I spent this week working on a chapter to go between chapter one (No Longer A Child) and chapter two (Darkness Meeting), because I realised I'd skipped a big gap. The chapter deals with how Ginny ends up going with Harry and the Gang but it's not going very well so I'm posting the real chapter three and the in-between chapter will be slotted in when I feel it's up to standard. Also I've only just got a working Floppy Disk, so sorry for the delay.

Disclaimer: Don't own Potter.

Chapter Four: A Muggle and a memory

"I'll always remember that day like it was yesterday, that day when she told me she was pregnant." Harry was sitting in the lounge of 4 Privet drive talking to his Aunt Petunia, and the talk had just turned to his mother.

"I loved her Harry, whatever it might seem like to you I really did love your mother. She was my only sister and I could never hate her."

"So why did you cut her out of your life then?" Harry asked, his voice cold but no-where near as cold as his heart felt. "If you cared for her so much then why the fuck didn't you keep talking to her huh? And why did you tell Uncle Vernon you hated her and you wished you weren't related to her? Like you'd have really said that if you loved her!"

"Harry, you don't understand, it was tough for me, and for your mother and father too before they died. We pretended we weren't talking so there would be a safe home for you if the worst did indeed come to pass. I know it might have been hard for you but it was what Lilly wanted, and I only ever did what she wanted. I don't think I was physically possible to do anything else, not to my big sister."

"I don't believe you." he replied shortly, looking anywhere but at the face of his aunt.

"I know you don't, but you must Harry, you must, because I remember that night when she told me what was happening for the rest of my life." Petunia moved over to a chest of draws in the corner of the sitting room and took out a crystal basin.

"I'm sure you know what this is, Harry." She said quietly, prodding the contents of the pensive carefully with her finger. Harry didn't even bother to think where she had got it from, there was too much information to process, what with aunt Petunia claiming that she loved his mother and everything. "And I'm sure what I'm going to show you tonight will help you to believe how much I loved your mother." Harry, looked into the pensive and was immediately enraptured by what he saw, and all thoughts of why there was a pensive in Privet drive evaporated into nothingness as he gazed into the crystal depths.

Flashback, seventeen years previously

It was a cold dark night, and there was no sign of life on the road except a solitary figure hurrying towards the cottage near the corner. Once he (or was it a she) reached the door a light appeared in the window and seconds later the door was opened.

"James, it's lovely to see you." the new arrival smiled at the man who had opened the door to her, wrapping her brother-in-law in a tight hug (because it was of course a younger and more filled out Petunia Dursley). "How's Lilly and the little bundle of joy?"

"They're great, I can't get over how amazing it feels to have a child."

"I know, I was in shock for the first few days after having Dudders too, but he's more a daddy's boy than a mummy's boy. He looks like his father already, and I can't see him inheriting any of the old family power." She seemed almost sorrowful at the thought, as if it were a bad thing, this 'family power' as she put it.

"No, I don't see that happening either. It nearly seems too much to wish for, considering who his father is. No offence meant Petunia, but you know what I think of your husband. I only wish you had chosen one of our own rather than a Muggle like him." He frowned, and she understood why really, he felt about her husband the same as her sister did. "You should come in now, it's not safe to be standing out here at times like these, as we understand more than most." He added in an undertone, and then, returning to his normal voice. "Come out of the cold, you must be freezing away."

"Can't say I'm not. I take it you had a boy then, as was expected?" she asked, moving inside the house and settling herself on the settee to wait for her sister.

"Yea, Harry James Godric." James Potter smiled his sister-in-law kindly. "Harry after Lilly's father, Godric after my great-grandfather and James because it's a traditional name in the Potter family."

"That's really lovely." Petunia looked around her, and her voice showed nothing more than pure honest truthfulness. "I'm glad you managed to bring both family traditions into his name. I wanted to do the same with Dudders but Vernon wants to forget about where our family stands."

"Ah, well. I suppose I do understand. If I was in his position I suppose I wouldn't exactly want to remember what my wife's family were, or are, if my wife wasn't Lilly of course. What name did you give him though? Because I always find naming is important. Your name can shape your future."

"Vernon named him, Dudley Mark Dursley. I don't think it suits him but who am I to say. I'm only his mother."

"And what do you think he should be called." James voice was quiet but it was obvious the question was of utmost importance.

"I always though Geoffrey for a boy or Margaret for a girl."

James sighed. "Yes, Geoffrey would have been a good name for a son of yours, for any Evans son, but things can't be changed. Come now, and we'll find Lilly and Harry. I'm sure Lilly will be delighted that you took the time to come and visit us."

"It was the least I could do for my sister."

The memory faded and was replaced by another one, which Harry watched even more closely than the last. The memory he had just seen had opened up a lot more ideas about his family, both his mothers and his fathers, but he was hoping the next memory would unearth the truth of some of the mysteries he was now faced with.

"Dearest Penny, I'm so glad you could come to us today." A young red-haired woman was talking to Petunia Dursley now, though they were sitting in the same room as the last memory. Harry recognised her immediately as his mother, though he had rarely seen a picture of her taken so soon after his birth. He found that it made him want to cry all at once to see her looking so beautiful and young, so like the mother he had always dreamed of.

"You know I wanted you to come today because of some important reason, and following recent developments it is even more important that our conversation is over quickly." Lilly began, and Petunia ushered her to continue. "We must both go away with the right things said between us, the right information stored in our minds, the right promises made, the right vows exchanged."

"Of course, I'm always here with you Lills, no matter what happens you can always trust me. You're my sister and I'll always love you for that, even if my husband doesn't feel the same way."

"Yes, Vernons feelings towards us may cause problems, but you must promise to fight against him with this one thing. Everything else is your decision but you must promise me that whatever happens you will do what I'm about to ask you for."

"I promise Lilly, of course I do. Just please explain, I need to know what it is that you need all my trust for and then get back. I don't mean to sound like I'm in a rush to get away, only I've left Dudley with Arabella Fig, and you know what Vernon thinks of her, even though he doesn't know what she is. That's she's one of us."

Lilly nodded thoughtfully. "You deserve to have him staying with one of us at least, I suppose. I'll tell you what I need to tell you, but it won't be easy for you to hear."

"I'm ready for anything Lills, you might have been the one to go through underneath Dumbledore but I still have the powers to cope with any news you can give me. I love you Lilly, and no matter what happens I will always do my best to protect you and your family."

"I know Penny, I know. And that's why I'm asking you for this." The young Lilly Potter bent her head as if under great strain, and then started talking to her feet.

"My family is in grave danger, I think you've known this for a while really, but recently it's got even worse. You've got to promise me now, that whatever might happen to me or James, no matter what, you will take our Harry and look after him for us. Keep him safe for me, Penny, he means more to us than anyone else in the world."

"I promise, Lilly. I promise more than I could ever promise anything else. If I thought I could then I'd take an unbreakable vow, but you know I can't."

"I know Penny, I know. Your promise is all I need, all I will ever need."

The memory faded and the room, which had been previously filled with tension, relaxed a little bit if not much.

"Do you believe me now Harry?" Petunia asked, looking up gently towards the face of her nephew. "Do you trust now that I loved your mother, that I really cared for her?"

"Yes." Harry whispered in reply. "Yes, I believe you now."

So, what do you think? Please review and let me know.

Loves,

Sam o