he used on Voldemort... was one that Voldemort had taught him?" Colin asked.


"Pretty much," Ron said with a nod.


Throughout the conversation, Harry was silent. He was replaying the memory through his mind.


"James gave me the sister I never had."


"Professor," Harry suddenly spoke up. The room fell silent and faces turned to Harry.


"Yes, Harry?" McGonagall replied.


"In the memory, Snape talked to a girl named Jane. She knew my parents. Do you know who she was?"


Something flickered in McGonagall's eyes.


"Of course," she whispered to herself. "Harry, why didn't Dumbledore ever tell you..."


"Tell me what?" Harry asked, his voice tightening slightly.


"Jane is your father's cousin," McGonagall said. "Jane Peverell. Obviously they must have been related through James's father, and I imagine it would have been his sister, but I don't know anything for sure. Jane was very fond of James," McGonagall remembered. "She also became very good friends with Lily. Severus took her under his wing when her father died. Severus was dedicated to protect her because of her friendship with Lily... and you know how he felt about Lily," she finished.


"Is she... could she still be alive?" Ginny asked. McGonagall shrugged. "I suppose so. I didn't hear of her dying during either of the wars, and she would only be young, so I don't see why else she might have died."


Peverell. Harry frowned. Why did that name ring a bell? That's right. That shop attendant in Flourish and Blotts. His name was Bartholomew Peverell.


"Professor, is she any relation of Bartholomew Peverell?" he asked.


"Of who?" Ron asked, confused. McGonagall looked equally as confused.


"Bartholomew Pever-- oh, Tom! Yes, Tom is Jane's brother," McGonagall said. "Actually, their younger sister was at Hogwarts the same time you lot were," she said.


Harry looked incredulous. "I had a cousin, in this school at the very same time I was, and nobody told me?" he exclaimed.


"Well, she's a few years younger than you, Harry," the Professor replied. "I believe she had just completed her fourth year when the second war started."


"What's her name?" Colin asked.


"Tabitha," McGonagall said. "Tabitha Peverell. Very good at Transfiguration. Also had a particular affinity with Potions, if I remember correctly," she added, with a pointed look. Harry understood. Snape looked after Tabitha. Kept her under his wing like he had for her- much older- sister, Jane.


"I don't care how old she was!" Harry exploded. "I want to know why I never knew I had any living magical relatives! Much less at this school! Does she know we're related?"


"I imagine so, Jane having been such good friends with James and Lily," McGonagall answered. "But Harry, Dumbledore... I think Dumbledore possibly wanted to protect the Peverells. With a name like theirs, they were already at risk from Death Eaters, and-"


"A name like theirs?" Harry asked, confused. He knew he recognised 'Peverell' from somewhere, but was it that dangerous?


"Mr Weasley, do you know about the Peverells?" McGonagall asked.


Ron went slightly red at the attention.  "Uhh, they're a famous wizarding family. It's said that three brothers possessed three magical items- an invisibility cloak, an unbeatable wand, and a stone that brings back the dead, but only part-way."


McGonagall nodded. "During his horcrux search, Dumbledore discovered the Gaunts were descended from Peverells- they possessed the rock, which Dumbledore then took, in the form of a ring."


"Voldemort's horcrux!" Harry exclaimed. The professor nodded.


"And Harry... you do know that on the evening your parents were killed, Dumbledore had your cloak?"


Harry nodded.


"He was inspecting it... Harry, Dumbledore believed that was the Peverell cloak, and that you too are descended from Peverells."


"So... I'm related to this Tabitha girl... both through the Peverells, and through my father?" Harry scrunched up his eyes in confusion as he fought to keep track of everything. This was all too much information at once, and it was beginning to make his head hurt.


"That's just what I've figured out. I don't know any details," McGonagall said. "Anyway, that's why their name endangers them. It's well-known that the Peverells in general are in possession of such magical objects. Who knows what Death Eaters may have tried to get them off the family."


"And Dumbledore wanted to keep them from any other trouble that might have come from sustaining a connection with Harry?" Hermione asked.


Harry nodded bitterly. "That's right. All I ever bring for anyone is trouble."


McGonagall looked at him sharply. "Now Harry, listen to me," she said sternly. "It was their Peverell name that would have caused problems. You, admittedly, were a very valuable target to the Death Eaters. The Peverells were valuable too, though not as much so. But put the two of you together... they would have endangered you as much as you them. It was just likely to be a bad combination."


Harry sighed and kept his eyes fixed on the carpet in front of him. He knew it was probably true, but couldn't shake the feeling that people had to be protected from him.


"I suppose I should probably stay away from them, then," he said glumly.


"I see no reason why you can't meet them one day, Harry," McGonagall said gently. "But for the time being, perhaps you should wait until things calm down."


Harry nodded again. He didn't say much else as the group brought their time at Hogwarts to an end, farewelled their old professor and left the castle. All the way back to Hogsmeade and back to the Burrow, Harry's mind was filled with thoughts of Snape and his cousins.


~*~


Geraldine Peverell sat by the fire quietly, listening to Tom move about in the kitchen. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to get her painful knee in a good position.


"Tom, love," she called. "Do you have any more of that potion you used when you hurt your hand?"


Tom looked into the room where his mother sat. "I don't think so," he replied. "I might be able to find some in Diagon Alley when I go back to work next week."


Geraldine nodded, before jumping slightly in surprise when Jane appeared out of the fireplace.


"Hi Mum!" Jane exclaimed, rushing forward to hug her mother.


"Hello dear," Geraldine replied. "Tabitha, sweetheart, find something for Jane to drink will you?"


Tabitha appeared at the top of the stairs and grinned upon seeing her older sister.


"Tabs, you cut your hair!" Jane exclaimed.


"Yes, I'm a big girl now," Tabitha teased. "I might not be 37, but I am 17 and old enough to decide if I want my hair shorter," she added cheekily.


"Oh shush, you," Jane said lightly. "How has life been in London for you two?"


"Oh, great," Tabitha said. "I spend most of the time about Diagon Alley, normally talking to Tom from the Leaky Cauldron, or Mr Fortescue. He gives me free sundaes every Saturday. I've seen Harry Potter about as well, with Ron and Hermione and Ginny."


"Harry is comfortable in open public places?" Geraldine asked in surprise from the other room.


"Yeah, he isn't there much, and I think he uses some type of concealment charm sometimes, but I've seen him a few times. Tom, you saw him too didn't you?"


Tom nodded as he ushered his sisters into the same room as his mother. "He bought a book from me the other day. Same day that Malfoy was in the Alley."


Tabitha whitened slightly. "That was terrible," she whispered. She turned and walked into the kitchen, looking for something to get Jane.


Geraldine watched her youngest daughter with concern. She had heard the reports, even here, and hoped Tabitha was safe in Diagon Alley.


"And yet again, the world was saved by Harry Potter," Jane murmured.


Tom looked at her sharply, uneasy with the tone in her voice. "Something wrong with that?" he asked.


Jane stared blankly into the fire. She sighed and took the hot chocolate that Tabitha offered her upon re-entering the room. "No. I just think he deserves something of a normal life after defeating Voldemort."


Tom nodded, knowing it was true, but thinking there was more Jane wasn't telling.


"Goodness," Geraldine suddenly said, looking at the clock on the wall. "Tabitha honey, you need to head off to bed. Marcel wanted to visit you tomorrow morning."


Tabitha groaned good naturedly. "I'm not old enough to stay up with the big kids, hey?"


Jane shot her a wry grin. "Oh, c'mon. As if a visit from Marcel isn't worth it."


Tabitha grinned in agreement. She had grown up next door to Marcel, and the two were virtually best friends. She hadn't seen him since leaving Hogwarts.


"Ok," she said, standing up. "I know when I'm not wanted," she said with mock heartbreak. As she turned to leave the room, she paused slightly, dropping the question she'd so carefully tailored, in what she hoped was a casual manner. "Oh, Mum, I've decided to go back to Hogwarts, but want to drop Potions. Is that ok?"


She watched her mother's face closely. She was more surprised to see alarm flash across Jane's face. Her mother hesitated and frowned slightly before answering.


"Professor Snape always says how well you're doing," she commented.


"Yeah, but I don't really enjoy it all that much. Not to mention Professor Snape can be a bit of a grump," she added. Her face burnt with the lie. She knew that Snape was a grump, but the truth was, she loved Potions. She wanted to see her family's reaction at her suggesting she leave Snape's regular surveillance.


Geraldine nodded. "I don't mind, honey. Whatever you want to do."


"But Mum..." Jane started quietly. Geraldine shook her head.


"Things are different now. Potions isn't as important as it used to be."


Tabitha didn't miss the pointed look that her mother sent Jane.


"Ok, well... goodnight," Tabitha said, turning and leaving the room. A chorus of "goodnight"s followed her as she climbed the stairs.


"Things are different now," she whispered to herself. "Potions isn't as important as it used to be..."


"Talking to yourself again, ey?"


Tabitha jumped in alarm, having forgotten the mischievous portrait of Charles Potter, Senior- her mother's father.


"Oh, Grandpa," she said, calming her racing heart. "Don't do that to me!"


He grinned at her. "So what are you saying to yourself?"


"Grandpa, why mightn't Potions be as important as it used to be?"


The old man in the portrait frowned. "Whoever said that?" he asked.


"Mum. I asked her if I could drop Potions at school. She said it was ok because 'things are different now' and 'potions isn't as important as it used to be'."


"Ahh," the cheerful wizard said. "I'm guessing she just doesn't think Snape needs to keep an eye on you anymore."


"Snape... keep an eye on me?" Tabitha asked darkly.


Her grandfather raised an eyebrow. "Well, you did know he especially looked out for you, didn't you? Too many people after you Peverells."


"What?" Tabitha asked, surprised.


"Ohh dear, what have I said," he replied under his breath. "Tabby dear, I think you need to head to bed."


"Oh no, oh no you don't," Tabitha said. "Who is after us Peverells? What does it have to do with Snape?"


"Sweetheart, surely you know the Peverell legend," her grandfather said with an uneasy laugh. "Such magical items of great power... would have been a grand prize for any Death Eater. Of course, your mother told me most of them are locked up now, aren't they? I knew there would be problems when your mother married into that family. But things are different now."


"But why Snape? Why should he care?" Tabitha was very agitated now. Nobody had ever told her Snape was looking out for her personal safety. She just thought it was a matter of making sure she was generally ok because he had an affinity with her sister. If it was such a matter of importance, why wasn't Tom constantly hovering in the background while he was still at school? Why had she been encouraged to do Potions over Defence Against the Dark Arts?


Her grandfather shook his head. "I only know what I hear, love," he said. "And that is, that you were placed in Severus's class for him to protect you, as a friend of the Peverells."


Tabitha groaned in frustration. But why was Snape such a friend of the Peverells? What wasn't Jane- or Tom- telling her?