Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Note: This is an AU starting just after 5th year. I'm assuming Harry has met Bill Weasley several times. I'm also assuming Flitwick isn't part of the order. Don't remember if either is true or not.

"talking"

'thinking'

:parseltongue:

:mindspeach or beastspeach:

What's In A Name?

by: Ebona Nite

Chapter One: Letters

(revised to correct spelling errors)

Harry sat in his small bedroom staring blankly out the window. The dinner his Aunt Petunia had pushed through the cat-flap on the door sat untouched on the floor. He didn't really feel like eating. Three weeks ago he'd come 'home' on the Hogwarts Express, Ron and Hermione making subtle and not so subtle hints that he should just get over Sirius' death already. That it wasn't his fault. But it was his fault! If only he'd told Dumbledore about the vision, if only he'd not listened to Kreacher, if only he'd remembered the mirror... If, if, if. It was too late for ifs. He sighed and lay back on the bed. From her cage on the desk Hedwig hooted softly, with obvious concern.

"I'm fine Hedwig." he muttered. They both knew better.

On top of loosing Sirius and living in a state of depression for the last three weeks, Harry had been going through some very strange changes. And not only were they strange, they also hurt! It kept him awake nights, feeling the changes going on. But despite the uncomfortable soreness or outright pain they caused, he was glad not to fall asleep long enough to dream. Because dreaming meant watching Sirius fall through that bloody Veil again and again.

Over the last three weeks he'd started shooting up. And while Ron and his other classmates had done some growing over previous summers, he was sure no one gained almost five inches in less than a month! And it bloody hurt as his legs lengthened, the bones actually breaking, growing and reforming little by little. His hair had gotten longer, and lay flat for once, although Harry wasn't sure if that was a change to his hair or just from the weight of extra length. He was getting pale, but that could be explained by his not being allowed outside at all, and the gradual loss of baby fat making his face thinner and sharper could be explained by his loss in appetite. He looked less like James Potter now, but more like Lily. This morning he looked in the mirror and could have sworn he his image looked familiar, like someone else he'd seen. But he couldn't quite remember who.

Hedwig hooted again, fluffing her feathers, and Harry was reminded he needed to send an 'I'm okay' letter to the Order. He got up and went to the desk, wincing a bit at the soreness of his legs. He ignored the two short letters sitting there. Ron and Hermione had written short pieces to him. Ron's just told him to 'buck up' and 'tell Dumbledore about any visions'. Hermione's was longer, babbling about OWL scores she was dreading getting and a note at the bottom to tell Dumbledore about any visions. He hadn't bothered answering them.

Harry tied the letter to Hedwig's leg. "There you go girl. Make sure someone in the Order gets that." He scratched her breast feathers and she nibbled his finger affectionately before taking off.

Harry sighed and went back to bed. He wished Uncle Vernon hadn't locked his trunk in the cupboard under the stairs, he might actually do homework to get his mind off of Sirius.

SECTION BREAK

Severus Snape paced the floor in front of his fireplace in his quarters at Hogwarts, a scowl on his face. Last year he'd had to 'teach' Occlumency to Harry Potter. It hadn't turned out well. And that was an understatement. He winced and sat heavily in the armchair by the fire, wishing he kept alcohol for once. A good glass of firewhisky would be nice.

For more than twenty years now Snape had been spying on Voldemort and the Death Eaters for Dumbledore. It had cost him more than anyone save three people knew, and two of those three were dead now. He rubbed his left arm absently. Any Death Eater with a sufficient amount of sense had realized, fifteen years ago when the Dark Lord was 'defeated' by an infant, that Voldemort wasn't truly gone. The Dark Mark had faded, true, but it hadn't disappeared altogether. It would have, if Voldemort had been truly dead. But there were plenty of fools who had thought otherwise, and they paid the price when the Dark Lord rose again.

For this reason, Snape had stayed teaching at Hogwarts, terrorizing Gryffindors and favoring Slytherins who certainly didn't deserve it. It gave him a headache, having to give out undeserving grades year after year. But it was the image he needed to present to his fellow Death Eaters, a show of loyalty to the disgusting pack.

He sighed. Harry Potter. The Headmaster was supposed to know about these things. Perhaps he should have taught him Occlumency correctly. Still, the images of the boy's childhood that he'd pulled up had been disturbing. If you could call it a childhood. Ten years in a cupboard beneath the stairs, malnourishment, beatings, being worked like a Malfoy's house-elf, Harry-hunting, a magic hating family. He doubted the lad knew just how much he'd learned from his mind.

Severus swore in Welsh (he had a tendency to use his father's language when he was really, truly upset). How on earth was he supposed to inform the Headmaster without destroying his reputation? Especially after not saying anything for so long. And besides, the boy would end up in an orphanage if the authorities were told, even anonymously, about the child abuse. Severus wasn't able to do anything yet. At least not until Harry's sixteenth birthday. He just hoped Headmaster Leos would remember his part in all this.

The dour Potions Master was startled by a crack as a house-elf suddenly popped in. "Dobby is sorry Professor Snape, sir, but Professor Snape sir is getting a letter sir." it squeaked. It practically tossed the letter to him.

"Thank you, you may leave." Severus said, and Dobby popped out. He turned the letter over and swore again when he saw the seal. A golden sun with eight waving points on a white field, a capital C in the middle of the sun. 'No!' he thought 'it's too soon!'

SECTION BREAK

Harry was woken from images of Bellatrix and Sirius by a tapping at the window. Muzzily he searched for his glasses, shoved them on, and stumbled over to the window. He was very surprised when four owls swooped in. Hedwig came first and went straight to her cage, then a large imperious-looking eagle-owl, a brown barn owl with a white face, and a grey and white screech owl. He blinked, turned on the lamp, and took the letters from Hedwig first. The first was from Dumbledore, the same blather about telling him if he got any visions and Sirius wasn't his fault. He tossed it aside and picked up the next letter.

Dear Harry,

I'm sure you don't want me to tell you that Sirius' death wasn't your fault. Everyone else is. Just please understand that Sirius was able to go the way he always wanted, fighting to the last. He was out of a stuffy house he hated and he was defending his beloved godson. I know you are hurting. Perhaps when you come to Grimmauld Place later this summer (I'm sure Dumbledore will bring you here, although he refuses to tell me when) we can talk some. Maybe sneak out for ice cream. Remember I'm here if you ever want to talk, about anything. Sirius, school, or even heaven forbid girls! Please be well cub.

Moony

Harry blinked tears away. He'd forgotten that Remus would be hurting as much as he was; after all, the werewolf was now that last Marauder (the traitor Wormtail didn't count). He'd have to write back to him later. He carefully set the letter aside and turned to the other owls.

"Sorry, I should have made you more comfortable. The only water in here is Hedwig's dish until tomorrow, but how about some owl treats?" The green-eyed boy relieved the owls of their burdens and gave them some treats. The owls rested a bit while he read, before going on their way again. The first letter, from the screech owl, was from Neville.

Harry,

Hey mate, you doing alright? I'm really sorry about Sirius. I wanted to thank you, by the way, for all the help you gave me from the DA. Just wanted to let you know I'm behind you all the way. I don't blame you for anything that happened in the DoM, I came because I wanted to help. Gran was so proud of me, by the way, she's getting me a new wand. Trevor finally died (he was old) and I've got this new owl, so I can owl you now. His name's Igor. Anyway, I'll see you on the Express in September, Maybe we can share a compartment?

Neville

Harry grinned. It was nice to get a letter from someone who actually wanted to talk to him, not get information out of him. He put Neville's in the to-answer pile and picked up the one from the barn owl, which happened to be from Luna.

Dear Harry,

How are you? My dad took me hunting Crumple Horned Snorckacks. They are very elusive, but I brought my camera just in case. I hope Artemis makes it to you alright. I didn't get a picture and we had to go home early because gremlins messed all the files up at The Quibbler and they needed dad. Oh well, maybe I will get you a picture of a gremlin. See you on the train.

Luna

Harry rolled his eyes. Luna was still Luna. However, it was nice that she wrote to him.

He picked up the letter left by the eagle-owl finally. It had a strange seal, an eight-pointed golden sun on a white field, a C in the very center of the sun. Harry frowned; he'd never seen this seal before. Breaking it, his pulled the letter out of the envelope and started to read.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I am Gerald Leos, Headmaster of the Caelum Academy of Magic. This is a very prestigious private school, but we will talk more about that when we meet.

By now you have no doubt noticed many physical changes you have been going through. In truth, these should not have happening so quickly, as you should be finishing the change by your sixteenth birthday rather than by the end of next week. I imagine the fast changes must be quite painful.

The truth of the matter is Lily was your mother, but James Potter was not your father. Yes, he knew. What you are currently experiencing is a spell on your appearance that is currently unraveling, although it is doing so sooner and much quicker than it was supposed to. I can't say anything more in this letter, just in case it is intercepted in these trying times, but I am sending someone to pick you up in the morning. He was one of my favorite students. Try not to hex him when he shows up.

Gerald Leos

Headmaster of Caelum Academy of Magic

Harry stared at the letter in shock. Caelum Academy? James Potter not his father? Although come to think of it, his changes in appearance did make that seem possible. And the fact that this Gerald Leos person knew about the changes was unsettling.

It was after midnight now. He'd been rereading the letter for quite a while. Harry decided he should at least attempt to sleep.

His dreams that night were filled with pain and swirling golden suns, and a sad yet comforting phoenix song trilled in the recesses of his mind.

SECTION BREAK

Harry was awoken the next morning by his Aunt Petunia screeching and his Uncle Vernon shouting something. He caught the word "freak" a few times and figured a wizard had shown up. He rolled his eyes. Really, if they didn't want the neighbors to know they should be less loud. Harry was up and ready (he'd slept in his clothes) to dodge if it happened to be a Death Eater, by the time the locks clicked open to an alohomora. He wasn't prepared for who it was though.

"P-professor Snape!"

"Harry." the Potions Master replied evenly.

Harry blinked. Since when did Snape use his first name? His eyes narrowed. "What did I see in your penseive?"

Snape grimaced. "The rather unfortunate prank James Potter and his friends played on me, hanging me upside-down." he growled. Harry relaxed.

"What are you doing here professor?"

"Last night you should have gotten a letter with a gold sun on a white background as the seal. In it Headmaster Leos should have told you I was coming. We are going to meet him. Grab your things." His dark eyes flitted around the room, empty save for the broken toys Duddly had left and Hedwig in her cage on the desk.

Harry grabbed Hedwig and stuffed the letters he wanted to answer in his pocket. "The rest of my stuff is in the cupboard downstairs." Snape nodded, and Harry followed him down. Snape's eyebrow rose at all the locks on the cupboard, but said nothing as he used the unlocking spell. One shrinking spell on the trunk and three enervates on the Dursleys in the living room (he'd stunned them when they wouldn't shut up), and the odd pair was on their way.