Chapter 2

"Sit down, Harry," Fiona says, motioning to the armchair opposite of the couch she's sitting on. 

He sits down, unsure what to say.  He has always had a million questions about his parents, but now that he's face-to-face with someone who can answer them he's stumped.  Fiona takes a few seconds to compose herself before beginning.  "I met your mother at the train station before we were supposed to board the train for our 1st year at Hogwarts.  Her family was all Muggle, so they had no clue where the platform was or how to get on it.  She saw my mother, father, older brother, and I standing by the platform and then she saw my brother go through.  She walked over, always self-confident and self-possessed, and asked my parents how exactly to get on the platform.  My parents loved her from that second, and I knew she and I would be fast friends.  I was quiet where she was loud, but I acted out while she was the thinker between us.  We complimented each other quite well.  I should also tell you that your grandparents, especially on her side, were the some of the sweetest and loving people I ever met.  I never understood how they could have a daughter like Petunia, but stranger things have happened.

"Anyway, your mother was also a phenomenal student.  She had a natural gift for all things magical, and she loved reading.  Her favorite subjects were Defense against the Dark Arts and Transfigurations.  She was McGonagall's protégé, definitely, although she gave your father a run for his money in Dark Arts.  Your dad was always at the top of the class in that subject.  Your mother was the only girl that never threw herself at James Potter, the Quiddich Star; I'm ashamed to admit I had a crush on him for a while, but I knew he had it bad for my best friend.  I think that's why your father liked her so much; she stopped his bullshit and made him treat everyone, especially Severus, better.  Severus was never a nice guy, to anyone, but he was madly jealous of your father's popularity.  Plus, James was an arrogant jerk until 6th year, but we all do extremely stupid things when we're young.  It's better to do them when we're young and learn from them than to do them when we're old and never recover. 

"Your mother was the only person who could control your father, who was a genuinely nice guy at heart.  He was just extremely protective of those he cared out, and Severus was always trying to get him and his group in trouble.  Anyway, your mother and Lupin were prefects, so she tried to be nicer to James and Sirius as did I.  By 6th year, all the guys had matured and we were a close-knit family.  I considered all of them my brothers, and they had adopted Michael, Michaela's father, into the group also.  In 7th year, when your mom and dad made Head Boy and Girl, is when they started dating.  It's very strange to have the Head Boy and Girl from the same house, but no one could deny that they were the smartest witch and wizard in the school, not even Severus.  They complimented each other also, and it wasn't a month into the new term that they were the "It" couple on campus.  I know most of the girls secretly hoped that it wouldn't last because your dad was known for his extremely short attention span, but I knew they would last.  They got married 6 months after Michael and me, about three and a half after graduation. 

We kept in through owl post and such but then Voldemort really came to power two years later.  That's when Dumbledore approached us all about the Order; your parents were the first to sign up.  Your mom and I got pregnant at the same time, and Michael and James forbid us from doing any Order work for the duration of the pregnancy.  So, your mom and I got ready for life with babies.  We had everything planned out as to what we would do, and it was all going according to plan until a couple days before that night.  Dumbledore came to all of us and told us that your family needed to go into hiding.  Michael had just been killed, so I knew this was not a threat to be taken lightly.  I wanted to be Lily and James Secret Keeper, but they wouldn't let me with Michaela.  They said I needed to be around to take care of her.  So they chose Sirius, even though Dumbledore wanted it to be him.  Only I found out later they chose Pettigrew, which would have been good in theory if Pettigrew had any sense of loyalty to his friends.   And, well…you know the rest."

Harry just sits there, absorbing what he had heard.  He knew some of the story, from Snape's mind and from the snippets people had told him, but it was strange to hear the whole story from someone who had known his family so intimately.  Fiona was someone who knew his parents than he would ever know them.

"Any other questions?" Fiona asks, quietly, knowing this is a lot to take in.

"How were my mom and dad?  Together?  Did they love each other?" Harry asks quietly.  "Did they love me?"

"Harry.  You were the center of their universe," Fiona says, getting up and going to him.  She kneels in front of him.  "They loved each other more than words, and they loved you more than that.  I remember the owl I got from Lily tell me she was pregnant.  I could tell she was so excited.  I saw her that next week, and she was glowing.  She was so excited.  They were the nicest, most genuine people I have, to this day, ever met.  They put everyone else well-being in front of their own, and they protected their friends.  From what Kaylie has told me about you, I think there's a lot of both their spirits in you."  She gets up and walks back over to the couch to grab the photo albums that had been lying next to her.  "I'll be upstairs talking to Kaylie, but whenever you're ready to hear what the Order has learned, just yell up the stairs.  Meanwhile, you can look through these albums.  It's all the pictures from school up until the end.  You're more than welcome to most of them.  I can make a copy of any of the ones you want."

Fiona is making her way out of the room when she hears a quiet "Thank you, Fiona."  She turns to see Harry on the couch, looking through the albums.

"You're welcome, Harry."

"Hey mom," Michaela says when she sees her mom, putting down the worn copy of Pride and Prejudice she was reading.

"This was your grandmother's favorite book," Fiona says, sitting on the bed next to her daughter.

"I know.  This is grandma's copy.  Mom, how come you never told me you were good friends with Lily and James Potter?"

Fiona takes a deep breath as her eyes tear up.  "It's still hard to remember that day, Kaylie.  When I think of them, it reminds me of your grandparents, your father, and everyone else I lost because of Voldemort, and now that unfortunately includes Sirius."

"Well, when you're okay to talk about it, I'd like to know more about daddy, grandma, and grandpa.  I realized that, unlike Harry, I have you and grandma to talk to and learn about my family from.  I've never asked, really," Michaela says, looking at her mom.

"Okay, baby.  Before you go back, your grandmother and I will sit down with you and answer any questions about your family."

"Thanks, mom.  I love you," Michaela says, hugging her crying mom.

"I love you, too, Kaylie."

"Hello?" Harry says, from outside.  "Can I come in?"

"Sure," Fiona answers, drying the tears.  "Are you done downstairs?"

"Yes," Harry says.  "I have some of those pictures, but I marked the pages of the ones I'd like copies of."

"Actually, I have a present for you," Fiona says, remembering something.  "It's in my room.  If you kids go downstairs, I'll meet you in the living room and we'll talk about Order stuff."

Fiona hurries out of the room, while Harry and Michaela slowly walk down the stairs.

"Wonder what that was about?" Michaela thinks.  Aloud, she says, "Was my mom helpful?"

"She was great," Harry says with a sad smile on his face.  "I miss my mom and dad more now, but it's a good miss.  I feel like I know them more now, but it just makes me miss them more."

"I get that," Michaela says as they sit on the couch side by side.  "Every time I learn something else about my dad, I feel so much more unlucky that I never got to know him.  Sometimes I wonder if hurts more for me than for someone who lost their father or mother later.  I mean, they have memories and good times.  I have what people tell me."

"I guess it's a little bit of both," Harry says, after thinking about it for a few minutes.  "Those who had more time had more time to grow attached, so to them they feel the loss deeper.  But…if you had only had a little time, you don't have as many good times or memories to remember them by.  And you're so afraid of losing those memories because they're all you have."

"It's nice to talk to someone who understands," Michaela says, smiling softly at Harry.

"Yeah, it is," Harry says, as Fiona walks in.

"Here, Harry," she says, handing him a box.  "I've had this to give to you for about a month."

He opens the box to find a picture frame with his mother and father sitting under a tree by the lake, oblivious to the person taking the picture.  They looks so happy and at peace.  Underneath the picture frame is a wedding band and a locket.

"The wedding band was your fathers.  Sirius found it in the ruins and mailed it to me.  I got it just after he was arrested.  All the note said was "Keep this for Harry."  I knew that was Sirius' handwriting, and that's when I knew for sure he hadn't betrayed your parents and that the planned had changed.  The locket was your mothers.  Your father gave it to her on her 18th birthday and before she left, she asked me to hold onto it.  I knew this summer was when I was going to have to tell you everything, and that's when I was going to give it to you.  Now you have physical mementoes from both your parents.  I know it's not the same as having them, but at least you have something tangible."

"Fiona.  I really don't know how to thank you.  But my mom gave you the locket.  She wanted you to have it," Harry says, trying to hand it back.

"I have more than that to remind me of Lily, Harry.  She gave me so much more, including a journal I still use for my 16th birthday.  I want you to have this.  Give it to the girl you fall in love with," Fiona says, smiling, "Let it carry on the legacy of love.  Now, kids, you want to know what's going on with the Order."

"Bout time they tell us what's going on," Michaela says, her temper beginning to come out.  When she's passionate about a subject, she's liable to go off on a tirade.  "I hate how they think just because we're kids we're too young to understand the severity of the matter or the importance.  Kids know a lot more than parents or adults are willing to give them credit for.  All we want is the truth, and not stupid freaking pieces of it.  We want the whole truth.  We could help if they'd give us enough credit, which of course they won't because it's adverse to the nature of adults.  If I'm ever like that, slap some sense into me."

Maggie walks in with tea, shaking her head, "Michaela, did you ever think that parents want to protect their children for as long as they can?  Granted you kids have seen more than children your age, or adults even, should have seen.  Forgive us for trying to preserve some of your innocence while you have it."

"Sorry.  Don't think I have any of that left," Harry thinks to himself while reaching for a cup of tea.

"Anyway," Fiona says, effectively shutting up any more potential arguments from Michaela, "I hate to say it, but there really isn't more news.  Granted the rest of the wizarding world is now on alert, but that makes it worse for us.  Now Voldemort has no need to hide his attacks.  But, we're thinking that most of his attacks are still going to be aimed at you, Harry.  You need to be very careful and know that for the most part, someone will always be following you.  Arthur told me that they'll see about sending for you sometime around the beginning or middle of August, not earlier unless the situation calls for it.  Dumbledore wants you to stay at the Dursley's or here as much as possible.  No wandering around during the day or late at night.  You're more than welcome to stay here whenever you want."

"So, I have to hide?" Harry asks, angrily.  "I am so tired of hiding."

"Mom, that's ridiculous.  That's no way to live," Michaela chimes in.

"If Harry wants to live, it is. He can go out, but he needs to be careful.  We think Voldemort is lying in wait and planning a larger attack; this lull in activity is disconcerting," Fiona answers in a no-nonsense tone.

"Well, what about the Muggle world?  Isn't it possible to go out by ourselves?" Michaela asks, wanting to keep Harry safe and show him a real life at the same time.  It wouldn't do them any good if she and Harry went to a club or something and then he got attacked.  "I mean, if Voldemort's lying in wait, wouldn't that be okay?"

"You can go, but be especially careful.  I would rather you go with your grandmother or myself.  At least leave a note and take your cell phone.  Unchaperoned trips in the wizarding world was completely forbidden, you two.  Nothing stupid, Michaela Katelyn.  I trust your judgment."

"Got it, mom.  I'll keep the stupidity to a minimum," Michaela mocks, saluting her mother.

"Behave or no tattoo," her mother answers tiredly.

"Seriously, Fiona.  We'll behave," Harry says, clamping a hand over Michaela before she can say something else.  "You just licked my hand," he accuses Michaela, removing it from her mouth and wiping it on her shoulder. 

"Well, you shouldn't have covered my mouth.  Contrary to popular belief, I do know what tact is and when to use it," Michaela bites back.  "Anyway, I promise mom.  You know when I'm serious."

"I do, Kaylie," Fiona says, as the clock begins to chime signifying 7 PM, "Now, if you all will excuse me, I'm exhausted.  I'm going to lie down.  I'll have the pictures for you tomorrow, Harry.  Oh, and you'll continue Occlumecy work with myself and Snape starting next week."  Harry begins to protest because of the Law of Underage Wizardry, when Fiona stops him, "We got it okayed with Fudge.  This is an exception.  Good night, kids, Maggie."  With that, Fiona heads upstairs to her room.

"I'd feel better if you headed home now, Harry dear, with Michaela.  It's just down the street, but humor an old woman," Maggie says, smiling kindly.

"I can walk home," Harry says, quickly, "It's not dark yet, and I do want to bother Michaela."  The truth is, he feels a little foolish having a girl walk him home.

"Oh, get over your macho pride," Michaela says, laughing.  "I'm walking you home.  I want to see that pig cousin of yours, if he's there."

"Fine," Harry grumbles, rolling his eyes.  He gets off the couch and Michaela grabs her wallet.  They walk in silence to the Dursley's house, Harry still smarting over having to be walked home.

"Oh, grow up, Harry," Michaela says after a block, sick of his attitude.  She rolls her eyes.  "It won't kill you to be walked home by a girl.  No one you know will see you, and if they do, you can just pretend you're walking me home.  No one knows me." 

"I guess your right."

"Of course I am.  I'm bloody brilliant.  You should know that by now."  Harry laughs.  "Ah-ha!  I win.  Got you out of that damn pout.  It's very unattractive.  If you're going to try a persona, try the bad boy who's really good at heart.  That's an attractive one.  You got the looks for that one, pretty much.  Just a little too preppy for that, but I could fix that," Michaela says, stopping to look him over.  "I could have fun with that."

"You scare me sometimes, Katie," Harry laughs, shaking his head.

"Always gotta keep them guessing," Michaela says, laughing. 

They reach 4 Privet Drive not two seconds later, and Harry walks up the path to the door while Michaela stays on the sidewalk. 

"See you tomorrow, Harry.  I had fun today," Michaela says, smiling.

"Bye Katie," Harry says, beginning to open the door.

"Wait, why are you calling me Katie?"

Harry shrugs.  "I don't know.  You mind?"

"Not at all.  'Night Harry," Michaela says, waving.  She turns around and begins heading back up the street.

"Goodnight, Katie," Harry says, shutting the door.

"Where have you been?  And who's that girl?" Dudley asks, accusingly.  "Mom and Dad say you've been gone all day."

"Out."

"Out where?"  Vernon asks, coming into the hallway with Petunia.  When Harry offers no further explanation, Vernon's anger grows.  "ANSWER ME, BOY!"

"At a friend's house," Harry says, wanting to avoid the argument that would inevitably go down if he continued to ignore his uncle.

"You?  Have a friend?  Who would want to be friends with you?" Petunia asks with a disdain.

"A girl from school named Michaela.  I think you know her mother, Fiona.  She said she was my mother's best friend," Harry says, smirking at his aunt's look of pure shock before heading up to his room.  He lets Hedwig out to stretch her wings, smiling widely as he hears the faint echoes of his uncle questioning Petunia about "this Fiona woman" and how Petunia knows her.  As he watches Hedwig fly off into the setting sun Harry thinks to himself, "Maybe this summer won't be that bad."