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Cordelia Ophélie Potter did not just suddenly exist. She is a sum of a number of years of swimming and playing under the sun. She was born loud but made quiet and the smile that twists at her lips doesn’t mean anything good for the person it is directed to. Her dark hair curls in any which way and her eyes are the color of the sea she loves. The point is Cordelia exists and she always had.She’s a sister, the youngest one in fact, with two brothers and two sisters (Lucia, Cadmus, Theodora, and Altair) but extended family-wise she’s got Harry beat. Cordelia is also lonely. Which is fine by her. She likes loneliness. She doesn’t really need friends. She likes the poetic feel her loneliness gives her. Where she can be in the quiet and read and swim and listen. The first person Cordelia sees die is her mother. Morwenna Potter, born Fawley, at the southernmost tip of Wales with her hair like bronze and green-blue eyes. Out of all of her siblings, Cordelia is like her the most so it is fitting that she be there when her mother takes her last breath.Cordelia was seven. Fresh from the day trip to France with her grandmother, she came home and her mother wanted to hold her hand. Cordelia remembers her mother whispering and her father coming inside. She remembers the splash as Altair, who had been eight then, jumped into the pool they had. Her mother’s hand turned cold and there was no recognition in the eyes that shared the same color as Cordelia’s own. Cordelia had no idea how long she had stayed by her mother’s side but she knows something shifted.Morwenna had been a Slytherin. Like Cordelia, and like Cadmus. Cordelia remembers little of her mother now. All she really remembers is the chilling hand and the pale skin...and her shrewd eyes. She doesn’t try to remember her either. Her memories may be lost in the sands of time, but at least she would forget.Now, Cordelia was fifteen. Springing into her fifth year at Hogwarts, but presently preparing for her sister’s wedding. Lucia that is, the Gryffindor. She knows Theodora would rather die than get married. Theodora was the sister she knew better, though not by request. She loved both of her sisters equally, and she may not want to spend time with them on any sort of day. Theodora was her most unpleasant sibling. Not just to Cordelia, but to anyone.Theodora was like vinegar, and Lucia by extension was like honey. Both were her sisters and so Cordelia barely liked either of them. Lucia may act sweet and enchanting but Cordelia knew her well enough to hear the syrupy words for what they were, lies. And Theodora might be honest but she was just an awful person who took one look at the little eleven-year-old Harry Potter, who just wanted to get to know his extended family, and sneered and told him under no terms was he allowed to go near her.And Harry, she's practically known all of her life. When they were younger they had Harry stay for days at a time, and they kept regular correspondence with his muggle relatives enough to be on speaking terms with them. Cordelia Ophélie Potter twisted the bracelet on her right arm for what seemed like the thousandth time that afternoon. She had thought that picking up Harry from his muggle relative’s house would be a quick in-and-out experience, but she was proven wrong.To her right sat Altair, her older brother, and to her left was her stepmother (also muggle), Kitty. Kitty was regaling Harry’s Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon with stories of her childhood, and both were laughing politely. Cordelia’s father had gone to help her cousin, Harry, with his things, and since they were taking their time she was bored out of her mind.Truthfully the last half of her summer had seemed like an out-of-body experience. Preparing for her sister’s wedding was as terrible as she thought it would be, and it was an even worse experience because she and her sisters were forced to spend even more time together. She loved them, really she did, but they had a way of bringing the worst out of each other.Lucia, the eldest, was sugar to Theodora’s salt. But while Lucia may act sweet and enchanting, Cordelia knew her well enough to detect the syrupy words for what they were. And while Theodora may be frank, she was just an awful person who couldn’t get along with anyone. Altair was barely in the house anyway and Cordelia’s other brother, the elusive Cadmus, might just as well be a stranger now.Well, if anything you couldn’t say the summer was a boring one. Abruptly Kitty placed a hand on Cordelia’s shoulder, pulling her away from her thoughts as she saw the panic in Kitty’s eyes. Her stepmother had done an excellent job with putting up with Harry’s muggle relatives but there was only so much you could take.“-And Cordelia’s entering her fifth year,” said Kitty, continuing her previous conversation, “What were you saying, earlier, before we came in?” Putting on a smile Cordelia addressed Petunia with the lie they were all versed in. If all else fails shift the conversation.“Your agapanthus were lovely when we last visited, Mrs. Dursley, I had wondered if they were still there.”Petunia Dursley gave her a smile, but the distaste on her face was undeniable. At least Lucia did a proper job of making her smiles seem sincere. Before anything else could be said, Cordelia’s father and Harry came down the steps with Harry’s things, finally all packed. Altair, who hadn’t participated in any small talk, shot to his feet. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley and Kitty followed his example with a shared look of great relief.Cordelia’s father, a man with a permanent amicable manner, had never voiced any criticisms of the Dursley family, nor had he ever treated them negatively. He seemed to have struck a perfect balance with them after ten years of accommodation. Peace, he said, was hard-won, but worth it in the end. “Ready to go, Caspian?” Kitty asked, wringing her hands.Cordelia’s father gave Harry’s back a pat, “Vernon, Petunia, thank you both very much for allowing Harry to come to Lucia’s wedding, and for the gift, I know she will be very pleased. Now to alleviate your fears, after the wedding is the Cup, and though Harry will be with the Weasley we will still keep an eye on him.” “And afterward?” the tentative question from Petunia, seemed to shock a frowning Kitty.“Afterward,” The smile of Caspian Potter’s tightened, “Well, afterward he will come with us. Spend the rest of the summer in Nerthasea.”Harry brightened once he heard that, and his aunt nodded to herself, looking very pleased as well.They exchanged goodbyes, with both sides being more than happy to be free of the other. Dudley, Harry’s cousin, had been nervously eyeing them all, and he too seemed relieved as the Potters got closer to the fireplace. Though the boy was a brat, Cordelia had heard something about an Aunt blowing up like a balloon, so she figured she couldn’t fault him there.Altair went by floo powder first, so quick to leave that he almost knocked Harry over. Cordelia wanted to leave just as much, but she was not looking forward to the prospect of arguing with Theodora and Lucia over wedding decorations once she returned home.Kitty, who was well versed in floo-travel by now took in a quick breath and went, and was accompanied by Cordelia’s father. Harry went next and Cordelia gave a little wave to the Dursleys and followed him. Nerthasea was quiet when they arrived. Too quiet, Cordelia thought as she surveyed the sitting room. When they had left, Theodora had instigated a fight over a muggle tradition Lucia wanted to implement. That fight had promised to be bloody, and the calm worried Cordelia.Kitty seemed to be thinking the same way. Her stepmother began looking around for Cordelia’s sisters, her amber eyes flittering around every nook and cranny.“Lucia!” Altair shouted, less patient, his voice echoing through the house, “Luce- i-a! Harry’s here!”And there she was. Lucia, The Gryffindor, with her mane of golden curls, came fast-walking down the stairwell with her arms outstretched, positively beaming.“Harry! I haven’t seen you in ages!” Lucia threw herself around Harry in a bone-crushing hug, “Ooh, I knew you’d be in Gryffindor, it’s the best house you know. Oh, of course, you do, you’re in it, aren’t you? How was your birthday- Oh! You haven’t even met Stefano yet, Harry you must absolutely-” “Would you let him breathe?” Theodora’s sharp question came from above, on the second floor. And of course, there she was a fierce scowl marring her face. She glides down the steps slowly, with her face half shadowed and glaring strong enough that Cordelia could feel the burn, “Honestly Lucia, if you don’t be careful it’s you who’s going to ruin the wedding when you kill one of your groomsmen. ”“Like I’d deny you the opportunity.” Lucia bit back all traces of good humor gone, “Vulture. I bet you already have something up your sleeve. It'd be just like you to be excited to ruin everything, isn't it? Why, I-”The childish scoff from Theodora seemed to rile Lucia up even more. If Kitty didn’t interrupt just then, Cordelia was willing to bet a duel would’ve taken place. “Please, girls, Harry just got here.” her stepmother’s nervous interruption snapped Lucia out of her anger, but Theodora scowled and spun away. She stalked back up the stairs away from sight.“I was hoping graduation would’ve mellowed her out,” Harry whispered to Cordelia, later when she led him to his temporary room. “Theodora’s always been a nightmare,” Cordelia laughed, “Harry, you know that.”Harry rolled his eyes, “Doesn’t mean I can’t hope. Anyway, where’d you say she was working now?”Cordelia blinked, “Something to do with-Hang on why don’t you ask her? Foster some goodwill,” “I try not to be alone with her, she can be really mean when she wants to be,” Harry answered gazing outside the room and into the sea.“She's in the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, I think then.” Cordelia said, turning to look at the sea also, “Wanna go for a swim? Trust me you do not want to be here when Theodora and Lucia start to fight over the dress robes, especially for the bridal party.”Harry stumbled, “Excuse me, wait, Theodora agreed to be in the wedding? Voluntarily?”“Don’t be ridiculous, she’s going to be Maid of Honor.” Cordelia took great pleasure at Harry’s shocked face until the voice of her Grandmother interrupted them.“Is that the Half-blood?” the false sweet voice of the late Dorea Potter (née Black) interrupted them. Causing Cordelia to glower, “I’m certain I heard him. Halfbreed, come out now, answer me.”“Please Grandmother,” Cordelia sighed. Her grandmother had been dead two years before Cordelia was even born, but her reputation preceded her and her portrait was in her room. She had no choice really, but to know her grandmother.“ What,” her grandmother squawked, “At least I’m not calling that impolite name, what was it again? Mud-”“Grandmother!”“My. Apologies.” Dorea Potter said raising her nose to look down at them. Cordelia could see Harry glaring at her portrait and felt tempted to do the same. The easiest way to deal with grandmother was to be respectful. “Harry and I are going swimming.” Cordelia told her grandmother, “If Kitty or Father ask, you may tell them that.”Her grandmother’s smile dripped the sincerity of a venomous snake, “Of course, darling. I shall.”Just wait till I burn your portrait you old bat, Cordelia thought as she grabbed Harry’s hand to pull him along. Though he had stayed over an odd amount of time over the years, Nerthesea was designed to confuse those not well-versed in it, and if someone wasn’t careful they could be lost forever. And then they were outside. The sea stretched hundreds of miles, touching all corners of the world, and in it, Cordelia felt weightless. She had grown up there, under the Italian sun, practically part of the water itself. Though many things had changed, she knew the sea would always stay the same.Harry splashed her, causing a grin to erupt on her face as she splashed him back. Their ringing laughter resounded as their splash war began anew. Cordelia grew up in this water. She had swum in these very waters since she was old enough to move her arms, and could safely say it was one of the places she truly felt herself.Kitty came out of the house with a burgundy robe not even an hour later. While Cordelia and Harry had already ended their splash war as a tie and begun aimlessly floating, Cordelia dreaded hearing what her stepmother had come for.“Lucia needs both of your opinions on the flowers,” Kitty said, “And Harry, Stefano’s here, and Lucia wants you to say hello.”Cordelia took a deep breath before she went inside, but Lucia and Theodora seemed like they were being civil.