Year One

A Chance Encounter

By Spectre4hire

Chapter Six: Friends, Family, and Flamel

Stepping into the dining room Harry got a glimpse of the guest immediately. The man was talking with Roxanne and Cyrus all three were smiling and now laughing at something one of them must have said but Harry was too far away to hear their conversation.

He tentatively approached the three seeing that the guest was dressed in shabby robes. He had graying hair, with bags under his eyes. However all exhaustion and age left his face when the man smiled, it was in that smile when Harry was immediately able to put a name to the guest, having seen countless pictures of the man with his parents, "Remus Lupin?"

Remus Lupin turned around, his eyes widening at the sight of an approaching Harry. He cracked a growing smile, pushing himself out of the chair he sat in to move closer to Harry.

"Wow you look just like James."

"I know," Harry said softly, but still appreciated the compliment.

Remus smiled. He bent down so that he could be eye level with Harry. "You have your mother's eyes." The man's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "It's great to see you again." The man gently patted Harry's shoulder before standing back up.

"Could you tell me about them?"

"Of course, anything for you," he assured him.

"We all can," Roxanne joined them.

"I could think of no finer dinner topic," agreed Cyrus.

Harry beamed unable to hide his excitement at the thought that he was going to hear stories about his parents. He appreciated the pictures that Mrs. Greengrass had given him since it gave him the chance to see his parent's faces for the first time. However, he hoped these stories would bring his parents to life.

"Daphne, Astoria, Tracey," smiled Roxanne bringing Harry's attention to the three new arrivals. The Greengrass Matriarch turned to Remus. "I think the last time you saw them they were still young."

"I'm afraid they were," agreed Remus with a nod of his head. Offering the three girls a polite smile when he stepped forward he extended his hand. "Remus Lupin, an old friend of your parents and Harry's."

The three girls returned his greeting and shook his hand before situating themselves around the table. Harry sat between Remus and Daphne on one side while Tracey and Astoria sat on the other. Cyrus sat at one end and Roxanne sat at the other end of the table.

Harry couldn't remember a better time outside of Hogwarts. The food was splendid and the atmosphere was light and inviting as Mister Lupin, Roxanne, and Cyrus dominated the conversation by regaling the three kids about their days at Hogwarts. Harry was instantly ensnared at the many stories of his parents, laughing when Mister Lupin would tell a mischievous story about the trouble he and Harry's father would get into along with friends Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

He realized just how great his parents were. How they touched so many lives. How they loved and laughed and lived life to the fullest. It had confirmed his best fantasy and imaginative attempts when he would spend hours in the darkness of his cupboard trying to picture a life with them.

Dinner had since been finished and dessert had just been taken away by an eager Blinky who continued to ask Harry and Mister Lupin if there was anything further the house elf could do to please the guests. It took the two several minutes to assure the Greengrass house elf how good they were treated before she went away with a proud smile.

Tracey, Daphne and Astoria were talking happily in the sitting room. The two girls were explaining their classes and the school to an eager Astoria who was hanging on their every word. The three adults and Harry remained at the dining room table.

Harry could not have asked for a better start to his Christmas holidays. He got to meet one of his parent's oldest friends and listen to numerous stories of his parents. He was finally able to see a glimpse of the life they had lived. Not sure if words could do justice to this meal. He instead sat perfectly content in his chair feeling a smile that reached his eyes. His bliss was interrupted when he heard a heavy sigh coming from where Mister Lupin was sitting.

Curious, Harry turned to one of his father's best friends to see the man was no longer smiling. He looked tired and much older than his supposed age of his early thirties. He didn't seem to notice that Harry was watching him. His eyes remained on his wine glass.

"Mr. Lupin?" Harry wasn't sure what to say or do with Mister Lupin now that it was just the two of them since Cyrus and Roxanne had excused themselves.

He turned to face him and Harry could see the man looked very sad and weary. His wrinkles around his eyes became more visible when he gave Harry a small, tired smile. "It's Moony or Remus, Harry."

Harry nodded, "Moony." Pleased to note that the name sounded right to a man who had been his pseudo uncle when he was a baby. The name also sounded vaguely familiar like he had heard it before but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Moony sighed, "I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry immediately perked at the apology. Unsure what had roused such a sudden response. He opened his mouth to ask why he was apologizing but Mister Lupin continued.

"I should have visited you, Harry when you were younger. You should have known about your parents much sooner."

Harry could hear the sincerity in the older man's words when he reeled off the mistakes of the past. Though he was sure his pseudo uncle regretted the action, his curiosity prompted him to ask.

"Why didn't you?"

Remus rubbed his tired eyes and sadly shook his head. "I gave into my own grief and depression after your parent's death and submerged myself in the muggle world for the last several years."

"You didn't want me did you?" Harry was unable to keep his tone normal it cracked under the stress of the years of neglect and misfortunate that he endured with the Dursleys these past ten years.

Remus immediately tensed. "No, that isn't it."

"Then why didn't you raise me instead of my relatives?" asked Harry. Ever since he had discovered his parent's friends in those pictures he couldn't help but wonder why he was stuck with the Dursleys.

"I couldn't," Remus replied vaguely.

"You didn't want to," Harry said bitterly, lowering his head. His eyes were on his hands which he was wringing on his lap. He could hear Remus gulp beside him but Harry didn't care how he sounded or the words he chose.

"Harry, there wasn't anything I would want to do more then to raise you," Remus said softly and sincerely, causing Harry to raise his head where he could see some conflict behind the tired man's eyes. "But I can't, I'm not allowed."

"My parents would have wanted you too," Harry argued.

Remus smiled sadly and nodded. "They did but it wasn't up to them."

"Who was it up to then?"

Remus shook his head looking to regret where this conversation was heading. "That's not important, Harry. What's important is that I don't plan on sullying a second chance for being there for you. That is if you want me to?"

Harry could hear the uncertainty in the adult's voice, "I do, Moony."

Remus smiled, "Me too, Harry. You don't know how happy that makes me."

"Will you tell me some more stories about my parents?"

"As many as you want to hear."

Harry was disappointed when he and Daphne were finally sent to their room an hour later for bed. He got dressed quietly into his pajamas. His mind trying to commit every story he heard that evening to memory. He didn't want to forget a single detail as he climbed into his bed, and lay in darkness, realizing how grateful and happy he was for where he currently found himself.

Even when he tried to commit the stories to memory he hadn't forgotten his conversation with Moony. He couldn't control his curiosity at what he said about his inability at being able to raise Harry. There was more to it and Harry wanted to know what it was. He also was determined to discover the fates of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Anytime he tried to ask about them during the stories he was rebuffed by all three adults. He could only wonder why these two supposed friends of his parents could elicit such a response from the adults, and it was with these thoughts that sent Harry into a peaceful slumber…


"Harry," hissed Daphne.

Harry groaned, stirring under his blankets. He blinked his sleepy eyes to see a blurry silhouette in front of him. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep as he lazily reached for his glasses and put them on. Daphne came into focus. She was sitting on his bed. He frowned, "is there a particular reason you woke me up?"

"I just needed a good conversation at two in the morning," replied Daphne sarcastically, before tossing her hair over her shoulder.

He rolled his eyes, and put his head back on his pillow. Wanting to submit to the desire to go back to sleep.

"Come on now is our chance," Daphne whispered softly, before gently pushing his shoulder.

He immediately raised his head, curious with what his friend was saying or referring to, "Our chance at what?"

She shook her head ruefully. "I thought you were only dim during the daylight."

"Ha-hah," yawned a protesting Harry, realizing that he was not going to go back to sleep with this intruder in his room.

"This is our chance to find out about Flamel," Daphne clarified.

"We have all Holiday though," Harry was just as curious as his friends. However, At this particular moment the only thing he valued was a few more hours of sleep.

"I can't wait," Daphne stood up. "As a friend, I thought you would want to be a part of the discovery, but I guess I was wrong."

"Guilt trip much?" groaned Harry. Discovering his sleepiness was fading away the more this conversation continued being replaced by his own curiosity about finding out who the mysterious Nicholas Flamel was.

Daphne grinned, "Many times."

"Are you sure we can find him in your family's library?" Harry didn't want to forfeit his first chance at a lie in of the holiday on a hunch.

"I'm confident," Daphne straightened her posture while feigning indignity at the slight that she would lead him astray.

"Fine lets go see," Harry grumbled, sliding out from under his blankets.

A triumphant Daphne led a tired Harry out of his room and down the stairs. A few candles remained lit, but otherwise the manor was plunged in darkness at this late hour. Daphne had early on taken a candle from the corridor and was using it to lead them to the library's oak doors before opening them.

Harry vaguely remembered the library during the tour he had several hours ago when he first arrived. At this ungodly hour that felt like an eternity ago. The library was just as impressive at night, a large diamond shaped room with towering bookshelves that lined the walls, leather sofas and chairs placed in the middle of the room and around a fireplace which was the only part of any of the walls not covered by books.

"How many books do you have?" Harry whispered.

"A few thousand," shrugged Daphne, leading him over to a pulpit.

Harry knew that Hermione would faint at the sight of so many books. "So how are we going to find Flamel in all this?" He waved his arms to gesture to all the bookshelves.

"Ye of little faith," Daphne smirked before pointing to the pulpit the two now stood in front of. The small pulpit was crafted from simple wood with a piece of parchment and ink bottle on top. A feathery quill lay on its side by the parchment.

"Uh-huh," Harry turned from the pulpit to his friend. He wondered if he had just been woken up to be the participant of his friend's elaborate prank.

"My father installed runes, numerous spells, enchantments into our library. We can get any book we want if we write what we are looking for," Daphne explained.

"Really?" breathed Harry, feeling a lot more awake.

Daphne nodded proudly at her father's achievement. "Yes, it is all specially catalogued. The book or books will appear there." She pointed to a small circular table that rested on the other side of the pulpit.

"Impressive," Harry admitted. "I'm sure Madam Pince would be green with envy at this layout."

"That she would," She then picked up the feathery quill and dipped it into the ink before returning to the parchment where she carefully wrote out the name that had been bothering them these last few weeks.

Nicholas Flamel.

Daphne returned the quill to its side next to the parchment. Harry watched the letters in the parchment fade away. He was about to ask what was happening but then he noticed the sudden appearance of a very old, very big leather bound book.

"Yes!" exclaimed a proud Daphne. "I knew it would work." She eagerly walked around the pulpit to see the book that more than likely contained the answers they sought about the mysterious Nicholas Flamel.

Harry tentatively followed finding his own curiosity piquing with his own excitement that they were coming to the conclusion of the research they had been secretly conducting for weeks.

She reached out and gingerly flipped through the pages of the book her eyes scanning its content. He could see her smile only growing. "Wow, this is incredible."

"What? What is it?"Harry was slightly annoyed that she was reading silently and leaving him in the dark.

She looked up and must have noticed his annoyance since she flashed him an apologetic look. "Sorry, got excited." She then put the book on the table to allow them both the ability to read its content.

Harry looked down at the small excerpt that Daphne had chosen.

Nicolas Flamel the famous alchemist who successfully created a Sorcerer's Stone. The stone is very rare and nearly impossible to create because of its astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into gold. It also inhabits the Elixer of Life. Allowing any who drink its contents the gift of immortality. It has been the first stone created and recognized in the last ten centuries.

"Wow," Harry finished the excerpt. He then looked up at the portrait that was with it. Of a young man and woman both dressed in regal clothes that he had seen in those medieval movies that the Dursleys would sometimes watch on the telly when he was younger.

"It's amazing," added Daphne. "Can you believe it: the Sorcerer's Stone is at our own school?"

Harry shook his head in amusement. "No wonder we never found him. He's over six hundred years old. He really wouldn't be in recent magical achievements, now would he?"

Daphne giggled and nodded. Her fingers were tracing the small picture of the supposed stone. He looked over at his friend to see the pensive look she gave.

"Could you imagine having the stone in your possession?" she whispered softly. "What you could accomplish?"

"I suppose that's why someone is trying to steal it," deadpanned Harry.

Daphne slowly nodded, her blue eyes still held a slightly far off look as if she was trying to imagine such a possibility. "I suppose you're right."

It was sometime later when the two finally left the library after reading up on both Nicolas Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone that Harry once again slid under his blankets. He yawned as he gently put his glasses on the nightstand, blinking in the darkness, his mind replaying the facts that he and Daphne had discovered in the last hour or so.

They now knew who Nicolas Flamel was, what Fluffy was guarding on the third floor corridor… The Sorcerer's stone: A chance for immortality and unlimited wealth. The lengths someone might use to acquire this stone had already been witnessed when someone successfully broke into Gringotts to try to snatch the stone. Leaving Harry to wonder how long the stone would be safe at Hogwarts?


The days between the start of the holidays and Christmas were some of the best Harry had ever experienced. Especially since Moony was staying at the manor too and had gone to great efforts to try to not only get to know Harry but to tell him as many stories as he could remember of his parents.

Harry knew his pseudo uncle was trying to make up for the past ten years. He could tell the man regretted his lack of action and was making a genuine effort to redeem himself. Harry was grateful for the effort and thankful for another presence in his life who wanted to see him achieve and who more importantly cared about his well being.

Two days before Christmas found Harry, Cyrus, and Moony going to Diagon Alley to help Harry do his Christmas shopping. Roxanne, Daphne, and Astoria elected to remain at the manor to put up decorations and to wrap their gifts.

Harry coughed soot as he tumbled out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron. He was sure he had inhaled too much smoke as he experienced his first trip by Floo powder and instantly didn't like it. After apparition and now Floo powder, Harry was only left wondering if the magical world had any non-nauseous ways of transportation.

A snigger caused the first year Slytherin to look up to see Moony was trying his best to hold back his own laughter while the man's eyes were a lit with mirth.

Harry dusting off the soot and ash as he approached his father's friend, trying to keep an annoyed look on his face as he fought off his own amusement. He was happy that the Leaky Cauldron was empty at this early hour and that his little display had only been seen by Remus.

"That was a bit embarrassing," smiled Remus.

Harry rolled his eyes but before he could reply, green fire appeared once more as Cyrus Greengrass easily stepped out of the fireplace. Harry was envious at how simple and easy the man made it look.

"Troubles with the Floo?" asked Cyrus.

Remus let out a bark of laughter unable to contain his amusement anymore.

Harry too was able to see the amusement of his current attire which had him covered in ash and soot. He finally smiled and nodded.

Cyrus pulled out his wand from a hip holster. He then uttered an incantation. The soot and ash immediately evaporated leaving Harry's first year robes spotless including his Slytherin colored scarf and patch.

"I suppose we will have to teach him how it is done," Remus patted Harry on the shoulder.

"Yes, we can't have him breaking a bone," agreed Cyrus with mirth.

"Show offs," Harry mumbled good naturedly as the two adults traded chuckles before leading Harry out of the Leaky Cauldron after saying a quick good morning to Tom the bartender. The three stepped out onto the alley as Cyrus went to the brick wall while Remus and Harry hung back.

"A Slytherin, I still can't believe it," Remus stated suddenly.

Harry looked up to see Moony was smiling. He offered his father's friend a shrug. "The hat said my destiny lay with that house."

"No trouble I hope?"

Harry lowered his head, remembering the countless whispers and glares. Not to mention his encounters with Draco. "Nothing I can't handle."

The adult raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by the answer and his tone. "Harry?"

"I have friends who watch out for me," Harry reassured him.

Reassurance wasn't something Harry was use to having to do. Growing up neglected and ignored, he wasn't use to people looking after his well being, thankfully that all had changed.

Remus appraised the young man but before he could comment, Cyrus called back at them. Both turned to see him standing in the open doorway that led to Diagon Alley.

"The doorway won't stay open you know."

Remus and Harry followed the Greengrass Patriarch through the gateway as the three stepped onto the streets of Diagon Alley. Only a few customers were out at this early hour. No one gave them a second glance as they walked by. After a trip to Gringotts to withdraw some money the men went about their shopping more importantly helping Harry with his.

Harry who had never received a Christmas present before let alone buy one wanted to make sure that each present he bought his friends was something that they would appreciate. After a few hours of shopping at every store Diagon Alley offered the three men called it a day. They decided to take up lunch at the Three Broomsticks, Remus and Cyrus wanting to give Harry the experience of the oldest magical village in all of Britain.

Harry immediately took a liking to the Three Broomsticks; the quaint bustling tavern was warm with a friendly ambiance. It was decently crowded by a number of witches and wizards which made it easier for Harry to go unnoticed. Something he was immensely thankful for. An attractive and curvy waitress led the three to a booth and quickly left to get their drinks.

"This takes me back." Moony's eyes had a far off look while he scanned the inside of the restaurant.

Cyrus nodded, "yes, it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend without a visit to the Three Broomsticks."

The waitress came back with a warm smile and handed them three mugs of butterbeers. Harry intrigued by the name tentatively drank his and immediately felt a sudden warmth swell within his stomach. It was a welcome feeling after being out in the cold most of the morning.

"This is really good," he smacked his lips together.

The waitress smiled, "I'm glad you like it, Hon. I'm Rosmerta and I will be serving you today." She then turned to Remus and Cyrus. "You two look very familiar." Before they could answer a light seemed to go off in her head snapping her manicured fingers, "Remus Lupin and Cyrus Greengrass!"

The two men smiled and nodded. They both looked pleased that they were remembered by the waitress.

"You flatter us." Cyrus said softly.

Rosmerta chuckled. "It's hard to forget some of my best clients. You were always in here with Roxanne Everett. You two were quite inseparable, I still remember a few times the two of you would duck in here to…-"

Cyrus looking a bit flustered raised his hands to stop the waitress from going further. "Well, yes we are married now."

She grinned, "I knew you two would end up together." She then turned to Remus. "You, I remember too always in here with James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black."

Harry noticed the smile left her face at the mention of Sirius's name. He looked over to see both Cyrus and Remus also looked more somber at the name. If he didn't know better he would think that none of them liked the man who had served as his father's best man at his parent's wedding.

"Yes, well I hope we didn't cause too much mischief for you," Remus said uncomfortably. He clearly didn't want to keep the subject on his friend, Sirius Black.

Rosmerta seemed to understand and agree. "No, not too much except that time you four blew up our kitchen."

Harry snorted into his butterbeer. Remus' cheeks went red. He was nervously tugging at his collar while Cyrus laughed soundly.

"Erh yes, we were sorry about that," Remus recovered, tapping his fingers on his butterbeer mug.

She waved off his embarrassment. She too was smiling at the memory. "Last time we let our customers try to cook their own food."

Remus nodded, though Harry could see his lips twitching into a smile.

Rosmerta's breath hitched and Harry knew why looking up he could see that she had finally seemed to notice him. "Sweet Merlin, you're Harry Potter!"

Harry immediately stiffened at the gaping. She seemed to notice his discomfort since she immediately lowered her head, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, not good for a waitress to gawk at her customer. I can't expect a good tip with that behavior."

"You just look like them. Your father, it's like I am talking to James," she said in a soft voice. "But I'm looking into Lily's eyes." Her eyes were misting. "Great people your parents. They brought me a lot of laughs…"

Harry sat up straighter at the kind words she had for his parents. He had been told it before, but it always filled him with pride and happiness when he heard how others spoke about them. About how much they cared and respected them.

Cyrus steered the conversation back to their orders and after they gave them Rosmerta took their menus and left. "So Remus I suppose you didn't partake in a chef's occupation while in the muggle world?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "To be fair, it was mostly James and Sirius. They did cause the oven to explode."

Harry noticed it again. Their tones and postures changed at the mention of Sirius. It was like it hurt them to say his name or even by mentioning him.

"What happened to-?" The rest of Harry's question was interrupted as a booming voice followed by a giant of a man stepped into the tavern.

"Ello Harry!"

Harry forgot about his question. A smile came to his face when he saw his first friend from the magical world, "Hagrid!"

The giant gamekeeper approached the three. His bushy beard and long untamed hair mired with frost.

"Hagrid," Cyrus greeted the man civilly and with a smile followed by Remus.

"Cyrus, Remus!" Hagrid returned the friendly greeting.

"Care to join us?" Cyrus gestured to a nearby chair.

Hagrid shook his head sending bits of frost in all directions. "Can't, Ima just here for' a bit of food befur I head ova to the Hog's Head."

"The what?" Harry had never heard of it.

"It's a dingy bar at the end of the road," clarified Remus. "Not for the young crowd."

"Oh."

"What business do you have at the Head?" asked Cyrus politely.

"A card game," answered Hagrid proudly and a bit too loudly since several people turned their heads to their table.

Hagrid was never one for subtleties. It was kind of hard when you were ten feet tall.

After accepting what looked to be a crate of food from Rosmerta, Hagrid wished the three of them a Happy Christmas and left the tavern.

The three were soon presented their assortment of lunches and began to eat. Harry, who was working on his delicious sandwich slowly, still could not forget about the reaction that Sirius' name had gotten. However, he knew if he was abrupt about it and ask them straight up they'd be most likely to refuse to answer and to have the subject be dropped.

So Harry knew he needed a different tactic. He needed to ask safer questions that would lead to the answer he wanted.

"Why didn't Sirius or Peter take me in after my parents died?"

Remus' silverware toppled off the table before falling on the ground to a clatter. His expression immediately shifted from relaxed to on edge. Cyrus flinched momentarily before regaining his cool demeanor as he finished sipping his butterbeer. The two adults exchanged looks, apparently silently agreeing to the direction of where to take the conversation before Cyrus finally spoke up.

"Peter was killed during the war."

"He was?" Harry hadn't been expecting that answer. He should have. He knew many wizards and witches perished in the first war against Voldemort.

Remus nodded sadly, "towards the end of the war."

"What about Sirius?"

Cyrus sighed, "He switched sides."

"Switched sides?"

"Sirius comes from a family who has long supported the Dark Arts. We had thought he was different but in the end we were wrong," answered Cyrus.

"He joined Voldemort?" Harry whispered.

"Yes," answered Remus flatly.

"What about-"

"Please Harry, no more," cut in Remus.

Harry turned over to see the line of questioning had brought his pseudo uncle into a very tense posture. The man looked both very weary and very sad. It forced Harry to realize that he was casually asking about two men who Remus had considered brothers. One who had been killed, while the other had betrayed them and joined Voldemort.

"He is paying for his loyalties," Cyrus said darkly.

Harry looked over to the Greengrass Patriarch. "What do you mean?"

"He was sent to Azkaban prison. A terrible place, guarded by the most foulest of creatures," Cyrus explained.

Remus cleared his throat. He looked a bit irksome that the conversation was being allowed to continue. Cyrus shrugged apologetically before going back to his own food.

Harry could tell the conversation was over and that he wasn't going to find out anymore. However he had more thoughts to digest then food. His father's best man and supposedly best friend Sirius Black had switched sides. Harry could remember all the pictures of the young Sirius Black, the jovial man so full of life and laughter was a closet Death Eater.

It just didn't make sense. Even though both adults seemed terse and tense at the subject Harry had to know more. He needed to know why his father's best friend would switch sides and just as important what were his parent's reactions to such a gut wrenching revelation.


The days that followed were uneventful to Harry compared with the news he learned at that Three Broomsticks. Though the revelation about Sirius Black was a black spot for Harry's first enjoyable holidays it could not deter the young man from being appreciative of the Greengrass hospitality not to mention the continued presence of Moony.

A tired Harry Potter woke on Christmas morning to a friendly and all too familiar voice.

"Happy Christmas, Harry!"

Harry blearily opened his eyes blinking in blurry vision before he fumbled with his glasses on his nightstand and slid them on to see a smiling Daphne Greengrass standing at the foot of his bed.

"Happy Christmas, Daphne," he returned the holiday greeting. He attempted to sit up only to feel an increase weight at his feet looking down at the foot of his bed. Harry noticed a pile of presents. The young boy who had never received a Christmas present in all of his life was now staring at his first ever Christmas presents.

"Thanks for the potions ingredients!" said an enthusiastic Daphne who was clutching a small wooden box to her side.

Harry smiled, "I'm glad you like it."

Daphne who was still smiling added. "How could I not? Some of these ingredients are rare and expensive-"

Harry cut her off realizing where her line of thinking was going. "It wasn't too expensive. I got a good deal on them."

"A good deal?" Daphne clearly wanted to know more.

Harry offered her a shrug and a smile. "We persuaded the shop keeper that having me as a client wasn't such a bad thing."

Daphne looked very pleased and proud. "See, you are learning the effective ways of our house."

Harry shook his head in amusement. He was still a bit uncomfortable with his fame and how people gawked at him but he also realized that such attention could be beneficial in certain ways. His thoughts and perspective on being famous left his head as he went for his first present which coincidentally was from Daphne who he considered his first Hogwarts friend.

Gingerly holding the package he looked up to see Daphne smiling at him. She seemed to know how momentous this was for him. He tentatively opened his first Christmas present looking down at it. His eyes immediately brightened at what he saw. He was holding a silver and green picture frame.

It was not the frame that had gotten his attention but the picture within it. He was looking down at his own smiling face, with Daphne and Tracey flanking him both girls were smiling and waving back up at him. He recognized the moment at once. It was the Friday afternoon after their first week of classes.

He soon discovered a second picture and frame under the first. This picture frame had green and crimson bordering. He looked down once more at himself who was smiling and waving back at him. Like the first one he was again flanked by Daphne and Tracey who were both smiling and waving. There were others too in the picture.

Neville was on Tracey's other side while Hermione was on Daphne's other side. The two Gryffindors were also smiling, Neville a bit more shyly while Hermione was practically beaming up at Harry. Theodore was also in the picture. He was on Hermione's other side though he didn't smile as wide as the others. A small smile could be seen as he followed it with a curt nod.

Harry recognized this moment too. It was taken the day before their holidays began. They had all went to the library to start up on their holiday homework and Daphne had pulled out the magical camera and had persuaded Madam Pince to take a picture. A feat Harry was sure would never be matched since the librarian didn't seem to like too many of the students.

"Wow," Harry looked between the two pictures. These were the first magical pictures of him that he could actually remember being taken. However, that wasn't why his throat was so dry or why he could feel tears threatening to come out. It was because he was looking down at his friends.

His friends, the two words alone were enough for Harry to smile. This was his permanent reminder that he had started a new life when he got his Hogwarts letter. A life that meant new friends, with people who cared for him and that reminder helped make Harry's first present. The best present that he would ever receive.

"Do you like it?" asked Daphne tentatively. She seemed to take his silence poorly, fearing he didn't like her choice of gift.

Harry turned to her with a smile that threatened to split his face in half. "I love it!"

She smiled brightly at this statement before she adapted a more mischievous look. "I was tempted to cut out Nott's picture but seeing since he's your friend and all…"

Harry chuckled. His eyes roamed the two different pictures for a few more seconds before he placed them on the nightstand and went on to opening other gifts.

Hagrid had given him a flute that he seemed to make himself. When Harry tried to play a few notes it sounded like an owl. A dying owl if you asked Daphne.

Tracey had gotten him a book: Quidditch through the Ages. Harry immediately began to open it and read through the first few pages much to Daphne's displeasure.

Tracey's mum had sent him a batch of homemade caramel fudge which was delicious. Daphne said no one made better fudge then Mrs. Davis and that he should expect a lot more of those gifts in the coming years.

Neville had given Harry a box of chocolate frogs. Hermione too sent candy, a small package of chocolate frogs and licorice wands.

Theodore had given Harry a book as well. His book was a beginner's guide to Defense against the Dark Arts and Creatures. Flipping through the pages to see the book offering various tips, spells, and charms, many of which he wanted to test including a stunning spell, and disarming jinx.

Remus had given Harry his dad's old wand holster. Harry held the worn out dragon leather holster in his hands carefully. The thought that it had once belonged to his father made it an incredible gift. For the first time in his life he owned something that belonged to his parents.

Roxanne and Cyrus had given Harry a photo album. They had carefully organized the volumes of pictures of his parents and friends in over a hundred pages. It was another remarkable gift. Looking to see his parents smiling faces on Christmas morning was another gift that he knew words would be unable to properly convey his emotions.

"You got one more," observed Daphne. She was sitting next to him at the end of the bed.

Harry noticed the gift she was referring to and picked it up. It was a small parcel. He carefully opened it to find himself staring at a shiny silvery cloak. His fingers gently ran over the fabric, it was the strangest touch he ever experienced, it felt as if it was water that had been woven into the material.

"I can't believe it," Daphne said softly.

He looked up to see her blue eyes were examining his gift closely. "What?"

She tore her eyes away from the cloak and back to him. She seemed to sense his confusion so she clarified. "You're holding an invisibility cloak. By the looks of it a very well made one."

"An invisibility cloak?" repeated Harry.

"Yes, I'm sure of it," Daphne stated. "Try it on." She added motioning to the mirror on his dresser.

Harry trusted his friend was not having him on. He got out of bed making his way over to the dresser where he was greeted by his own reflection. He looked back at Daphne who was gesturing him to try it on which he slowly did tossing the cloak over his head.

"I knew it!" proclaimed a triumphant Daphne.

Harry's breath caught in his throat. When he stared in the mirror where his reflection had been a moment ago was now gone! He removed the cloth from his head and to his amusement saw his head hovering in mid-air since the cloak was still wrapped around the rest of his body.

"Wow, it's incredible!" Harry was already hatching ways where he could use this cloak on Draco and his fellow Slytherins.

"There's a note too," Daphne held up a small piece of parchment.

Harry approached her. Carefully removing the cloak and placing it on his bed he took the offered note. He didn't recognize the long, loopy scrawl.

Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well.

A very Merry Christmas to you.

"My father's," Harry repeated. He had already thought the cloak was an amazing gift, but to know that it once belonged to his father made it even more amazing. He now had two gifts that once belonged to his father.

"Is there a signature?" asked Daphne.

Harry shook his head handing her the note.

"I wonder if it's from Moony," Daphne was inspecting the note.

"No, it doesn't match Moony's handwriting and besides he already gave me a gift," Harry pointed out.

"True," Daphne conceded. "But it doesn't mean that he couldn't have gotten you another gift and just disguised his handwriting."

"Why would he disguise his handwriting?"

"Good point," Daphne pouted slightly that her theory had been shot down. "Then who gave it to you?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know but whoever it is has my thanks and a new box of chocolate frogs."

Just then a smiling Roxanne poked her head into the room. "There you are Daphne. Well I hope you guys are done opening gifts because it's time for breakfast and then we are going out."

"Going out?" asked a confused Daphne.

"Yes," Roxanne left before either of them could ask a follow up question.

"Some kind of family tradition?" asked Harry.

Daphne shook her head, "No, we don't usually go out on Christmas."

"Oh," Harry was carefully wrapping up his father's cloak.

"Are you going to ask Moony about it?"

"Eventually," answered Harry vaguely which caused Daphne to raise an eyebrow waiting for an explanation."I want to try it out at school first."

A mischievous glint could be seen in Daphne's icy blue eyes. Her thoughts no doubt on how certain Slytherins could be punished or humiliated.

The two went downstairs and were greeted warmly by Cyrus, Roxanne, Astoria, and Remus. Thanks were exchanged as some showed off new gifts and others talked about the gifts they had received. Throughout breakfast Harry couldn't stop smiling while he continued to look around at the friendly faces at the table. Not to mention the gifts that his friends had sent him that now were placed in a careful pile at the foot of his bed.

It was near the end of the breakfast where Astoria asked the question that Harry was tempted to ask himself.

"Where are we going today?"

The adults exchanged looks silently communicating a conversation while Harry and Daphne traded their own looks both curious and thankful for Astoria for broaching the subject they had both wanted to know more about.

"Mister Lupin and your mother will be taking Harry out," Cyrus answered delicately, "But it is a surprise."

Daphne looked to her parents giving them an annoyed expression conveying that she was not pleased that she wasn't being included. "Where? Why only them?"

"It's personal, Daphne. Perhaps you may go another time," Cyrus declined gently.

"Personal?" That didn't satisfy Daphne.

"No more questions, Daphne," warned Roxanne.

Daphne immediately closed her mouth settling into her ice queen mask of indifference with a thin frown showing her disapproval.

"I don't mind if Daphne comes," Harry said after the table had fallen silent. He was curious to know where they were going that was so personal that only he, Roxanne, and Moony were going.

Daphne flashed him a grateful smile before turning to her parents silently pleading for them to reconsider.

Roxanne sampled her daughter with an amused smile at the sudden change in her mood. "Remus?"

"If Harry says its okay, then its fine with me."

Daphne's ice mask cracked completely when she realized that she was not being left out.

Astoria on the other hand wasn't happy about being excluded and it took her father a few promises including a round of snowball fights and sledding to convince Astoria that she was going to have more fun with him than the others.

So after Blinky was showered with compliments after a well cooked meal, the poor house elf eyes nearly bulging out at all the kind words that were given to her. A satisfied and well fed Remus, Roxanne, Harry, and Daphne exited the Dining room and made their way to the foyer with Cyrus following holding onto Astoria's hand as he went.

"We are going to be aparating," announced Remus.

Harry groaned loudly causing three smiles from the adults and an amused head shake from Daphne. All of who were use to the nauseous mode of transportation.

"I'll take Harry," Remus tapped Harry on the shoulder. "There is nothing to worry aboutif you hold on tight."

"What's that suppose to mean?" asked Harry suddenly. "Could something go wrong?" He hated apparition because of the feeling he got of being forced through a small pipe, but if there was a danger to it he definitely couldn't see himself doing it when he was older.

"Only if you're worried about losing a body part," grinned Remus.

"Wait… what?" Harry was hoping he heard wrong.

"He's only teasing Harry," reassured Roxanne sending a pointed look at an amused Remus.

More relaxed, Harry allowed Remus to firmly grab his arm as they said goodbyes to Astoria and Cyrus before Harry once more experienced the feeling as if he was being squeezed through a pipe before he thankfully found solid ground beneath him.

He immediately bent over hands on his knees. His breathing heavy while he tried to reel in his stomach and push down the vomit that was creeping up his throat.

Remus chuckled, "Your mother wasn't much of a fan of apparition at first too."

"I can see why," Harry straightened up to see he was standing in an alley with Remus, Roxanne, and Daphne who were all watching him with various expressions. Remus looked on with amusement, Roxanne with a mother's sympathy while Daphne's eyes glistened with merriment.

"We got Lily through it and we will get you through it too, Harry," said a soothing Roxanne. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He immediately felt better chalking it up to a mother's touch. He was also pleased to learn that his mother hadn't liked the form of travel either.

"Okay, we should get going," Remus had poked his head out of the alley and now turned to face the three of them before he gestured the group to follow.

"Where are we?" Harry found himself and the others walking sidewalks through a small muggle community. He couldn't see another person in all directions, most of the shops were closed and he was sure most people were enjoying the warmth of their fires and the company of their family on this Christmas morning.

"Godric's Hollow," answered Roxanne.

"Like Godric Gryffindor?" asked Harry.

"Yes, he was born here," smiled Roxanne.

"This is a magical hamlet with a few muggle residences as well," clarified Remus as the four of them stopped in front of an obelisk war memorial. He turned to see Remus and Roxanne both looking misty eyed he was about to ask about their reaction when his eyes turned to the memorial to see that it was shifting!

What once was an obelisk war memorial now became a statue of two smiling and familiar faces. It was a statue of him as a baby with his parents.

"This is where you lived," Remus said softly.

Harry hesitantly tore his eyes away from the statue of himself and his parents and towards one of his father's oldest friends. He wasn't sure if words could express his thanks but Remus seemed to understand and gave him a small, friendly nod.

"This is where Voldemort perished," whispered Daphne in an awed voice as she realized she was walking where history was made.

"My parents died here?" Harry's voice cracked.

"They're also buried here," Remus revealed. "I thought you'd want to see their graves."

Harry numbly nodded following the two adults while Daphne walked closely to his side. He gave one last parting glance at the statue of his family as it morphed back into an obelisk war memorial. They silently treaded to the church with the only noise being the crunching of snow that was being stamped under their feet. They stopped outside the kissing gates that led to the graveyard, voices carried over from the church which sounded like a packed house as many had come to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Remus' gloved hands traced the handle of the gate. He looked to be steeling the nerves to enter the graveyard. "It's been a long time." His admission was in a remorseful and regretful voice.

Roxanne put a friendly hand on his shoulder and together the two friends opened the gate and walked into the graveyard with Harry and Daphne right behind them.

"I brought you here when you were very young," Roxanne put her hand on her daughter's arm. She then enveloped her daughter in a side hug while they moved deeper into the graveyard.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to come here or not," Remus' tone betrayed his uncertainty with his decision.

"No, I do," Harry assured him in a quiet but confident voice. "Can we see the home next?"

Remus nodded, putting a friendly hand on Harry's back. There was no flinch or discomfort from Harry. The two then joined Roxanne and Daphne who both had stopped in front of a white marble headstone. The two Greengrass women parted to allow Harry his first glimpse of his parent's final resting place.

His breath was caught in his throat as his eyes examined the headstone reading the dates.

James Potter

Born 27 March 1960

Died 31 Octorber 1981

Lily Potter

Born 30 January 1960

Died 31 October 1981

The Last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Harry felt a sudden sense of fulfillment when he read the inscription for the third time. He wasn't sure what he was going to feel when he saw his parents' graves.

He felt sadness, regret, anger that he was alone on Christmas and that this was the only way he could see them. Surprisingly his anger waned, being replaced by a tranquil feeling that he was sure that he would never be able to properly describe in the years to come. He dabbed a few loose tears with his thumb. His misty eyes lingered on the odd quote that his parents had put on the bottom of their headstone.

"What's it supposed to mean?" he finally asked.

"Living after death," Remus' eyes were watering but they remained fixed on the names of his two best friends.

That idea brightened Harry immediately instantly imagining his parents smiling faces looking down at him at this very moment. He looked over his shoulder to see silent tears streaming down Roxanne's rose-colored cheeks, but the Greengrass matron didn't seem to mind giving him a small, watery smile.

He then turned to Daphne who looked on with sadness. Her blue eyes were shimmering with grief. No doubt due to the effect these two people's deaths had not just on her parents but on him.

Remus' hands trembled at his side. He was biting his lower lip while his eyes even though were red rimmed. There were no tears on his cheeks.

This wasn't an emotional visit just for Harry. In some ways it was just as emotional for Roxanne and Remus who both had grown up with his parents and had loved them and considered them family. Like Harry, they had to live with emptiness, a void in their life these last ten years and for the remainder of their life.

Harry didn't know how long the four of them silently looked at the headstone but after awhile and a growing chill, the four made their way down the street and towards Harry's home. Remus had put a warming charm on the four of them so that they no longer had to shiver from the cold winter breeze.

"You said this was a magical hamlet?" Harry broke the silence that had enveloped the four of them. "So other wizards and witches live here?"

Remus nodded, "Yes, this was where Dumbledore grew up."

"Really?" Harry was now looking at every house they passed with new interest. Wondering which one housed their school's Headmaster.

"Yes, so did Bathilda Bagshot, she wrote your-"

"History of Magic text book!" finished Daphne.

"Yes, she did," confirmed a smiling and proud Ravenclaw mother. "She was one of the better Magical historians in the last few centuries."

Harry could hear Remus sucking in his breath next to him. Harry turned to wonder what had elicited a response but a soft gasp from Roxanne brought Harry's attention to the house in front of them.

The first thing he noticed was the small two-level cottage was mostly intact minus the right side of the top floor had been blown away. Harry instinctively brought his gloved hand to his forehead. He realized that must have been where Voldemort's curse backfired.

He could see the hedge had grown wild and had become untamed these last eleven years, he was sure the grass would mirror the hedge if it was not buried underneath so much snow.

"Your mother use to keep a small garden in the back, where she grew a few vegetables, fruits and even a few magical plants," Roxanne said softly.

"Really?" Harry suddenly longed to see any traces of that garden.

"Oh yes, she was a spectacular cook," answered Remus fondly. His eyes were misting over signaling the many happy and sad memories that were playing out before him.

Wanting to touch a part of the house, wanting to feel a bit of the history he placed his hand on the rustic gate. His sudden touch brought a small sign that rose out of the ground in front of them, rising through the blanket of snow and the trestles of weeds.

"On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981, Lily and James Potter lost their lives. Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard to ever have survived the Killing Curse. This house, invisible to muggles, has left in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and as a reminder of the violence that tore apart their family."

There was more scribbles and messy scrawl around the edges of the sign that must have come from other visiting witches and wizards who had come to pay their respect. They added further words of comfort, praise, and support to James, Lily, and Harry.

He felt a sudden grip on his right hand looking over to see it was Daphne. She gave him a friendly, reassuring smile, while her blue eyes glistened with sincerity. Not sure if he could speak, he nodded his appreciation, squeezed her hand and returned his stare to the house that he once lived in with his parents.

Harry may no longer have his parents but judging by the lengths that Remus and Roxanne had gone through to bring him here he was sure that he did have those who cared for him.


The remainder of the Holidays was a blur for Harry Potter. He remembered spending time with his friends Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom. He, Tracey, and the Greengrass family visited both Hermione and Neville at their respected houses for dinner with the Grangers and a News Year Party at Longbottom Manor.

He spent a lot more time with Moony. The two were beginning to form a close bond. Harry was immediately grateful for Remus who had opened the door to his parents past and with it shared hundreds of stories. The only interruption between the two during the holidays was when Remus left for a few days after Christmas. When Harry asked where he was going Remus had said he was visiting his parents but when he came back a few days later he had looked very tired and sick.

Soon the Holidays were over and Harry and Daphne had packed up their belongings and were getting ready for their second term of their first year. Harry was sure that he would never have a better Christmas holidays as the one he had with the Greengrass family. He was even thankful when Remus decided to come see them off at Kings Cross.

So that was where Harry found himself the last morning of his holiday pushing his trolley through the crowd of muggles as he approached Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He remembered his first trip here and the panic he had worked himself into at the thought that he would miss the train to Hogwarts.

His fears were soon placated when he met the very family that was taking him back this morning. A family that had for the first time opened up his past offering him the first pictures of his parents. They introduced him to one of his father's oldest friend and opened their doors to him to help him share his first Christmas.

When he first arrived at Kings Cross all those months ago he was entering a world that he only found out existed a few weeks prior. Nervous but excited at the prospects of a life without the Dursleys, as well as making a name and a life for himself. He made his first friends Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, later befriending Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, and Theodore Nott. Though they didn't always get along, he wouldn't trade his friends for anything.

He wondered what might have happened if he had not met the Greengrass family on the platform. Would he have missed the train? Miss his chance of starting a new life? Or would he meet another family, be sorted into another house, have made other friends? He wasn't sure if he liked thinking about those possibilities. I mean what if he had encountered the Weasleys instead? Would that mean that he would have been friends with Ronald Weasley?

Harry shook his head, hoping to rid himself of that nightmarish thought while he found an amused smile growing on his face reflecting at how different his life would be if he had befriended Ron Weasley and not Daphne Greengrass.

"Something on your mind, Harry?" asked Remus.

"I was just reminiscing," answered Harry, shaking away thoughts about the possible friendship with Ron. He instead turned his attention on the brick barrier that would take them through the magical platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Remus raised an eyebrow at the vague answer. "Really is that so?" After Harry's nod, he asked. "Any regrets?"

Harry looked over his shoulder to see the Greengrass family had caught up to them. Roxanne and Cyrus were both smiling down at him as was Astoria though her attention soon shifted to Hedwig while Daphne came up alongside him with her own small smile.

He turned back to Moony, "None at all."


Certain passages from this chapter were lifted from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Those books were written by J.K Rowlings and belong to Scholastic books.

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