Life at the Weasley's for the next month was wonderful. Harry filled his days flying his top of the line Firebolt broomstick in a small clearing of trees while Ron threw apples at him to catch in practice for the following school year. Harry was the seeker on the Gryffindor house quidditch team. It was his job to catch the golden snitch which would win his team an extra 150 points and end the game. Fred and George sometimes joined them, but mostly spent their time dreaming up laughter filled gags and tricks, for it was their aspiration to own a wizards joke shop. Nights Harry spent in Percy's old bedroom who had moved out last year to live on his own. It was a small room, stripped of its former owner's personal effects leaving it a great place for Harry to think without distraction.

No one had mentioned Genevieve until it was time to go to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies for the next year.

"Boy I wish I had that pocket watch now," Harry said offhandedly as he took a pinch of floo powder and got ready to throw it into the fire. "That was a lot easier way to travel." Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked at each other uneasily but Harry hadn't noticed. He stepped into the fire and very clearly pronounced, "Diagon Alley" which flung him into a wild ride threw the flews of other witches and wizards fireplaces until he stumbled onto a hearth at the Leaky Cauldron. .

It was as normal a day of shopping for school supplies as one could expect on Diagon Alley. Owls hooted at Harry from Eyelops Owl Emporium, Books of every size and shape could be seen in the windows of Flourish and Blotts, and occasionally as the wind blew Harry's hair back to reveal his scar children would stop with eyes wide and wizened old wizards he didn't know would bow or shake his hand.

He had grown used to celebrity treatment by now. Slowly he and Ron lead the troupe of Weasley's up the crowded street to Gringotts, the wizard bank. After being ushered in by a pair of goblins they entered an expansive room lined with tall tables, behind which sat more goblins going about their business. Harry approached one who was scribbling in a large ledger.

"I'd like to go to my vault, please. My name is Harry Potter, and here's my key." He held up a small golden key for the goblin to inspect.

"Alright Mr. Potter, follow Hanzboy, he will escort ." but his voice trailed off. He had just spotted Mr. Weasley pulling the box Genevieve had given them out from beneath his cloak. As each goblin spotted it they stopped their work to stare. Harry found it odd as some of them had in their hands rubies far larger and more valuable than any on the trunk. In fact, compared to the treasures these Goblins handled every day it was a very ordinary box. But each was enthralled with it and the goblin Harry was standing before could not have been more pleased when a bewildered Mr. Weasley joined him.

"May I place this in my vault. We haven't had a chance to count how much is in here yet and I'm sure you'll want to," explained Mr. Weasley.

"Nonsense, if you'll follow Mr. Potter and Hanzboy he will take you to your vault right away Sir, and may I add, have a wonderful day."

Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Harry followed Hanzboy through one of the many doors leading off the hall and climbed into the small cart to begin the thrilling ride down to their vaults.

"This is weird," whispered Ron to Harry as Mr. Weasley was depositing the trunk in the vault. "They never treat dad that nice, and they always count everything, down to the last knut. I don't get it"

Harry didn't have a chance to even think about a reply because Mr. Weasley had returned with Hanzboy and the cart had resumed its course, deeper to Harry's vault. Harry quickly stuffed a leather pouch full of gold and returned to the cart in time to catch Mr. Weasley's question to Hanzboy. "Something odd is going on today, what do you know about that chest?"

Hanzboy seemed eager to change the subject, "Please hurry Mr. Potter, all set, let's go," and the cart began its journey upward, perhaps even faster than the downward ride.

After their eyes adjusted to the bright light above ground Harry and Ron, who had now rejoined Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Fred and George, consulted their lists for needed supplies. Most of Harry's robes had seen better days, some having been singed, soaked or poked during the previous year's competition.

His first stop was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. To his delight Mrs. Weasley and the others followed him in to get their robes new. This was an exhilarating experience, especially for Ginny who was almost dancing on a pedestal as a witch pinned the robe to the right length. Store after store the Weasley's and Harry picked up their supplies. Fred and George disappeared into a joke shop for a while and didn't emerge until they were laden with gags, pranks and Filibuster Fireworks. "This is going to be the best year yet!" said George to Harry winking.

"Yeah, I guess we've got to make our last one count" added Fred.

After completing their shopping they all began their trek back to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry let his eyes wander taking in the whole experience. He found he never tired of this place. Then, while walking past Titos Antiques something caught Harry's eye. A pocket watch, identical to the one Genevieve used. He trailed behind the others, staring at it in wonder. He felt the impulse to enter and followed it. The door creaked open to reveal a shop smaller than any he had been in before. In fact, it seemed to have very little in it to sell.

The air was dark and musty and the window, which had been so clean while looking in appeared to be covered in cobwebs and filth, letting very little light in at all. He walked to the window display to get a closer look at the watch. There it shone, starkly contrasted against black velvet. Mesmerized, Harry didn't even notice the clerk approach him until he spoke.

"Interesting choice. The Traveler's Watch. Very few of them left you know. His voice cracked a little, but that seemed fitting coming from such a chapped mouth. The clerks face was wrinkled; his black hair appeared to have been slicked back at one point but had gotten messed up in back and now went in all directions. "Have you ever seen one of these before," he continued his sales pitch.

"Yes, I saw a witch use one once and she..." Harry regretted the words even as they escaped his lips. The clerks attitude changed from professional salesman to starved fiend with Harry's words.

"You've seen one used, actually working. When, where, who has it - tell me now." Such a sudden change in the man frightened Harry. He made his way toward the door but the clerk beat him to it. "Who was using a Travelers Watch," the clerk asked again. Harry quickly concocted a lie.

"A witch just down the street, short with red robes. She was holding one and appeared just over there," Harry pointed out of the window and the statement had just the effect he wanted. The clerk opened the door to see where Harry had pointed leaving a space just wide enough for Harry's slim physique to bolt through. Harry ran blindly, weaving in and out of the crowds until he was quite sure the salesman had not followed him. He ducked into a small gap between stores, panting for breath he leaned against the wall and sank to the ground.

"Unusual place for a rest, where are the Weasleys?" came a vaguely familiar voice. Harry looked up and to his surprise saw Genevieve.

"I was just wanting some time alone," Harry lied while getting to his feet. He hadn't realized how tall she was until this very moment. "Now do you have time to tell me about the Traveler's Watch and the chest you gave to Ron's mum?" This time Genevieve seemed sad, but nodded her head and indicated Harry should follow her.

Instead of heading out toward the street though she walked straight for the back wall, and vanished. Harry pursued her and also vanished into the wall, but what waited on the other side was not, as he had supposed, a hidden room, but a forest glen. "Whoa, now where are we? How did we get here?" he asked himself idly while looking around for some sign of Genevieve.

To his left were smoldering logs laden with a large cauldron, behind which he saw a small wooden cabin, just on the edge of the trees. It seemed the entire clearing was enclosed by large evergreens. Behind him, the largest tree trunk must be the one to contain the portal that brought him here. He passed by what was left of the fire and knocked on the door, which swung open.

"Hello, Genevieve?" He cautiously entered the sparsely decorated hut. To his left was a fire which lit a portrait of a small baby boy no older than one. Harry approached it and found delight at its faint laughter as he did. As was the case in the wizarding world pictures moved. The baby seemed to be playing in his frame, its red hair accentuated by the firelight. Harry took another step forward and saw in the shadows a figure, seemingly transfixed to a wooden chair, also watching the portrait. "Genevieve?" Harry questioned the dark shadow. Only a nod answered. As the figure rose and walked toward Harry the baby stopped to look, then faintly said "Mama." The shadow stopped and kneeled. Harry pulled out his wand, muttered Lumos, and was bewildered to see this woman crying.

"I can't do it," she whispered. "I can't. Even if I did ..." her voice trailed off. Harry kneeled next to her.

"You can't do what?"

"Oh dear boy, don't you understand. I brought you here to kill you" Harry's eyes enlarged and he jumped back toward the fire with his want out. Genevieve pulled a dagger from the sleeve of her robes and let it clatter to the floor. "I must find another way," she muttered, talking more to herself than Harry.

"To do what?" Harry wanted to know if she was looking for another way to kill him. A long silence followed in which they stared at each other.

"To get him back," was the reply as Genevieve broke her gaze with Harry and turned to the baby in the portrait. "The Dark Lord murdered my muggle husband and has stolen my precious child from me. I was told he would only be returned if I killed you. I thought I would do anything to get him back, but not this. Even if he was returned alive how could I teach him to respect human life and behave honorably if I did this? How could I break a promise to Lily? I would not even be here were it not for her." Harry could see the internal struggle which had beset the woman before him, and hear random rational as she was torn so deeply.

Harry could not help but ask, "How did you know my mother?" and it was at this point that Genevieve looked up, surprised that Harry was still there.

"She was a dear friend to me and my mother, we worked together. She then shielded us from those who would have us executed and was a great champion to our cause. She was so kind and generous, as was James, stalwart and brave. I will not let their deaths be in vain by allowing the Dark Lord this underhanded victory. I will not kill a Potter."

Harry noticed that this last statement served to strengthen her resolve as well as to reassure him. "Come, we must get you back to Diagon Alley." She brought herself off the floor, took only a brief pause to gaze at her happily playing portrait child, and left the hut.

She led Harry back through the large tree trunk to Diagon Alley and toward the Leaky Cauldron. She didn't speak a word nor leave his side until Harry was to the point where he could see his friends, a sea of red hair, just outside the book shop. He turned to thank her but she had vanished. Harry strolled up to the Weasleys, who appeared to be looking for him, and was pleased to see the Grainger's, Hermione's muggle parents.

"Ron, you'll never guess what just happened," Harry began, but Ron wasn't listening. He was just standing there staring at, "Hermione" Harry gasped, "Is that you?"