Chapter Text
It was the very first thing out of Hanna’s mouth the next day: “Can we send that owl now???”
Leo chuckled and grabbed a piece of parchment for her. “You can get started on it, while I work on breakfast, how about that?”
Hanna took the parchment with great solemnity that he took for agreement, and by the time he’d served up their plates of eggs, toast, and sausage, she had filled the entire parchment with her large, messy scrawl.
“Can I see?” He asked, and Hanna handed it to him with a grin.
Hello Mistress Potter,
We met at Flourish and Blotts last night for your signing and you invited Da and I to owl you. Your the best Potions Master in the world, I can’t believe I’m writing to you and you want to talk more.
Please write back soon,
Hanna Hurst
Leo chuckled to himself and held out a hand for his daughter to slap. “Good job, sweeting. Do you want to call for Blotchy?”
She nodded enthusiastically and pushed her chair back from the table. “Blotchy!” She called as she ran around the room. “Blotchy!”
There was the sound of wings and then an owl came flying in through the window.
“Blotchy!” Hanna said and went to throw her arms around the creature.
Leo was very glad he’d made sure to get a friendly owl considering how attached Hanna had instantly become to the bird.
“You can give him some of my sausage,” he said, cutting a piece off with the side of his fork and then holding it out to her. Hanna grinned as she held it up for the bird.
After Blotchy was done eating, she carefully attached the letter she’d written to his leg and then looked in his eyes. “Please take this to Potions Mistress Harriet Potter,” she said, not breaking eye contact until she was done speaking. “Thank you! I love you!” She kissed her hand and then put that hand on the bird’s torso.
(While Leo didn’t think Blotchy had any diseases, he was grateful his sweet daughter had agreed to this compromise when it came to thanking their owl for his services—he hadn’t thought kissing him directly on the feathers was a good idea, exactly.)
Hanna spent the first half hour after Blotchy flew off just staring at the window.
“Darling,” Leo said as he took a seat on the floor beside her. “She’s a Potions Mistress. As wonderful as you are, we have to be realistic. She’s a busy woman and can’t just drop everything to reply to your owl.”
Hanna nodded and leaned into him, though her eyes stayed on the window.
Fortunately for both of their sakes, it was just fifteen minutes later that Blotchy came flying back in with a scroll attached to his leg.
Hanna squealed and jumped up. “Da!” She exclaimed. “A reply.”
“Indeed, dear one,” he said and got up a bit more slowly. He hadn’t expected his bones to feel so old in his late twenties, but he supposed that was part of the consequence for his time as Rogue, as short as it had been—and for Hanna’s sake, he was grateful for that reason as well that he had stopped when he did. “What did she say?”
After carefully removing the scroll from Blotchy’s leg, Hanna unrolled it and beamed. “She asked if we can meet up today!”
“Can I see?” Leo asked, holding a hand out to her.
Hanna handed the scroll over reluctantly.
Dear Miss Hurst,
I’m so glad to hear from you! I know you and your Da are probably busy, but if you could tell me what times would work best to meet up, I’d love to talk to you some more. I’m free the rest of today if that works for you, or hopefully we can find some other time.
Yours,
Harriet Potter
This was more than Leo could have ever imagined when he first learned about the event. He’d almost wonder if Mistress Potter had ulterior motives if he hadn’t read more of the memoir before going to sleep the previous night.
There had been a passage in the chapter about her childhood and what led up to the decision to swap places with her cousin wherein she mentioned her father using her first stirring rod as a fire poker. Accidentally, of course. She didn’t say how old she was when this incident occurred, but based on what else she mentioned about her early love of potions… there was no way she was even Hanna’s age now at the time.
Thinking about that made him want to cry, or better yet, return to his Roguey ways again just for a bit.
Leo hadn’t interacted with Head Auror Potter much during the time he led the court, but now, now he just wished he had an excuse to have the man end up on the wrong end of his knife.
Leo had felt a little out of his depth when it became clear Hanna loved potions, it was true, but it was his duty as her father to foster that love, not try and crush it.
So no, he did not believe the young potions mistress had any ulterior motives for wanting to meet up with them. And as he looked at how happy Hanna was as she wrote out a reply, he renewed his silent vow to do whatever he could to help Hanna achieve her potioneering dreams.
“Do you want to read it, papa?” She asked, and he nodded then kissed the top of her head when she handed it over.
They ended up arranging to meet at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour later that day (thankfully not too much later; he was unsure how Hanna would handle the waiting for hours to meet her potions hero a second day in a row).
Mistress Potter was waiting outside the parlour when they arrived, and when Hanna’s eyes fell on her, she straightened up and tightened her grip on Leo’s hand.
The woman turned to them and smiled widely at them. “Hi! I’m so glad you could make it.”
Leo thought Hanna might be quivering a bit from the excitement, but she still let go of his hand and strode straight up to her idol. “Hi!” She said enthusiastically. “What’s your favourite flavour? I like the chocolate and raspberry, but Da doesn’t let me come here very often.” She offered up her best pout. “He says I’ll ruin my appetite.”
Mistress Potter shot Leo a grin before crouching down to meet Hanna at eye level. “Well today you can get whatever you want. My treat.”
The beam on Hanna’s face made Leo’s heart ache. He was just trying to do what was best for her, but when she looked like that, it was so hard not to give her anything and everything she wanted.
When it was her turn at the counter, she ordered a sundae with three scoops and not a look back at her Da. Fair enough, the little schemer.
Once Hanna stepped to the side, Mistress Potter looked at him. “Are you going to order?” She asked. “I’m serious about it being my treat.”
Now, Leo was a full-time single dad, but he felt he should perhaps dissuade the young potions mistress from any idea she might have that he was poor before she did something she really didn’t need to, like create a need-based scholarship or something similar just for Hanna — there were so many kids in the Lower Alleys that would love that opportunity and Hanna already had a leg up on most younguns who hoped to go into potions by virtue of who her grandda was. Of course, that was also a big assumption he was making about the potions mistress’s plans, but he still didn’t quite understand why she was putting the time aside to spend with them.
The matter of the identity of Hanna’s grandda was another thing, though. If he was going to suggest that guild demonstration, he should definitely disclose just what his and Hanna’s relation to the Aldermaster was sooner rather than later; that is, if she hadn’t already realized.
All that in mind, however, he supposed there was still the fact that her family was in the Book of Gold and his only the Book of Copper. It would do no harm to let her pay for ice cream this once, so he stepped and order a single scoop sundae before stepping aside to let her pay.
They went and sat in the seating area outside the parlour, and Leo mostly just people watched as Hanna talked between large bites of ice cream. She got a bit on her nose, but Mistress Potter didn’t seem to mind, and Leo knew from experience Hanna would only get messier before she finished her bowl. Trying to keep her clean was an exercise in futility.
Despite being son of the Aldermaster of the Potions Guild, their conversation quickly moved above his head—and wasn’t that something, his six-year-old daughter knowing so much more about Potions than he did. He had tried to get more into it, back when it first became clear that this was what she wanted to do with her life, but it was always a struggle.
He let his butterbeer ice cream dissolve in his mouth and smiled as he watched Hanna chat easily with her potions idol.
He was already planning to ask that she consider doing some sort of live demonstration at the guild, but his desire to do so only grew larger as they conversed. While he wouldn’t exactly be surprised if she and Hanna ended up brewing together themselves at some point, it could be a great opportunity for so many people. (And in the back of his mind if he hoped he might grow close enough with Mistress Potter to suggest she do a demonstration for the children of the Lower Alleys as well, that was just for him for now.)
Rather than suggest it at that moment though, Leo decided it would be fun to surprise Hanna with it. So, after they’d said their goodbyes and Leo finally managed to get his very excited daughter to sleep, he sent Mistress Potter a letter. If she agreed to meet up with just him, he could easily arrange for Hanna to spend some time with her cousin or grandparents. They’d also probably love the excuse to hang out with her. They always complained about not getting enough time with her, in fact.
Mistress Potter’s letter of agreement came so swiftly Leo had barely had the time to settle in on the sofa with a cup of tea.
Leo dropped Hanna off for a day of brewing with her Grandpa Hurst and then took the Floo to Diagon Alley to meet the young potions mistress at the pub.
He arrived before her this time, but it was no problem as he’d brought his copy of The Pureblood Pretense with him. Perhaps it was a bit weird to bring it and read while he waited to meet her, but she already knew he was reading it after all.
He was just getting sucked into the description of one of her first lessons with Professor Snape when her voice interrupted him.
“They had to twist my arm to get me to write this, honestly.”
Leo looked up at her. “Really?”
She nodded and sat down beside him.
“I just wanted to focus on potions,” she said. “This memoir? I guess it’s important, but it wasn’t something I was even remotely interested in writing.” She shook her head. “People were interested, I guess.” She shrugged, paused, then said. “It makes me feel like more of a commodity than a person.”
“I’m sorry,” Leo said then peeked up at her. “I don’t know if this helps, but I’m sure it will mean a lot to so many people. I know it will mean a lot to Hanna when she’s older. You have to know that. I’m only a quarter through, and I think it’s really powerful.”
“Oh,” Harriet said, and a light blush developed on her cheeks. “That’s very nice of you to say.”
“I mean it,” he said. “The whole reason I went to that event in the first place was for Hanna. She looks up to you so much.”
“How old is she again?”
“Six.”
Her expression was distant and fond.
“Do you have any plans for her schooling?” She asked.
Leo shook his head. “Not solidly at the moment. I want to take her opinion into account.” He’d already been of that opinion, but reading those first few chapters of Harriet’s memoir had really solidified that for him. “Odds are, she’ll want to go to Hogwarts like you did.” He said, and smiled crookedly at her. “Especially now that she’s met and spent some time with you. If I didn’t love just how happy she is about it, I might even be a bit mad at you that it took me twice as long to get her to bed last night.”
She smiled even as she shook her head. “I should probably get used to that, but it still is a bit weird.” She shifted in her chair. “You said you’ve read the first quarter?” He nodded. “Sometimes I still feel like that girl who decided to embark on what could have been an over half a decade long ruse in order to study under my own potions idol.” She said. “The idea that I’m that sort of figure for future potioneers?” She rested her cheek on her hand. “It takes some wrapping my head around, that’s for sure.”
Leo grinned at her. “I hope this isn’t overstepping, but I know Hanna at the least, and other aspiring potioneers would love it if you did some sort of public demo.”
She looked thoughtful at least, not immediately shutting it down, so Leo continued on. “I’m sure you have the sway to suggest something yourself, but I should probably mention that my father is the Aldermaster of the Potions Guild.”
Her eyes widened at that, something he was used to, but there was something about her expression that just seemed slightly different. “Malcolm Hurst?” She asked.
Leo nodded and offered her a wry smile. “He was pretty disappointed I showed no interest in following in his footsteps, so he absolutely dotes on Hanna. And I’ll admit I’m glad she has at least one adult in her life who can actually keep up with her when it comes to potions talk.” If he hoped Mistress Potter might take that as another reason to stay in their lives, well, he wasn’t afraid of doing what he could to skew that possibility in their favour.
“I bet,” she said, clearly still thinking.
“Yes,” she said decisively. “I think a demonstration at the guild would be a good idea. I can contact Aldermaster Hurst to arrange it myself, if you want.”
Leo shook his head. “I mean, it’s up to you, but I don’t mind arranging it.” He shot her a crooked grin. “It’s nice to be able to have something potions related to talk to him about, I’ll admit.”
“Well, who am I to prevent more bonding between a son and his father?”
“I’ll make sure to owl you after I’ve talked more with him,” Leo promised. “Do you have any preferences regarding the sort of demonstration, though?”
Harriet shook her head, curly hair bouncing in a way that was especially appealing, though he really should stop having such thoughts about Hanna’s idol. She was cute, yes, but there was no way she would be interested in him, and even if she was, he couldn’t do anything to jeopardize the possibility of Hanna apprenticing with her in the future. And if they did work out, that might be even worse. He wanted the best for Hanna, but it couldn’t be all nepotism.
“I’m pretty open to whatever. I know it’s been a few years since the Shaped Imbuing technique was really talked about, but I’m sure it’d still draw a crowd if I demonstrated that.”
“Absolutely,” Leo agreed. He was already envisioning the look on Hanna’s face when she realized her potions idol was demonstrating the very technique she’d invented right in her presence.
He took a drink of his beer then looked at Harriet carefully from the corner of his eye. “Pardon my asking, but why are you spending so much time on us, Mistress Potter?” He turned to face her head on as he finished the question.
“Please, call me Harry.” She replied, her eyes shining behind her glasses as they met his.
“Harry, then.” He said, unable—and unwilling—to keep the slow smile from his lips. “Why us?”
“Why not?” Her smile turned slightly sad. “How could I see a young dad who supports his daughter’s dream of becoming a potions mistress with such enthusiasm and not support that? It was never a question for me, from the moment she raised her hand at the event.
“Your support of your daughter means more than you can ever understand. To her, for sure, but also to me… You said you read the first quarter…” It wasn’t a question this time, but Leo still nodded.
Harry smiled sadly. “You read what happened with my first ever stirring rod.”
Leo clenched his fist that was under the table and nodded again; he didn’t know if he could speak calmly on that incident. If he ever met James Potter, he would have some words for the man, to say the least. It would be better for both of them if they just never met.
“I went back and forth on whether to include that,” Harry said, turning away from him slightly. He really couldn’t begrudge her not wanting to meet his eyes as she talked about this. “My father isn’t a bad person, but he hasn’t always been a good father. It took me awhile to recognize that, but the fact is, good fathers don’t use their children’s stirring rods—or any other new toy or tool they’re as excited about as I was about that stirring rod—in a way that is going to destroy it, no matter their feelings on the hobby in question. I’ve forgiven him for it now, but I can’t forget it. I didn’t exactly want to air that dirty laundry in this memoir, but unfortunately it is a part of the story. It was a trauma that I spend months talking to a mind healer about and unpacking. Do you understand?”
Leo didn’t know exactly what to say. He understood what she was saying, but at the same time— “I don’t want you to support me just because I’m not abusive. That’s such a low bar, Harry. Too low a bar.”
“I know,” she said, and her voice was quiet but steady. “And I promise, it’s really not just that. There’s just something about you. I can’t put it into words exactly, but I feel like we were meant to meet. That we could have met ages ago.”
And that, he absolutely understood. They’d barely just met, but there was something about her, it was true. He wondered what could have been if they had met before now, but also he couldn’t. There were too many scenarios of that in which he surely wouldn’t have Hanna. And that simply wouldn’t do.
“Whatever happens from now on,” Leo said. “I’m so glad Hanna and I met you when we did.”