Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I thought I'd remind everyone that I own nothing in the Potterverse as I'm going to be using some direct dialogue and other lines from the book in this chapter. No copyright infringement intended!

Chapter 3:

Harley spent the weeks before Harry's birthday deep in contemplation. She didn't know how she felt about any of it. According to McGonagall her father's side of the family consisted mostly of sadistic bigots. Her own father supposedly supported the mother of all sadistic bigots. And her mother, killed by the man her father supported? It made absolutely no sense.

Her mother was a muggleborn witch, the main target, along with muggles, of the previously mentioned sadistic bigots. Why would he give his family name to a muggleborn before making her the mother of his firstborn child if he thought muggleborns were beneath him? It just didn't sit right with Harley. She needed more information, but she was very wary of Professor McGonagall. It would take a lot of time for her to be comfortable with the woman, if ever.

She also spent a lot of time worrying about Harry's reaction. What if what McGonagall said about her father was true? He'd helped the man who made Harry an orphan. Harley knew she'd never forgive her father if he was guilty, and she was worried about how Harry would feel about her in relation to the man. Would he see her in a new light once he knew? See her only as the spawn of an evil man who helped another evil man strip him of his parents and the life he could have had with them? What if he expected her to simply take McGonagall's claim at face value and simply write off her father as an evil bastard?

She knew Harry loved her, but could his love survive this new development? She would be absolutely devastated if he turned his back on her. She didn't know how she would survive without him and the worry was eating away at her insides. She threw herself into dance in an attempt to process all the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Mary noticed the change in her student. They'd grown quite close over the past five years and Mary was very worried about the girl. She had crawled right into the older woman's heart and claimed her own little piece. Harley wouldn't tell her what was bothering her, though. How could she? Excluding Harry, she trusted Mary more than anyone else it the world. But what would she say? Oh Mary, it's awful. I found out that I'm a witch and Harry's a wizard. Both his parents and my mother were murdered by a man my father purportedly supported. Don't worry, he's in prison now. Yeah right, that would go over well. Not that she could even mention the whole magic thing. McGonagall had told her about The Statute of Secrecy. She couldn't tell Mary even if she wanted to.

Mary figured the reason Harley was so upset lately was due to angst over her separation from Harry, so she didn't push the girl. She was worried, though. Over the course of the last five years Mary had gotten married to a nice man. She was now almost five months pregnant with their first child.

She knew that with a newborn on the way she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with her dance students, and Harley by extension. Mary's friend, Sophie, was willing to come out to the rec center a few days a week and Mary was picking up the tab. But with Harley, it wouldn't be as easy as simply giving her a new instructor. With Harley dance was so personal. The girl told you exactly what she was feeling in every movement. Harley would need to trust an instructor before she'd allow the person to have any say whatsoever in the way she danced.

Harley didn't trust easily. The girl tested everyone with whom she came into contact. A person had to earn their trust with her; nothing was given away for free. Mary had warned her friend about Harley's issues and they were willing to work through it together. Mary had planned to tell Harley the news about the baby before telling her about Sophie. Then Sophie would join Mary during the lessons, slowly taking over instruction. Eventually Mary would start skipping lessons here and there, allowing Harley to become more comfortable with the idea of being alone with Sophie. Mary never planned to abandon the child altogether. When her baby was old enough to travel she would bring him to lessons every now and again. She had vowed to be an adult Harry and Harley could count on and she had no plans to break that vow.

Mary had put a lot of thought into the issue and she believed her plan was well thought out and would be beneficial for her favorite student. She had been suffering her own angst since Harry's ban worrying over how Harley would react to this second change. She found out it was all for naught a week before Harry's birthday, the same day she was going to reveal the plans to Harley.

Just after completing her cool down stretches, Harley approached her teacher and mentor. "Mary, I need to speak with you about something."

"Of course, sweetheart. I actually need to speak to you about something as well. Why don't you go first?"

Harley nodded her head in ascent. "Well, about a month and a half ago I found out some things about my biological parents."

Of all the things Harley could possibly wish to speak about, Mary did not expect this. "Oh?"

Harley nodded her head solemnly. "I don't really want to get into the details about it. I'm still not sure how I feel about everything I found out." Or whether I even believe it, she thought silently. "The thing is, they were apparently very wealthy and every generation before me has attended this prestigious boarding school in Scotland. They've offered me a place there in the fall. I apparently have a trust fund or something that will pay for it. I asked them to take Harry as well, and they agreed. I won't be able to continue lessons next year." Harley looked down sadly. She was truly upset about discontinuing the lessons during the school year. She also hated lying to Mary, so she tried to be as truthful as she could without raising suspicion. "I'm hoping we can still have lessons in the summer?"

Mary was shocked. How on earth had Harley been able to convince Harry's horrible uncle to let him go off to boarding school? She figured the man disliked his nephew enough that the idea of being rid of him for most of the year was worth giving up his maid. Yes, Mary had figured out the dynamics of the Dursley's household and it infuriated her. The worst part was that she could do nothing about it. It's not illegal to have your child perform chores. Too bad she didn't know about the cupboard under the stairs.

"Mary?" Harley asked softly, bringing the older woman out of her stupor.

"Yes? Sorry. Of course we can continue our lessons in the summer, Harley. I was actually going to have to get you an alternate instructor in a couple of months. A friend of mine was going to come down for your lessons a few times a week. I'm having a baby, a boy, in about 4 months."

Harley's eyebrows rose in surprise. Mary had been wearing looser clothes, but Harley hadn't noticed that the woman was pregnant. Looking at her now, though, she was surprised she'd missed it. She had fairly obvious signs. After scrutinizing her teacher for a moment she broke out into a huge grin. "That's brilliant Mary! You'll make a wonderful mum!"

Harley reached out and pulled her mentor into a hug. Mary was shocked as Harley tends to shy away from physical contact with anyone but Harry. She'd allow Mary to touch her when they were working on her technique and Mary needed to show her how to position her body, but otherwise Harley always kept a distance.

The fact that the girl for whom she'd grown to care so deeply thought she would make a brilliant mum touched something deep inside Mary. She knew Harley didn't have a positive outlook on authority or parental figures, so Harley's genuine happiness at Mary's news showed the true extent of Harley's affection for her mentor.

Harley knew how much Mary loved children and that she'd eventually want a few of her own. She was happy for the woman who had been such a positive force in her life. She may not have had a mother of her own, but she knew Mary's son would be blessed with an amazing mother who loved him unconditionally. He'd never have to feel the rejection of parental love. She was happy for the both of them, and she told the little guy so. When she pulled out of the embrace she placed her hand gently on the small bump she'd felt when they hugged. "You're one lucky little boy, you know. You're going to have the best mummy in the whole world. You better be good for her." Harley grinned up at Mary to see tears in the woman's eyes as she smiled warmly in return.

They both parted ways happy, but Harley's thoughts quickly turned back to Harry. That's where they stayed until the late evening of July 30th when she was called down from her room. She quickly ran down the stairs to the foyer to see the head administrator, Mr. Gold, standing next to a giant man with a face full of messy black beard and black eyes that betrayed the man's intimidation factor. This guy was a softie. No doubt about it.

"Well hello there, Harley. Me name's Rubeus Hagrid, but you can call me Hagrid. Professor McGonagall sent me to pick you up to get your school supplies. We'll be staying the night in London, so go on up and get your things." Hagrid winked at the wide eyed girl and she quickly nodded and ran upstairs to grab some overnight clothes. Hagrid watched the small girl go with a sharp pain in his heart. She looked just like her father. The man's hatred for Sirius Black reached an all time high as he thought about how his actions would affect that little girl's life.

Harley was both ecstatic and nervous. She was going to see Harry again and she couldn't wait! She just hoped he would still love her after he found out about who she was. She quickly gathered some night clothes and an outfit for the following day, as well as Harry's card and cupcake.

She then ran back down the stairs to the waiting Hagrid. "Right then, we best be off."

Harley nodded and looked to Mr. Gold who was just standing there with a dumbfounded expression. Harley raised an eyebrow at the man and waved her goodbyes. When they were out of earshot Hagrid turned the small girl. "Had to place a mild Confundus on your guardian back there. Didn't want to let me take you for the night."

"Confundus?" she asked.

Hagrid grinned at her. "That's right. It's a mild confusion charm. Just allowed us to get out without the man causing a fuss or worrying about you when you're gone. The Dursleys have gone off somewhere, so we've gotta go find 'em."

"Harry Hunting," Harley said sardonically.

"Aye. I didn't get to properly introduce meself back there. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." He then extended his hand to the girl. "Here's your letter. Professer McGonagall said you had a rather emotional notification, and she forgot to give it to you."

Harley opened the letter while Hagrid led them to an abandoned backyard.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Black,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

When she finished reading she looked up to see Hagrid bring something out of his pocket. He tapped it once and Harley watched the object enlarge into a motorcycle complete with sidecar. "Wicked! Is this a Harley?" she asked.

Hagrid smiled sadly, handing the excited girl a helmet. "Sure is."

She beamed at the giant man before putting the helmet on and jumping into the sidecar. She watched curiously as Hagrid pulled a compass, pink umbrella, blue orb and metal rod out of his jacket. The rod had a dull point on one end and "HOGWARTS" engraved into the side. Hagrid tapped the orb once with the pink umbrella and said "Harry James Potter." The orb began to glow before it floated from Hagrid's hand to the tip of the metal rod where it attached itself. Hagrid then laid the rod on his hand horizontally and said, "Point me." The rod started spinning rapidly for many moments before coming to an abrupt halt. He then consulted the compass with a nod and mounted the motorcycle. It was the most bizarre thing Harley had ever seen.

"What on earth was that all about, Hagrid?"

"Oh, this rod is tied into the magic of Hogwarts. Only a current staff member can use it. It helps us find a new student if their letters don't get to them for some reason. Once they read their letter, the magic breaks and you can't use it to find them anymore. We've never had to use it since I've been at Hogwarts, and that's been awhile now." The man smiled warmly at Harley. "I wonder why Harry hasn't gotten his letter. Maybe the Dursleys went on holiday out of the country and the school owls can't make it to wherever he is. Don't worry, though. We'll find him."

"Owls?" she asked perplexed.

"Sure," he replied. "Owl post. It's how we deliver our mail in the wizarding world."

Harley nodded in response even though this seemed like quite a strange way to deliver mail. She then smiled sadly. She was pretty certain the letter made its way to Harry just fine, but that Vernon Dursley wouldn't let Harry have it.

She jumped a little when Hagrid started the bike. It was rather loud. She was very surprised when instead of directing the bike to the road, he drove through a field behind the house toward an outcropping of trees.

It was very dark back there but Harley wasn't nervous about where Hagrid was taking her. She didn't know why, but she had the feeling he would never do anything to hurt her, purposefully anyway. She would still keep an eye on him as she did with pretty much everyone in her life, but she couldn't help but feel at ease in his presence. Perhaps it was the shear bulk of him coupled with his kind eyes that made her feel safe.

Just before they reached the tree line the bike ascended. Harley quickly gripped onto the sidecar and turned gaping at the large man. "Hagrid! We're flying!"

"Well of course we are, Harley! How else would we travel?"

Oh, of course, how silly of me. Yes, it would be simply preposterous not to travel via flying motorcycle, she thought sarcastically. There were definitely a lot of adjustments to be made integrating into this new world.

They continued rising into the sky until they were above the cloud cover. When they broke through Harley gasped. It was beautiful. The stars looked so clear and close she almost felt like she could reach out and touch them. She turned to Hagrid, beaming. "This is brilliant, Hagrid!"

He smiled down at his charge but frowned as he noticed her shiver. "Blimey, Harley! I forgot to tell yeh to bring a coat. You've gotta be freezing!" Hagrid quickly shrugged out of his large overcoat and dumped it on Harley's head. She thought she heard a disgruntled squawking, but she couldn't be sure. She practically drowned under the weight of the large garment.

She managed to get the thing around her body and quickly warmed up. "Thanks Hagrid!"

They didn't say much else while flying through the night. About ever quarter hour Hagrid would have Harley hand him the rod so he could check their direction. The longer they flew the quicker the rod would halt its movements. The last time he checked it the rod didn't even make it a full quarter spin. "Aye, we must be right on top of him. The more the rod spins the farther you are away," he explained, but Harley had already figured it out.

When they lowered under the clouds they entered a raging storm. They were in the middle of the sea; the only land in sight was mostly just a rock with rickety, broken down old hut that looked like it could cave in at any moment.

Hagrid steered the bike in the direction of the rock where the pair landed bumpily. Harley exited the sidecar and watched as Hagrid shrunk the bike to the size of a matchbox car before placing it in his pocket.

He noticed Harley struggling under the weight of his giant coat, so he removed it and placed it back on himself when they were under the cover of the doorstop. He then pulled a watch out of his pocket to check the time. "Ah, right on time. It's just a few minutes to midnight. What do you say we hold out until then? It'll be like a birthday surprise."

Harley nodded her head enthusiastically, bouncing on her toes. Harry was inside this house!

When the second hand struck midnight Hagrid knocked on the door multiple times. This proved to be too much for the dilapidated old door, because it fell forward off its hinges. Hagrid must have made an impressive sight with his bulk taking up the entire doorway. Harley was peeking around his side and saw Harry bolt upright. She giggled and squeezed past the giant man.

"Harry!"

"Harley?" His face broke into a magnificent smile and he opened his arms for the girl that was bounding toward him. He swept his girl into a hug and spun her around happily. He had missed her terribly, and was feeling quite sorry for himself only moments before. He hadn't had a birthday without her since he turned five years old. She'd made sure they saw each other at least for a little while every birthday since they'd met.

"Oh, Happy Birthday Harry! I missed you so much!"

He squeezed her tightly burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I missed you too! And thank you!"

Hagrid smiled at the reunited couple, although he thought they were being a bit melodramatic. They only lived a few streets from each other and surely the Dursleys hadn't been out of town that long. They couldn't have gone more than a week without seeing each other. He just chalked it up to kids being kids, not realizing the pair hadn't seen each other in over two months, or how thoroughly they depended on one another.

Hagrid settled himself in the couch in front of the fireplace practically pushing Dudley off. It was quite humorous for both Harry and Harley to see Dudley running scared for a change.

Harry slipped his hand into Harley's and leaned into her ear. "Who is that guy?"

Harley smiled at him nervously. "He's Hagrid. It's a bit out there; you're not going to believe it. I didn't at first, either. The short version is that we're magical. It's why the strange things happen around us all the time. I'm a witch and you're a wizard." Her smile widened at his dumbstruck expression. "I know it sounds crazy, but the woman who came to see me turned my bed into a turtle before my very eyes." She whispered quickly before kissing his cheek.

He was smiling down at his girl, happy to be in her presence again, magic be damned, when she looked down sadly. "Harry, our parents were magical as well. Professor McGonagall, well, she told me about them. Your parents were brilliant, Harry!"

He was about to respond when their whispered conversation was interrupted by Hagrid. "Harry! Last time I saw you, you was only a baby! Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes."

Harry's eyes left the girl beside him at these words. This man knew his parents? Suddenly Uncle Vernon started making a funny rasping sound. "I demand you leave at once, sir!" he said. "You are breaking and entering!" Harley snickered at that and Harry smiled down at her. A little B&E never stopped his girl.

"Ah, shut up, Dursley, yeh great prune." Hagrid reached over the sofa and jerked the gun Uncle Vernon was brandishing about out of his hands, easily bending it into a knot and tossing it away.

Uncle Vernon continued to make noises, but Hagrid ignored him. "Anyway, Harry, a very happy birthday to yeh. Got summat fer yeh here – I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right."

He pulled a box out of his pocket and handed it over to Harry. Harley also retrieved her bag and pulled out the traditional cupcake as well as the card she'd made him. Hagrid had made Harry a cake with Happy Birthday Harry written in green icing. Harry smiled brilliantly at the man before opening Harley's cupcake and reading her card. He thanked Hagrid and gave his girlfriend a kiss on her cheek, thanking her as well.

"No problem, Harry. Now, I haven't introduced meself. Harley probably told you me name's Rubeus Hagrid. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." Hagrid held out an enormous hand and shook Harry's whole arm.

Hagrid suddenly turned to the fireplace and lit a roaring fire with his pink umbrella before starting on some tea and sausages. No one spoke while the giant man worked, but Dudley fidgeted like he was eager to pounce on the sausages.

When Hagrid was finished he split a half dozen sausages between the two children. Harry was clearly starved so Harley let him have hers, insisting that she wasn't hungry. Harry ate them eagerly, still staring at Hagrid. "I'm sorry, but I still don't know who you are."

"Well, like I told yeh, I'm Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts – yeh'll know all about Hogwarts, o'course."

"Er – no," said Harry. "Sorry," Harry added at the shocked look on Hagrid's face.

"Sorry?" barked Hagrid, turning to stare at the Dursleys and Harley who shrank back. Harry didn't like the way he was looking at her so he placed himself in front of her. "It's them as should be sorry! I knew yeh weren't getting' yer letters but I never thought yeh wouldn't even know abou' Hogwarts, fer cryin' out loud! Harley? You've known about this since your birthday! Why didn't you say anything to Harry? McGonagall told me you'd refused to go to the school unless Harry attended!"

Harry cocked his head to the side. "She couldn't have possibly known since her birthday. She would have told me."

Hagrid was about to respond but Harley cut him off. "Apparently my birthday is actually June 8th, and I have known since then." She quickly glanced at the Dursleys before whispering in Harry's ear. "I wanted to come tell you, but McGonagall told me they'd be doing your notification on your birthday. Mary told me how much trouble you were in and I didn't want to risk getting caught. I was afraid it would just make everything worse. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."

Harry turned around and pulled her into a hug. He was worried. Harley was acting very strangely and he knew something was bothering her. Something serious, if only he knew how spot on that observation was. "Hey, I understand," he whispered back. "You were right, if you got caught he probably would have had you arrested. I'm glad you didn't risk it. Did you really tell them you wouldn't go without me?"

She nodded her head as it rested on his shoulder. "Of course I wouldn't go anywhere without you Harry. I love you. More than anything. You know that right?"

Harry nodded his head in acknowledgment. He did know that. "I love you too, Harley."

Hagrid cleared his throat to regain the kids' attention. "Harry, did yeh never wonder where yer parents learned it all?"

"All what?" asked Harry.

"ALL WHAT?" Hagrid thundered. "Now wait jus' one second!" Hagrid leapt to his feet and Harry pushed Harley behind him. Hagrid's anger seemed to fill the whole hut. The Dursleys were cowering against the wall.

"Do you mean ter tell me," he growled at the Dursleys, "that this boy – this boy! – knows nothin' abou' – about ANYTHING?"

"Hey!" Harley interjected from behind Harry. "Harry is one of the brightest people I know! He only dumbs down his grades so he doesn't get in trouble for doing better than Dudley!"

The Dursleys glared at the small girl, Harry grinned at her goofily and Hagrid paused for a moment before simply waving his hand. "About our world, I mean. Your world. My world. Harley's world. Yer parent's world."

"What world?"

Hagrid looked as if he was about to explode. "DURSLEY!" he boomed.

Harley leaned on her tip toes to whisper in Harry's ear. "He means the magical world, Harry."

Harry nodded uncertainly before looking over to Uncle Vernon who had gone very pale, whispering something that sounded like "Mimblewimble." It made Harry and Harley snicker, but Hagrid stared wildly at Harry.

"But yeh must know about yer mum and dad," he said. "I mean, they're famous. You're famous."

"What? My – my mum and dad weren't famous, were they?" He looked behind him at Harley who had sorrow written clear on her face. "Oh Harry," she said, snaking her arms around his waist to hug him from behind. He could feel her whole body trembling. "It's awful. McGonagall told me some of the things that happened."

"Yeh don' know…yeh don' know…" Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair, fixing Harry with a bewildered stare. "Yeh don' know what yeh are?" he asked finally.

Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice. "Stop!" he commanded. "Stop right there, sir! I forbid you to tell the boy anything!"

"Harley's just told me I'm a wizard if that's what you mean. I just don't really know what that means. She said it's something to do with the strange things that happen around us sometimes."

A braver man than Vernon Dursley would have quailed under the furious look Hagrid now gave him; when Hagrid spoke, his every syllable trembled with rage. "You never told him? Never told him what was in the letter Dumbledore left fer him? I was there! I saw Dumbledore leave it, Dursley! An' you've kept it from him all these years?"

Vernon was glaring maliciously at the girl standing behind his nephew. How dare she tell him that nonsense!

"So I'm a wizard?"

"O' course," said Hagrid, sitting back down on the sofa, which groaned and sank even lower, "an' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've trained up a bit. With a mum an' dad like yours, what else would yeh be? An' I reckon it's abou' time yeh read yer letter."

Harry stretched out his hand at last to take the yellowish envelope, addressed in emerald green to:

Mr. H. Potter,

The Floor,

Hut-on-the-Rock,

The Sea.

He pulled out the letter and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Harry looked to Harley, "Remind me to tell you about all the letters I've been receiving, it's quite funny. Uncle Vernon always took them from me before I could read them."

Harley smiled at Harry anxiously, which caused Harry's stomach to churn. "What is it, Harley? Please just tell me."

"It's what McGonagall told me about your parents, Harry. About how they died, how you could have – " Her voiced started breaking up as tears filled her eyes. "You could have died, Harry." She finished, the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"What do you mean?" he asked, gently wiping the tears from her eyes. "My parents died in a car crash."

"CAR CRASH!" roared Hagrid, jumping up so angrily that the Dursleys scuttled back to their corner. Harry again pushed Harley behind him. He didn't think the man would hurt her, but he wasn't willing to risk it. "How could a car crash kill Lily an' James Potter? It's an outrage! A scandal! Harry Potter not knowin' his own story when every kid in our world knows his name!"

"But why? What happened?"

The anger faded from Hagrid's face. He looked suddenly anxious. "I never expected this," he said, in a low, worried voice. "I had no idea, when Dumbledore told me there might be trouble getting' hold of yeh, how much yeh didn't know. Ah, Harry, I don't know if I'm the right person ter tell yeh – but someone's gotta – yeh can't go off ter Hogwarts not knowin'."

He threw a dirty look at the Dursleys. "Well, it's best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh – mind, I can't tell yeh everythin', it's a great myst-ry, parts of it…"

He sat down, staring into the fire. Harry turned to Harley and took her hands into his. "I want you to tell me what you know. Please, I can see that it's going to be bad. I want to hear it from you."

Harley looked into Harry's anxious eyes and nodded her head. "Please correct me if I get any of it wrong, Hagrid. I only know the little bit Professor McGonagall told me."

Hagrid nodded his head in ascent, seemingly glad to have had the burden removed from his shoulders. Harley led Harry over to the recliner and the pair sat down, facing each other. "Well, there was this evil man. McGonagall wouldn't tell me his name, she just kept calling him 'He Who Must Not Be Named'. Hagrid, can you tell us his name?"

"Well – I don' like sayin' the name if I can help it. No one does."

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Gulpin gargoyles, Harry, people are scared still. Blimey, this wizard went…bad. As bad as you can go. Worse. Worse than worse. His name was…" Hagrid gulped but no words came out.

"Could you write it down?" Harry suggested.

"Nah – can't spell it. All right – Voldemort." Hagrid shuddered, but Harry and Harley snorted.

"What kind of silly name is that?" Harry asked.

Harley shrugged her shoulders. "He might have a silly name, Harry, but the man was a monster. He…" Harley started crying and Harry put his arm around her, pulling her into his side.

"Please just say it, Harley. I need to know."

"He murdered your parents, Harry. Then he tried to murder you. It's how you got your scar." Harry gasped and pulled his girl closer to him.

"What? Why?" he croaked.

Harley was crying into the boy's neck, her body trembling. "He…He thinks that wizards should rule the world, or something, and that only magical people who are born to other magical people have the right to use magic. Everyone else is scum in his eyes and he waged a war to try and bring Britain under his control. From what I gathered from McGonagall he was similar to Hitler. He believed that the Purebloods, as they call themselves, are a superior race. They would torture and kill people like it was nothing, Harry. Men, women and children, it didn't matter to them. They just saw it as exterminating vermin. Oh, it's all so awful," she sobbed.

"Your parents, Harry, they fought against him. They believed that everyone was equal and that any person born with magic was worthy of it. Your dad was a Pureblood, but he didn't believe he was superior to anyone else because of it." She gave him a weak smile that he tried to return. He was completely enraptured by the story. "Voldemort's people called people like him blood traitors, because they didn't believe in their own superiority. It's utter rubbish. Your mum, McGonagall told me she was a brilliant witch, extremely smart and powerful."

"Aye, McGonagall was right, Harry. Never met no one kinder than your mum and she was a thumping good witch." Hagrid interjected.

Harry smiled with a faraway look in his eyes before gesturing for Harley to continue. "Well, your mum was what they call a muggleborn, or first generation witch. She was the only person in her family who was magical."

Harry interrupted, turning toward his Aunt Petunia. "You knew?"

"Knew!" shrieked Aunt Petunia suddenly. "Knew! Of course I knew! Oh, she got a letter just like that, and disappeared off to that - that school - and came home every vacation with her pockets full of frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was - a freak!"

"Shut up!" Harley stood, yelling at the vile horse-faced woman. "Just shut up! Harry is not a freak and neither was his mum!" Harley felt that funny feeling inside that she always felt before something strange happened, which she now knew was her magic reacting to her emotions. The woman went to respond to the little brat when her teeth suddenly grew so large she couldn't close her mouth. They looked like…horse teeth. Dudley then whimpered and pointed to her rear end. She quickly turned around and looked over her shoulder to see a horse's tail.

Harry barked out a laugh at his aunt's horrified expression. The three Dursleys proceeded to scramble through the bedroom door, the lock sliding into place audibly. "That was brilliant, Harley!"

Harley blushed and turned back to Harry. Hagrid's beard was twitching. "We'll have to get the magical reversal team to your aunt tomorrow." Hagrid mumbled, clearly amused.

Harry's tone sobered as he pulled her back into his side and gestured for Harley to continue. "So my mother was a muggleborn?"

Harley cleared her throat and nodded. "Right. She was a muggleborn and she and your father were part of the resistance against Voldemort and his followers." Both children ignored the way Hagrid flinched every time Harley said Voldemort's name.

"Well, for some reason Voldemort was after your parents. They were powerful enemies, so they knew they were a target. He'd usually just send his followers, but Voldemort went after them himself. He…He killed your parents with a curse known as The Killing Curse. It's supposed to be quick and painless." She squeezed his hand. "I know that doesn't make it hurt any less, but at least you know they didn't suffer."

Harry nodded his head absently. He was glad they weren't tortured before they were killed. She cleared her throat again, tears steadily streaming down her cheeks. "Um…after he killed them, he…he…he turned his wand on you, Harry. He hit you with The Killing Curse, but it rebounded off your forehead and hit Voldemort. That's how you got your scar. That's why you're famous."

Something very painful was going on in Harry's mind. As Harley's story came to a close, he saw again the blinding flash of green light, more clearly than he had ever remembered it before, as this had been a recurring nightmare – and he remembered something else, for the first time in his life: a high, cold, cruel laugh. Harry took a shuddering breath. "So…Voldemort…he's dead then?"

Harley shook her head sadly. "Professor McGonagall doesn't think so. Said there wasn't enough human in him to die, whatever that means. She thinks he's out there somewhere, trying to regain his power."

"I think she's right, Harry. He disappeared. Vanished. Same night he tried to kill you. Makes yeh even more famous. That's the biggest myst'ry, see…he was getting more an' more powerful. – why'd he go? Some do think he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Most of us reckon he's still out there somewhere but lost his powers. Too weak to carry on. 'Cause somethin' about you finished him, Harry. There was somethin' goin' on that night he hadn't counted on – I dunno what it was, no one does – but somethin' about you stumped him, all right."

Hagrid looked at the boy warmly. He was clearly overwhelmed. "It's gettin' late and we've got lots ter do tomorrow," said Hagrid loudly. "Gotta get up ter town, get all yer books an' all that." He again took off his coat and threw it to Harry and Harley. "You can kip under that," he said. "Don' mind if it wriggles a bit, I think I still got a couple o' dormice in one o' the pockets."

Harry and Harley leaned back in the recliner and pulled the coat over them. Harley laid her head on Harry's shoulder and he put his arm around her. They could hear Hagrid's snores after a few minutes.

"Harry, I need to tell you about my parents. I – " Harry could feel hot tears on his skin as she burrowed her face into his neck. "I, just, please don't hate me, Harry! I couldn't stand it if you did!" she whispered brokenly and he could feel her whole body trembling violently.

"Hey, hey," he tried to soothe, rubbing her back gently. "How could I possibly hate you? You're my fiancé, after all," he tried to lighten the mood, but the trembling just increased at his words.

He started panicking, what could possibly be so bad after everything else she'd told him? "You can tell me anything, Harley. It's just you and me, like always. Nothing will change us, I promise."

She was holding onto Harry tightly as she tried to get the words out. "My mum…she was…she was killed by Voldemort, too. Personally. He did it himself. She was a muggleborn, like your mum." Harry held her tighter but didn't dare speak. There was clearly more and he didn't want to make whatever she had to tell him more difficult.

"My father…he…well, McGonagall said he was…that he was one of Voldemort's followers. High up in the ranks, she said."

Harry was quiet for a many moments, lost in thought. He was abruptly brought out of his contemplations by the spasming girl in his arms. "You hate me, don't you?" she whispered with so much anguish in her voice that Harry felt his heart break for her.

"Of course not, Harley. I could never hate you. Not ever. You're everything to me. I'm sorry if I made you think I did. I was just thinking, is all. It doesn't really make sense, does it? Do you believe what McGonagall said? I personally don't see how anyone who could produce someone as wonderful as you could possibly be one of Voldemort's soldiers."

Harley felt like her heart would burst with love for Harry in that moment. Not only did he not hate her because her father was believed to have been one of Voldemort's soldiers, but he questioned the validity of the claims, just as she had.

Without thinking Harley cupped Harry's face and kissed him full on the mouth. It was just a little peck really, two pairs of lips pressed against each other innocently, but it was their first real kiss. They'd pecked each other on the cheek, hugged and held hands often, but they'd never kissed on the mouth.

Harley pulled back, blushing. She'd basically just assaulted him. "Sorry," she whispered.

"No. Don't be sorry. Never be sorry for something like that." He grinned cheekily at her and she giggled, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Thank you," she breathed, and Harry finally felt her body relax against him. "And I don't know what I believe. I want to do more research about my father. McGonagall wouldn't really tell me much about him, only that he was supposedly Voldemort's right hand man. But why would he marry and have a child with a muggleborn then? There are easier way s to get information if that's what he was after. McGonagall kept mumbling 'Potter and Black' over and over. I got the feeling our parents knew each other. Oh!" At his confused expression she realized she'd forgot to mention her name. "My name is Harley Black. It's a bit bittersweet, you know. I finally have a name, but it's the name of a bunch of sadistic bigots. What if it's true, Harry?" She asked, voice trembling. "What if my father is who everyone thinks he is?"

"It doesn't matter, Harley. You are your own person. A great person, as a matter of fact. The best." He kissed her forehead and she smiled up at him. "We'll figure it out, though, I promise."

Harley nodded her head gratefully, her body sagging tiredly against Harry. She'd worked herself up over this so much in the past few weeks and now Harry knew everything she did. He took the news far better than she could have ever hoped for and now she just felt tired. So tired.

Harry noticed her exhaustion and pulled her to him tightly. "Get some sleep, sweet girl, we can talk about this tomorrow."

She just barely inclined her head before falling into a deep sleep, Harry following soon after.

A/N:

Firstly, let me thank my reviewers. I got some really nice ones last chapter that put a massive smile on my face. Thanks!

Amontthestarsx, Mynet, LightningStar O.o, bleacher, Mini Luna, Naginator, and Kami no Kage

You guys rock my socks!

I am not typically going to try and spell out Hagrid's dialect. Most of his dialogue when he meets Harry is directly from the book, so that will be spelled the way JK spells it, but going forward, and in other places, I'll spell most things correctly. This scene follows the book pretty closely, but this isn't going to be one of those stories that reads pretty much exactly as the book does with minor changes for an OC, not that I dislike those stories. There will be quite a bit of deviation going forward.

Up next: Diagon Alley!

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think!