Harry ended up arriving at Copperdown Alley more than fifteen minutes before the time of the meeting. The afternoon sun beat down from above in this rare cloudless day as he walked through the alley, checking the numbers on each of the doors to find the Aldwick & Barrow, Wizarding Legal Services, as it was written down in the letter.
As Harry walked down Copperdown Alley, he couldn't help but notice how different it was from Diagon Alley, and even from that dark and dreary Knockturn Alley. The first and the most stark difference was that Copperdown wasn't as festive as Diagon Alley. It looked like an alley from some medieval-era town, with bits of magic and enchanted effects scattered all about. It was more down-to-earth, and looked like a place people actually lived and used like normal people, compared to the sheer display case that Diagon was.
And if he was being honest, Harry liked it more than Diagon. It had this homy, cozy feel that just pulled him in ways Britain's premier magical alley never did.
It didn't take him long to get to the correct address, and before long, Harry was standing in front of 23 Copperdown Alley.
Harry pushed the wooden door open and entered the office, letting the door click shut behind him.
He looked around, the office was smaller than he expected, and felt more like Professor McGonnagal's office back at Hogwarts rather than any place of work. It was pretty cozy, though, covered in dark wood panels, with tall bookshelves lining the walls and filled with large tomes with titles that made his head spin. There was a large oak desk in the center of the room.
Harry approached the middle-aged witch sitting behind the desk and handed her the letter as instructed. She took one look at the letter through her monocle and brought out her wand. She swished it once, and Harry jumped in surprise as two of the bookshelves on the farther side jumped out of the way, revealing a staircase heading upstairs.
"That way, Mister Potter, Mister Aldwick is waiting in his office upstairs," she said.
"Thank you," Harry smiled and turned to make his way upstairs, ignoring the starry-eyed look the definitely way too old witch was shooting his back.
He made his way up the stairs and entered another office room, this one much bigger than the one below, but designed just as similarly – with the same dark panels and bookshelves filled with books. Harry idly wondered if there were another set of stairs behind these bookshelves, but let the thought go with a snicker.
Harry approached the desk, and the man sitting at the desk stood up. "Mr. Potter," he said, extending a hand. "Jonathan Aldwick. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Harry shook it awkwardly. "Uh, no problem." He said, his gaze almost instinctively falling on the girl sitting on a nearby visitor's chair.
The first thing that caught his eye was the red hair, and the only thing he could think of was that she had the same hair as his mum. It was the same long and luscious dark red hair as the one his mother's, tied up into a neat, sleek bob that framed her face. Her eyes were also startlingly familiar, the same shade of vivid emerald green he saw each morning in the mirror. She was wearing elegant-looking blue robes with golden trim, and looked completely at ease as she sat there in this formal setting.
For a long moment, they just stared at each other before Mr. Aldwick decided to break the ice. He cleared his throat, "Miss Rose Potter, this is Mister Harry Potter. Shall we all sit down?"
Harry lowered himself into the remaining chair, suddenly very aware of how baggy and worn his hand-me-down clothes felt. Rose turned slightly toward him, her posture perfect, studying him openly.
"So," she said, her voice carrying a faint, crisp American accent, "you're Harry."
"Yeah," he replied, offering a small, uncertain smile. "And you're Rose… Potter?" He'd started strong but ended in a questioning tilt.
She gave a single nod. "Rose Lillian Potter. I'm sixteen. Three years older than you."
Harry blinked, still trying to wrap his head around it. "I, I didn't even know I had a sister. No one ever told me anything about more family."
Rose's eyebrows rose a fraction. "Really? Nothing at all?" She found that a bit unbelievable. It was more likely that he'd been told and had just forgotten, or just hadn't cared enough to reach out. She'd heard the rumours of how he was after all, even all the way back in the US.
Harry shrugged, glancing down at his hands for a second before looking back at her. "The Dursleys, my… err, our aunt and uncle," he clarified on seeing the confused look on her face. "They've never talked about my parents or anyone on that side. They didn't like bringing it up." He shifted in his seat. "And at Hogwarts, no one mentioned anything either. It was always just been, me."
Rose studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful but hard to read. "That must have been strange. Growing up without knowing there was anyone else."
"Yeah, it was," Harry said quietly, unable to stop himself from thinking back to all the years he was with the Dursleys. He didn't elaborate on it; instead, he just rubbed the back of his neck before shooting Rose a smile, one of the brightest he'd ever had. "But I have you now, don't I?"
His smile visibly fell when Rose didn't respond and just looked around the room, finding a particular panel of wood on the wall extremely fascinating as the atmosphere in the room turned awkward. Mr. Aldwick let out a cough before busying himself with some papers on his desk, clearly trying to give them space without leaving the room entirely. An awkward silence descended upon the room, and Harry and Rose just looked at each other, each wanting to break the silence, but neither knowing how to.
In the end, it was Rose who shattered the silence. "I've only recently returned to Britain. I'll be starting at Hogwarts this year as well. I haven't been sorted yet, that will happen when term begins," she said, her tone polite and measured.
Harry latched onto that thread of conversation like a lifeline. "You're coming to Hogwarts?" he said, sitting up a little straighter. "That's - I mean, that's brilliant. You'll like it. It's… well, it's a bit mad sometimes, but in a good way."
Rose smoothed an invisible crease along her sleeve. "I've heard as much. The American academies are different. More structured. Hogwarts seems rather free-form." Her face scrunched slightly as she said that, as if she'd bitten a sour lemon or something.
Harry huffed a quiet laugh. "That's one way to put it. The staircases move when they feel like it, the ghosts drift through walls mid-conversation, and half the corridors seem to lead somewhere else if you're not paying attention."
Rose's lips twitched faintly, though whether in amusement or disbelief, Harry couldn't tell. "Charming."
"It is," Harry insisted. "Once you get used to it. Which you will. Probably."
A small pause followed, thinner this time, less suffocating.
"What House are you in?" Rose asked.
Harry grinned, "I'm in Gryffindor. It's pretty good once you get used to it. My friends are there, Ron and Hermione. Ron's funny, and Hermione's the smartest person I know. Maybe once you're there, you could meet them. Or… well, only if you want to." He trailed off a bit at the end, feeling a bit unsure.
The red-haired girl tilted her head slightly, regarding him with that same careful look. "Perhaps. I'll make my own friends, of course. But it will be interesting to be at the same school with you after all this time."
"Yeah," Harry said, warming to the idea. "It would be nice to have family around for once. I've never really had that. Just the Dursleys, and they, well, they're not exactly the warm type."
Rose's gaze lingered on him a moment longer, as if waiting for more, but Harry only offered another small shrug and looked toward the window instead. She regarded him for a moment before speaking up again. "You place a great deal of importance on friendships."
"Yeah," Harry said simply. "I do."
Another pause. Not sharp, not cutting. Just… there.
"And you?" he added quickly. "What House do you think you'll end up in?"
"That remains to be seen," Rose replied. "My upbringing emphasized discipline, ambition, and propriety. Those traits tend to align with certain Houses more than others."
"Slytherin?" Harry guessed, based on the careful way she'd worded her answer, and the traits she said she was raised to embody.
She didn't confirm it outright, but the slight lift of her chin was answer enough.
"Oh," Harry said, then quickly added, "It's not - I mean, it's not a bad House. There are good people there, too." And that was true; there had been good people to come out of Slytherin, only they were far overshadowed by the sheer amount of the bad ones. And it wasn't like he was against her being a Slytherin; she was still his sister. He was just worried that she'd get bullied in that house, and without him to protect her.
"I would hope so," Rose said, her tone cool but not sharp. "Houses are not destinies, Harry. They are starting points."
"Yeah," he said, a little more quietly.
The conversation slowed again, like a broom slowing down and losing its momentum
Rose's gaze drifted briefly over him, taking in the oversized shirt, the worn sleeves, the way he sat slightly hunched without realizing it. Harry shifted under the weight of it, suddenly very aware of his elbows, his hands, the way his scuffed trainers looked against the polished floor. He knew he looked completely out of place, in these castoff hand-me-downs from Dudley, compared to the form-fitting robe his sister was dressed in, but these truly were the best clothes he had – other than the Hogwarts Uniform, of course.
Harry swore to go buy a new wardrobe as soon as possible, and finally use that stack of galleons his parents had left him.
"So," he started again, grasping for something lighter, "you've lived in America your whole life?"
"Mostly," Rose replied. "With the American side of the family. They maintain certain standards."
"Standards," Harry echoed.
"Yes. Etiquette, Presentation, Conduct." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "You are expected to represent the family properly at all times."
Harry let out a small breath that might have been a laugh. "Right. Yeah, I don't think I'd pass that test." On the inside, he was wincing hard. He'd come to realize that there was a whole other culture among the purebloods that the rest of them weren't privy to, but he hadn't had any interest in understanding it, and didn't even care about it before. But it seemed that he'd have to do so now, considering his sister considered it an important part of her life.
Rose didn't respond to that immediately. "No," she said after a moment. "I suppose not."
The words weren't cruel. Not quite. But they landed all the same.
Harry nodded once, like he'd expected it. "Still," he said, forcing a bit of brightness back into his voice, "Hogwarts isn't like that. Not really. You can just… be. It's easier," He tried again.
Rose looked at him then, properly this time. "You say that as though it's a good thing."
"It is," Harry said. "At least it is for me."
Something unreadable flickered across her face, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Rose shifted in her seat, getting a bit more comfortable, before she asked, "What's Hogwarts like so far? From what you've seen, I mean."
Harry brightened a little at the safer topic. "It's amazing, honestly. The castle is huge - moving staircases, ghosts everywhere, the Great Hall with floating candles. Quidditch is the best part, though. I play Seeker for Gryffindor. It's fast and a bit scary sometimes, but brilliant when you catch the Snitch."
"Quidditch," Rose repeated, a faint hint of amusement in her voice. She'd heard of that sport and had always found it amusing that the Brits only played that one sport. "I've heard it's quite popular here. The American schools have different sports, but nothing quite like that."
"You should try watching a match once you're there," Harry suggested. "Even if you don't play, it's fun. Maybe I could point out some good spots in the stands."
Rose gave a noncommittal hum. "We'll see. I'll probably be busy settling in, making friends, getting used to the classes, that sort of thing."
"Yeah, of course," Harry said quickly, not wanting to push. "No pressure. But if you ever need help finding your way around or figuring out which corridors to avoid, I know a few tricks. The castle can be confusing at first."
"I'll keep that in mind," Rose said, before pausing for a moment. "It's strange, isn't it? Sitting here like this. Two strangers who happen to share the same last name and the same parents."
Harry let out a short, awkward laugh. "Yeah. Really strange. But it's still good, right? Knowing there's someone else. Makes the whole 'Boy Who Lived' thing feel a bit less lonely." He couldn't help the note of hope that had entered his voice, the hope that he still had family out there, the hope that he wasn't alone.
Rose regarded him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Loneliness is something everyone deals with in their own way. Blood connects us, Harry, but how we choose to act, what standards we hold ourselves to – that all matters too. I was raised with certain expectations. I won't pretend I can just drop them overnight."
Harry nodded, trying to hide the small sting he felt. "I get it. We don't have to rush into anything. Slow is fine. I'm just glad you reached out. Really."
The silence that followed wasn't entirely comfortable, but it wasn't hostile either.
Mr. Aldwick glanced between them. "If there are no immediate legal matters to discuss, I can step outside for a few minutes and allow you both some privacy."
Rose gave a small nod. "That would be fine."
Once the solicitor had left and closed the door, Harry leaned forward slightly. "So, any more questions for me? About Hogwarts or… well, anything, really. I don't mind."
Rose considered him. "What do you like most about it there? Besides Quidditch."
"The friends, mostly," Harry said without hesitation. "Ron and Hermione. They've got my back no matter what. And the classes are actually interesting when you get past the boring bits. History of Magic is deadly dull, though. The teacher is a ghost who just drones on and on, so much that you just fall asleep."
Rose's lips twitched in what might have been the start of a smile. "That sounds chaotic."
"It is," Harry admitted with a grin. "But it's my kind of chaotic. What about you? What do you like doing back in America?"
"Reading, mostly. Practicing spells properly. Learning about family history and traditions," Rose replied. "It's quieter there. More structured."
"Structured sounds nice sometimes," Harry said, his voice almost wistful. He'd never thought about what-ifs before, but now he couldn't help but wonder what it would've been like to have been raised alongside Rose. "My life's been anything but."
Something flickered across her expression, brief and unreadable.
The conversation faltered again, the silence stretching just a little too long.
Rose's gaze lingered on him again, just for a moment longer than before. His posture, his tone, the easy way he spoke without weighing every word, all painted a picture of him that didn't quite align with what she had expected. Finally, she shifted slightly in her seat, as though reaching a decision. "I should be going soon," she said.
"Oh," Harry replied, a hint of disappointment slipping through into his voice. "Right."
She reached into the small beaded bag at her side. Her fingers lingered inside for a moment before she withdrew a delicate silver necklace, the pendant catching the light in a faint, shifting pattern.
Rose held it for a second, her grip tightening almost imperceptibly.
Then she extended it toward him.
"This is from the family," she said. "It belonged to our grandmother. Lady Euphemia Potter, nee' Moon." A brief pause. "It seems appropriate to give it to you."
Harry blinked in surprise. "To me?"
She gave a small shrug. "Yes."
He took it carefully, almost reverently. It was a teardrop-shaped pendant with a large sapphire between the twisting silver arms. It was clearly of a feminine make, but Harry swore to cherish it forever. "Thanks," he said, his voice quieter now. "Really. I've never had anything like this before." Other than his cloak and the picture album Hagrid had given him in his first year, this was the first thing he'd ever gotten about his grandparents.
"I see," Rose replied, not knowing what to say.
Harry turned the necklace over in his hands before slipping it around his neck, uncaring that it was not made for men. "I'll take care of it." He said, and he could feel the necklace rest against his chest. An unfamiliar feeling, but not one he disliked.
"I'm sure you will." She said before standing up, smoothing her robes as she did. "We'll see each other at Hogwarts."
"Yeah," Harry said, standing as well. "We will." A small pause hung between them before Harry spoke again. "Thanks."
Rose inclined her head. "Goodbye, Harry."
"Bye, Rose."
She turned and walked toward the door without looking back, her steps even and composed.
As she left the office and stepped out into the alley, Rose kept her expression perfectly neutral. Behind her, Harry's voice lingered in her mind, open, unguarded, unrefined.
Different.
Her fingers brushed lightly against the strap of her bag. It would take time, she decided, to see if that could be corrected.
Inside the office, Harry remained where he was for a moment longer, his hand resting lightly against his chest where the necklace lay.
A sister.
He had a sister.
It still felt strange, but as he let out a small breath, a quiet, stubborn spark of hope remained.
For now, that was enough.