Second Chapter

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of J K Rowling. Juliana and her story are, however, mine.

The next morning dawned shrouded in mist and grey clouds. Severus was awake before the sun rose, as was normal for him. Dressing and relishing the cold morning air (for he loved the cold, he always had), he made his way down into the bar for an early breakfast, curtly placing his order with the bleary-eyed barman. To his great surprise, Juliana had beaten him to the table in the corner. She was almost invisible in the black muggle attire that the orphanage had given her: only her light hair and those disturbing, pale eyes glowed as she looked up and saw him standing there. She nodded once in his direction, as if a silent gesture for him to sit. He greeted her quickly and, pulling a copy of the Daily Prophet towards him from the next table, proceeded to read and eat in silence. He was not one for talking in the mornings. Juliana did not object. She finished her breakfast quickly and then continued to sit for a while afterwards, gazing out into the bleak greyness that was outside. When Severus had also finished, he laid aside the Prophet and looked at her.

"We will be going into Diagon Alley this morning and then returning to Hogwarts in the afternoon." Severus surveyed her face and found her expression blank and uncomprehending.

"Hogwarts? Diagon Alley? What are they?" Juliana asked, letting confusion cross her face for a brief moment. Severus wondered inwardly how she could not have heard of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, being a witch. He would have to question her about that at a later point in time. For now it was easier to simply explain.

"Hogwarts is the school at which I teach, a boarding school for young witches and wizards. Diagon Alley, where we will be going now, is the wizarding part of London. You will be able to get everything you need for yourself and for school there."

Juliana looked at him. "So I am to be a student at your school?"

"Yes," Severus answered slowly. "It is usual for children to begin their magical when they turn eleven; however, for whatever reason it may be, you did not begin at that age. We will have to see the headmaster to see which year we will place you in. Have you ever learnt any sort of magic?"

It took a while for Juliana to answer. When she did, her words were carefully measured.

"No. I have never... studied... magic. I have no experience with it other than what I saw at the orphanage and the previous family I stayed with. But I can do things. Small things. I can make small things change and move, and I can..." She broke off, as if she had gone too far. Severus' eyes narrowed, but he chose not to pursue the subject further. There would be plenty of time to find out everything about this unusual girl later. For now, they needed to get going, if they wanted to be at Hogwarts before nightfall. With the rags that were the contents of Juliana's box, she was going to need a lot of things.

Half an hour later Severus and Juliana stood in the back yard of the Leaky Cauldron. Severus quickly tapped the bricks of the wall, and they opened to reveal wizarding London stretching out in front of them. He could sense Juliana's surprise, but he thought he also detected tension. He laid a hand gently on her shoulder. She flinched, but seemed not to mind.

"Come," Severus said to her, his voice surprisingly gentle. "We will need to get you a wand. This way."

He steered her towards Ollivander's, which was still run by the man himself, even after the war had ended. Juliana looked around her as she entered, and for a moment Severus saw wonder written over her face. The next minute it was once again the guarded blankness he knew. Severus walked up to the counter, the girl following behind him. Ollivander came out from the back room, smiling kindly at Juliana and nodding at Severus.

"Severus Snape. What can I do for you?" Ollivander looked over his spectacles at Juliana. "A wand for the young lady? Rather late for a first wand, do not you think?"

"The circumstances are unusual. Juliana here is indeed after a wand. Perhaps you can point her towards something while I duck into the apothecary across the road?" He looked at Juliana. "I won't be long. Mr. Ollivander will sort you out."

"Severus... How am I to pay? My mother left me nothing but her collection of books." Severus almost laughed at the bluntness of the question.

"Juliana, you are officially under my care. I will pay for all your needs. All you need ask is that the money be charged to my name." When she nodded, he left with a billow of his black robes. Juliana turned to face the old wizard behind the counter.

"Now then, my dear, how about we get started? Which is you wand arm?"

* * *

An hour later, Severus and Juliana had already come far in their shopping. Severus had acquired fresh stock for the school potion stores and for his own stores, and Juliana had her wand, two sets of black school robes and the usual uniform items as well as much needed recreation clothes--several sets of Muggle clothing and a few sets of robes for everyday wear. Flourish and Blotts had left Juliana dumbstruck, and several books on easy magic for adults (for she was not a child anymore, so much was certain), had been purchased. Juliana started to read them as the sat down for lunch, chewing thoughtfully. She seemed so absorbed in her world, so cut off from him and everything around her that Severus could not help but probe gently into her thoughts, as subtly as he could without her noticing. But her mind was smooth and blank; Severus' probing could not get through to its depths.

How interesting, he thought, she must know a basic degree of Occlumency. The subject was added to his mental list for questioning that night.

After the quiet lunch, Severus and Juliana finished their shopping by visiting the Magical Menagerie to pick up a snowy owl. Even though she had no one to owl, Severus figured that she might like a pet to keep her company. Juliana seemed to form an immediate bond with Cybele, as she had named the animal. Severus remembered his own first owl, a present from his father to "make up" for his absences from home. He winced at the memories of his childhood and brushed the thoughts aside quickly.

The two silent figures made their way to the station, their luggage shrunk by Severus to fit into the pockets of their robes. They made an odd couple, standing all alone on the platform waiting for the train that would go to Hogsmeade: a tall, dark and billowing figure next to a blonde haired, fourteen-year-old witch with eyes of a piercing, unsettling colour. When the train arrived, they boarded and found an empty compartment down the isle and sat in silence until Severus' voice broke through both their thoughts.

"So tell me, Juliana, how is it that you have never attended a wizarding school? It is almost unheard of for a child not to receive their Hogwarts letter."

Juliana took her time in answering. "My mother never practised magic; she kept it hidden from me that she was a witch. I... never knew... my father. When I was ten years old I moved to Germany. I did not know that I was a witch before my mother... died." Severus could see her tensing up and decided to change the subject.

"When we arrive at Hogwarts, we will see the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. He will decide how we shall deal with you." Seeing her eyes narrow, he explained his meanings. "I mean that we will figure out how to place you in the school. It is uncommon to have new students in the higher years."

For a few minutes after this, silence fell once again, the rhythm of the train only punctuated by its whistle as they approached different wizarding villages. This time it was Juliana who spoke.

"Tell me about Hogwarts. I would like to know as much as I can before I arrive."

Severus was pleased that she showed some interest, but he masked it behind his practised calm and began to tell her about the school.

"Hogwarts castle was built hundreds of years ago. Its founders were two witches and two wizards, named Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. They founded four houses, named after themselves, each having particular traits. Gryffindors," he tried to say the name without contempt, "are brave and loyal. Ravenclaws are intelligent and studious, dedicated and determined. Hufflepuffs are nurturers by nature, and Slytherins are cunning and devious. I am head of that house."

He watched her carefully for a reaction. When none came he continued.

"On arrival, new students are sorted by the Sorting Hat, a hat imbued by the powers of the founders. I suppose you will be sorted separately to the others, as we still have a week before the beginning of term."

Juliana looked questioningly at him. "What house..." she asked hesitantly, "do you think I will be sorted into?"

Severus pondered on this for a moment. He could not quite place what he saw in her: she probably had a sharp mind, but there was something about her that did not fit in any of the four Hogwarts houses.

"I do not know," he replied honestly. "You will have to wait and see."

She thought for a moment before asking her next question. "What am I going to learn at this school?"

The rest of the trip was spent by Severus explaining the various subjects, the timetabling and the general Hogwarts proceedings. Juliana listened intently, taking in everything he said, and Severus found that he was beginning to like the girl. But there was something about her that was still an enigma, something that he couldn't pinpoint, for all the skills he had learnt in Dumbledore's service as a spy. But he would have all the time in the world to find out.

If she wanted him to.