Hidden Memories

Chapter 6

When Harry appeared on the front step of 12 Grimmauld Place, he was shocked to find Dudley Dursley walking along the sidewalk. Harry approached his behemoth of a cousin cautiously. He'd heard through the grapevine that his family members had made it through the war safely but he hadn't bothered to check in on them at Privet Drive.

Dudley's face was screwed up at the houses. He looked confused.

"I suppose you are looking for me," Harry called out to Dudley.

Dudley turned abruptly. "Harry."

"Dudley."

"I can't find it."

"Find what?" Harry knew, of course, that he was referring to 12 Grimmauld Place.

"The house numbers are off."

"Wizarding trick, Dudley. Did you need something?"

"So, it's here, somewhere?"

"Of course it is," Harry knew that manners dictated that he invite his cousin in. But when had the Dursley's ever cared about etiquette where Harry was concerned? But Harry gave in, he shrugged his shoulders, "Would you like to come in?"

"Love to," Dudley smiled in awe.

Harry smiled back. Great! Dudley was starting to grow on him.

"You've got biscuits. Could I have one?" Dudley pointed to the red tin.

"Sorry, it's -um- actually not biscuits at all. But I have some inside. Here take my hand," Harry gave his slender hand over to Dudley's massive paw.

Before they reached the door, there was a loud crack behind them. Dudley looked as if he nearly crapped his pants when Ron appeared out of thin air. "Wicked," he mouthed silently.

"Sorry Mate, didn't realize you had company." Ron grinned sheepishly.

"It's alright, Ron. We were just heading in for some tea. I'm sure Dudley won't mind you joining us." Harry's looked dared Dudley to contradict him.

"The more the merrier," Dudley stammered but Harry could tell he was worried that a big old dish of payback stew was about to be served to him for all the times Dudley and his friends had ganged up on Harry.

The three of them entered the house and Ron noticed that the apparition of Dumbledore no longer begged for an answer. "Hey, what happened to. . "

"I figured out the counter charm. Now this place is only protected by the Fidelius Charm."

"Ah," Ron replied then asked. "You been to Cokeworth, today?"

"Later," Harry didn't want to discuss anything in front of Dudley.

"Sure," Ron caught Harry's drift.

Harry invited Ron and Dudley to have a seat. Dudley sat down but then quickly shot of the sofa when Kreacher apparated into the room carrying a tray with a tea kettle and three cups. "Is Master expecting more guests?"

"It's okay, Dudley, he won't bite." Harry said calmly.

"At least not hard," Kreacher whispered in Dudley's direction. The elf felt an instant dislike of the young man.

"Kreacher," Harry reprimanded gently. "Just leave the tea service, and thank you."

"Ginny's coming in a bit and maybe Hermione," Ron called.

"Kreacher will bring more cups."

"You have a slave?" Dudley looked bug-eyed after the elf as he turned down the hallway.

"He's a house elf and no, he isn't a slave."

"A servant?" Dudley queried.

Harry didn't know how to explain it without it sounding exactly like slavery. Maybe Hermione was right. Harry decided the best course of action was to just change the subject. "So, Dudley, what brings you here?"

"Well, I wanted to say thank you. You know for making sure we were looked after and all. That was real big of you, I mean. . .after all. . .you know. . . the stuff."

"Yeah, I know. It's okay. We are okay. How's Aunt Petunia?"

Still an uptight twit, Harry heard a voice that was remarkable close to Snape's whisper. Harry looked to Ron and Dudley but neither of them seemed to have heard a thing.

"Mum's okay. She's glad you're okay. She doesn't say it but I know she's thinking it."

"Well, I'm glad she's okay, too," Harry didn't really know what to say. His feelings for Petunia were not warm but he didn't wish ill on anyone.

"Is your wizard school finished? Will you be coming back to Privet Drive, ever?"

"I'm finished with school. Actually looking for a job. And, for now, this place is home. I'm done with Privet Drive." Harry couldn't keep the disgust from his voice.

There was a knock at the front door. Harry heard Kreacher scurrying to answer. Then he heard the sweetest voice. "Hello Kreacher, is Harry home?" Ginny Weasley asked.

"Right this way, ladies," Kreacher called. "I'll bring you beauties tea."

"Why thank you, Kreacher," Harry heard Hermione's pleased reply.

The two girls were as surprised to find Dudley in their company as Ron had been.

Ginny leaned into to Hermione's ear, "Isn't he the git?"

Hermione smiled brightly and gently elbowed Ginny. The Weasleys! No one had bothered to teach them tact. Hermione extended her hand to Dudley. "Good to see you."

Dudley shook Hermione's hand and it was obvious that he appreciated her beauty. Harry saw Ron's cheeks turn red with jealousy. Harry knew his friend was going to have to get control of his little green monster. Hermione had shaped up to be a gorgeous young woman. Men were going to notice.

Ginny and Hermione sat on the sofa with Dudley as Harry and Ron had taken up the two armchairs. Hermione noticed the biscuit tin sitting on the table next to Harry.

"What's in the old tin?"

Harry looked around at all of their faces. He'd been trying to forget the letters. Revealing his mum's secrets to even his closest friends felt like sort of a betrayal. "It's nothing," Harry lied.

Ginny squinted at him. She knew better. But she let it go.

"It's from Snape's isn't it?" Hermione asked. Apparently Hermione knew better too.

"Snape? Severus Snape?" Dudley asked.

They all turned to look at Dudley in utter amazement.

"You know Snape?" Harry asked.

"Only that my mum hates him." Dudley answered. "And your mum used to . . .well . . .you know. . .have a thing for him." Dudley squirmed.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all looked at Harry expecting him to deny the accusation. Maybe even curse Dudley. They all knew, by now, that Snape had harbored strong feelings for LIly but they weren't aware that the feelings had been reciprocated.

Hermione's hand went to her wand on instinct. Just in case, she needed to counter a jinx.

Harry took a deep, steadying breath. "Yes, I suppose my mum did have a thing for him, as you say."

Shock turned to horror on Ron's face, "Snape?! Ewww."

"Oh, I don't know, there was something quite handsome about him," Ginny defended the dead professor.

Ron and Harry looked at her as if she'd lost all her senses.

"What?" Ginny shook her head. "Well, Hermione at least you agree."

"Well, he was, I suppose - - -rather - - uh- -dignified."

"Dignified," Ron nearly spat his tea.

"Women like the dangerous type, at least that what my mum said." Dudley took another cookie from the tray.

"When did Aunt Petunia tell you all of this, Dudley?"

"When we were in hiding. She had all sorts of stories. But most of them were about your mum and Snape and how much she hated them. How they supposedly tormented her. How he'd gotten darker and darker over the years until Lily had to let him go. She even said - -well, nevermind."

He clearly had remember something that would have been too uncomfortable to reveal.

"No, go ahead," Harry prompted. Nothing could be worse than what he'd already discovered in the letters. Infidelity.

"No, mate. I should just shut up. Besides it's my mum talking. She was probably blowing things outta proportion, ya know."

"I know. So, what did she say?"

"Mate, really." Dudley tried to wiggle out of the corner.

"I need to know." Harry leaned forward. And as he did he felt an oppressive weight over his shoulder as if there was a heavy cape hovering over him. A cape that was as eager to hear Petunia's opinions as he was.

"Well, she said that your mum only went for you dad to get back at Snape, her one true love. Sorry, Harry."

The weight suddenly lifted off of Harry and the room felt ten degrees warmer.

"It's okay, Dudley." Harry picked up the tin and sat it in his lap. He wouldn't normally have been so open with Dudley in the room but something about his cousin had changed and Harry couldn't hate him. And Dudley probably knew more about his mother's relationship with Snape than he even did, if Harry knew Petunia's big mouth, especially when she felt put out. And going into hiding had certainly made her feel put out. Harry could just see her railing all last year about LIly and Snape and the freaks they both were. Harry's hand roved over the top of the lid. The he looked to his friends. "This is full of letters. Letters written by my mother. They are to Snape."

Ron's eyes went wide and he gasped audibly.

"Are you okay?" Ginny reached across the space that separated them and placed a comforting hand on his knee.

"I haven't read them all. I'm not sure I can. I've read enough to -." He couldn't finish. How could he reveal his mother's betrayal.

"I'm sure whatever you mum and Snape had it was nothing compared to what your mum and dad had," Hermione tried to reassure Harry but the cold had returned abruptly to the room and Hermione's words had done little to help.

"I'm not so sure, Hermione. I think she was in love with Snape, deeply. I think if he hadn't joined the Death Eaters, I might not even be sitting here with you all now."

"It couldn't been that serious, I mean. . . Snape," Ron looked absolutely thunderstruck.

"It's here in the letters," Harry looked at the tin. "I don't know if I can stand to read any more of them but the need to know is digging at me."

"If you'd like, one of us could read them first," Hermione offered.

Hadn't he considered the same thing earlier? Why did it feel intrusive now that Hermione was suggesting it? Harry gripped the tin tighter. Ginny noticed and sat back into the sofa giving him more room. "Maybe we should all just leave Harry alone."

"Thanks Ginny. But no, I don't want to be alone right now. I think Hermione is right. Would you mind helping me with the letters?" He held the tin out to her.

"Sure," Ginny answered. It warmed her heart that he trusted her to be the one to look at his mother's private correspondence.

Ginny reached for the tin but when her hand made contact, sparks of silver lightning danced across the tin causing her to drop it onto the floor. "Ouch," she cried.

"Are you alright?" Ron jumped forward and without thinking tried to move the tin out of the way. Shocks wracked his body.

"Ron, don't touch it. It obviously has a charm on it. Harry you were able to open it? Without using a spell?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." Harry picked the tin up, nothing happened.

"Put it on the floor," Hermione said excitedly. She always loved solving a puzzle.

Harry placed the tin in the center of the room. He looked to make sure Ginny was okay. She was clenching and unclenching her fist but otherwise looked no worse for the wear. Ron grimaced but also looked okay.

Hermione pointed her wand at the metal box, "Alohomora." Nothing happened. "Hmm," She reached out tentatively and touched the tin. It zapped her. She tapped it with her wand, energy sizzled up the wood which intrigued her. "Powerful magic," she whispered. She looked at Dudley. "You try."

Dudley looked for all the world that he would rather ride a rampaging elephant than touch the biscuit box. He sank deeper into the sofa willing himself to disappear.

"Don't be a git," Ron grumbled. "Touch it."

Dudley looked at Harry pleadingly.

"They both survived," Harry responded.

"But they're, they're like you. It might kill me," he reasoned.

"That's highly doubtful," Hermione scoffed. He really was a git. "Just do it."

Dudley sat forward and stared at the tin. Harry toed it closer to him. Dudley closed his eyes and reached forward with one index finger. He felt the cold metal.

"What?" Ron yelled. "How come he can touch it?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's a bloodline charm."

Always the clever girl, Harry heard the deep voice again. Harry thought he might be losing his mind. He surveyed the room. Snape was nowhere.

Dudley opened his eyes and easily popped the lid from the tin. The letters with their neat penmanship lay exposed for all of his friends to see. Harry picked the box up and pulled out the ones he knew he'd already read and sat them aside. From the seventeen letters that remained, he pulled from the bottom and handed the letter to Ginny.

Ginny took the envelope and with delicate hands pulled out the letter. She read it silently to herself. It must've been short because she looked up after no time. And read in her sweet voice.

Sev,

I really wish you'd come home for Christmas Break. It's snowed here. I'm cooped up with Petunia. If you were here we could make snow angels and have a snowball fight. How's Hogwarts? Do you miss me? Hope you like the quill and ink set I bought you. See you in January.

Your friend,

Lily.

"There not all that innocent," Harry said the at askant looks on his friends' faces.

Ginny looked at Harry to see if she should continue.

When he nodded, she opened another letter. After a minute, she read:

Sev,

Dumbledore says that I may accompany him Tuesday next to the Ministry for your trial. With any luck at all, you'll be coming back to Hogwarts with us. That is my constant prayer.

Lily

"He was suspended. Underage magic, I think." Harry informed.

"Must've been when his dad was offed." Dudley said.

Harry looked at Dudley with interest, they all did. Dudley blushed from the attention. They were actually interested in something he had to say.

"Well?" Hermione prodded.

"Well, his mum killed his Dad. At least that's what the police thought. My mum thinks Snape did it but she hates him so, of course she thinks that. Anyway, there was a big trial, a circus in Cokeworth to hear my mum tell it. The wife was sentenced to life."

"Wait, what?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, even though there had been a history of abuse, life in prison."

Harry added the math in his head . She would be old but she could still be living. Harry grabbed the letters back from Ginny and dropped them into the tin. .

"Harry!" She jumped.

"Sorry, but we have to find out if she's still there. I need to talk to her."

Potter! Came the disembodied voice.