Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, themes, etc. from Harry Potter...

Author's Note: Okay...this chapter...hmm...lots of action (kind of)...but kinda corny...hopefully it's not nearly as corny as I think it is...ugh....-bangs head on desk- Yeah, you're all going to hate me after this chapter...yep, I can see it now...acutally, Luna told me so...'course see also mentioned something about me being chased by a herd of Heliopaths...._

Tabbycat1220: Not very long...at all...^_

Doro . neko: Oh, then you're going to hate me for this chapter...but you'll LOVE the next one.

Moonlit Wave: -laughs- I know, but Harry's not exactly a genius...he's only smarter than others because he read so many books...in his defense, he's not used to having to hide his true self...at the orphanage, he got to be his own, though slightly weird, self...

stonegnome1: I know! I keep trying to fit that in somewhere, but haven't been able to yet...since he doesn't have the key to the Potter vaults, it's not like he can get any money there, so...hmm...I'll probably have him go there eventually though ^_^

Sylkie: Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and say this....Neville is NOT Voldemort! XD As hilarious as that would be, I'm afraid it's not the case...Nev's just reeeaaaly nervous...-laughs- But it IS a funny thought XD

Mother of Tears: 'Cause they're their number one fans of course! I dunno...since they aren't the normal definition of the snakes, I guess they just like 'em...besides, if your dead best friend's dead son's clone O.o just popped up out of no where, wouldn't you, subconsciously, wanna keep him close? Just my thoughts...as for what those Marausders are thinking...read this chapter. :D

Absentminded Dreamer 1310: Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too! And, naturally, a very Happy New Year (that will, hopefully, be supported by chapter 8...^_)

And to all my other reviewers, MERRY CHRISTMAS and/or HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Thank you soooo much! With the utmost pleasure, I present to you...chapter 7!

Eschew Obfuscation

"Confidence comes only when you embrace your imperfections. When you accept the person that you are, others will too."

-Vincent D. Alcaras

Chapter 7: Revelations

"Dumbledore thinks it's just a bunch of deatheaters, doesn't he?" I sat down in Snape's classroom and slumped into the chair.

"Yes. I swear, the lemon drops have finally rotted his brain out," Snape growled as he sat down across from me. "Can't he see that there's something wrong? It wasn't uncommon for there to be murders every now and then by past deatheaters, but this..."

"What?" This was the first that I'd heard of this.

Snape sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That's what worried me. They have been so quiet for months…it doesn't make any sense. Unless they've been told to stop."

By the psychopath, no doubt. "So what do we do?"

"Nothing yet," Snape said. "We don't have proof…"

I stood up. "Don't have proof?! So, what, we wait for him to kill off a dozen or so more people or leave us a little memo saying, 'Oh yeah, by the way, I'm back. Love, Voldemort'?!"

"Potter, calm down."

"How can you say that?" I yelled, swinging my arms in the air. "People are dying! Dying because of me! Ms. Figg is dead just because she lived by me!"

"Potter," Snape said, his tone remaining even as mine rose, "she worked for Dumbledore. It's just as much his fault as it is yours."

I slowly began to sink back into my seat. "But it's still…"

"No, Potter, it is not. It is a consequence of others stupidity, gullibility, and cruelty."

"But…"

"Potter, shut up!" I froze and clamped my mouth closed. "Thank you. Now, we can not do anything yet. We have no support. We need more proof that this is more than a deatheater revolt. Then we can take more action," he finished.

I know he's right, but…what if he goes after my old friends? I don't want them to die. Okay, I don't really want anyone to die. But I know Snape's right…no one will believe that he's returned with just one odd murder. And considering that murder isn't too uncommon, well…this kinda sucks.

"Fine," I said, grudgingly. I began to march towards the door when Snape's voice stopped me.

"Potter, when do you plan to tell the werewolf and the mutt?"

I shrugged, trying to attempt a calm façade at the random question he'd plucked from thin air. "Wasn't planning on it. I don't want any more people involved than already are."

"They would rather know," Snape pushed. "As must as I hate to admit it, they would be a good addition to our side."

I ignored him and walked out into the hallway.

I should, but I shouldn't. I want to, but then again I don't. They're happy now and they're safe. They'd be happier knowing, but then they'd be unsafe. For now, they're happy and content with how life is. My death is in the past, right? Besides, I might end up dying again anyways and then they'd have to deal with it all over again…

I sighed. Today was just not my day. The only thing I wanted to do was sleep…so I did.

---

"Think we should dye their hair green?" Gunnar asked as we entered the Great Hall for breakfast that Saturday morning.

Almost a week had gone by and so far, no more deaths. While it was clearly a good thing, it also meant no more leads on the more than likely return of Voldemort.

Lance shook his head. "Nah, it's been done. How about their skin?"

"Ha! They'd look like Martians!"

We laughed at the idea of a bunch of Gryffindor Martians running around the school, fuming.

"We could add some nice antennas too," I added. We laughed harder.

"Hey, you think Professor Black might know how to do it?"

"I don't know Gunnar, you think he'd help us prank Gryffindors?" Alvis said as we sat down at the Slytherin table.

"He might…" Gunnar looked up at the head table. "Hey, where's Professor Lupin?"

Tomorrow's the full moon. He's probably sick. "Probably sleeping in. Or maybe he's just not hungry," I said as I grabbed a piece of toast.

How is it that no one knows about Remus's lycanthropy? I thought he had been discovered in my third year? Maybe it wasn't nearly as big a deal as we had thought. Or maybe everyone's forgotten. Oh well, it's better that way I guess.

Things had become routine after a while. Eat, go to classes, talk to Snape about what hasn't happened, sleep, then do it all over again. As nice as it was, waiting was unbearable. Something was wrong. Did I have proof? Not really. It was an instinct. Besides, I wasn't not allowed to go through a year at Hogwarts peacefully.

"So, what's on the schedule for today?" I asked.

Gunnar and Lance looked at each other before turning back to me and saying, "Martians."

I sighed. Guess we were pranking today. Nice. We left the Great Hall and headed to the library to find a spell or potion that would change the receiver's skin colour. Preferably turning it a nice radioactive green. After spending an hour there without success, we decided to leave (and considering Lance and Gunnar had the attention span of chipmunks, that was pretty good) and go in search of our DADA professors. It was no use trying to persuade them to do otherwise.

"You think they'd be annoyed with us Slytherins constantly pestering them," I muttered.

"Nah, you know they love us," Lance said with a grin.

"They're always happy to see us. Besides, I'm worried about Professor Lupin." Alvis frowned. I really hope he wasn't thinking too much.

We arrived at the DADA room and pushed the door open.

"Padfoot?" Lance called as we walked in. He stepped out in front of us. The room appeared empty until we heard slight rustling in the back room. However, that was ignored when we heard a bang to our left. We looked over and saw a trunk moving about as if something were thrashing around inside. Lance walked up to it. "Hey, what's in…"

Sirius and Remus ran into the room, the latter looking deathly pale. Sirius's eyes widened.

"No, Lance, stay away from…" But it was too late. The trunk burst open, only feet away from Lance.

The boy looked back at the container. Fear slowly etched into his face as the thing crawled out of the trunk. It was covered in grey fur and stood between seven and eight feet tall. It let out a threatening growl from it's muzzle as it clenched it's clawed paws and dug them into the floorboards.

A werewolf.

Lance let out a bloodcurdling scream as he fell backwards away from the beast. It sniffed the air and glared at its target before slowly stalking it.

Before I knew it, I had run in front of the beast, shielding my friend. Call it stupidity; call it hero's instincts, whatever. I was doing it. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I didn't like the thought of my new friend being torn to shreds?

However, the beast did something I hadn't expected. While I had assumed it would just attack me instead (since I was kind of in its way), it did something else. It changed, morphed. Not a moment later was I shielding Lance from a werewolf, but rather a dementor. Its black, deteriorating cloak billowed around it as its mouth opened wide and breathed me in. I felt a chill rush through my bones as all the happiness had left me. There were screams, screams I hadn't heard in so long. Then everything went black.

---

"Charles? Charles, wake up."

I blinked.

Woah, where am I? What just happened? Oh crap, I'm back where I started, aren't I? No, someone just called me Charles. Sure, that's not quite right, but it's not exactly a step back either. Now then, what just happened? Hm. Oh right, there was a werewolf, then a dementor… ah. Neither.

"Charles?" Remus called quietly again. Déjà vu.

"Hi," I said, sitting up. He gave me a small, weak smile before handing me a piece of chocolate. Same ol' Lupin. "Thanks."

I looked around the room. Gunnar was with Lance, who was shivering madly while trying to be comforted by Sirius. Alvis was next to Remus on my left. Remus stared sadly at Lance.

"He'll be okay," I said, though I knew that wasn't why he was sad. No, more like miserable.

"I'm very sorry," Remus began. "We had brought it in for the third years…"

"A boggart?" Remus nodded. It was no longer a surprise to anyone that I was far too knowledgeable for a first year. That was one thing to be thankful for. "It's fine. No…real harm done," I said with a hesitant glance towards Lance. At least he was calming down a bit.

"Why are you afraid of dementors?" Remus asked.

.bloody hell, I did it again. Okay, this time wasn't really my fault…not really. But how am I gonna get out of this one?

"Read about them in a book. They seemed pretty terrifying. I'd say I was right about that." Nice lie, Harry.

Remus chuckled feebly. "They are, trust me. Though Sirius would know better than I."

"Rem, you should go rest," Sirius said as he stood up and placed a reassuring hand on Lance's shoulder. Remus nodded and left for the back room. Sirius let out a long breath. "Lance, why don't you go back to your dorms? Gunnar, Alvis, you go with him." He glanced over at me. "Charles, I'd like a quick word with you."

Uh oh. That doesn't sound good.

Alvis and Gunnar led Lance out of the classroom. Sirius, who looked almost as exhausted as Remus, plopped down in one of the desks. I took the one next to his silently and waited for him to speak.

"Sorry about all that," he said finally. "It's my fault. I forgot to lock the trunk this morning when…"

"It's okay Professor," I interrupted, "I wasn't hurt and Lance will be fine. You know how he is. Give him an hour and he'll be up and about plotting the next practical joke to play on the Gryffindors."

He smiled. "Yes, I hope so." There was an awkward pause before he stood up and patted me on the back. "Okay, that was…um, all I had to say, really. Sorry it ruined your evening."

I stood. "No, it's fine, really. I'm fine. Have a good day, sir." I gave him a nod before leaving the room.

---Sirius's POV---

I was in denial.

No. I refuse to even consider it. I know the similarities are there, but so is the truth. Harry is dead. James Potter's son is with him now, with Lily. I wish I hadn't failed James and Lily; I have to face the truth. Harry is gone. Forever. This child is not him, cannot be him. He may have Lily's eyes and James's unmanageable hair and bad eyesight, but he is not Harry. He may even rush out in danger for his friends, just like the Harry I knew, but that doesn't mean that this is him…or the fact that he's afraid of dementors…

I sighed. I looked over at Remus. The man was currently sitting in a fluffy red chair in front of the fire, eyes dull and face pallid.

"Rem, what are you thinking?" I asked, approaching him cautiously as I took a seat on the arm of his chair.

"He's scared of me, Siri," the man murmured.

I gave him a small pat on the shoulder. "No he's not. No one could ever be scared of you. He's scared of werewolves, yes, but you're not just a werewolf. You're Remus, who'd never harm a fly."

"You won't be thinking that tomorrow night."

The full moon. Remus's worst fear. Even with the potion Severus gave him every month that allowed him to retain his mind, he still felt like a loathsome monster. No matter how many times I tried to convince him otherwise, he'd never listen.

"Rem, to me, you'll always be about as harmless as a bunny."

"A bunny with rabies."

I sighed. There was no getting through that werewolf's thick skull. "Remus, you didn't decide to be a werewolf. It just happened; it was forced on you. No one blames you for it."

"I shouldn't be here," he mumbled, putting his head into his hands. "I'm putting the students in danger."

Typical Remus. I shifted and slipped an arm around the man's shoulders. "No, you're not. As long as you take your potion, then you're no more wolf than I am."

Remus smiled. "That's not saying much," he joked. I stuck out my tongue, but smiled anyways. "So, what did you think of…"

"Charles?" He nodded. "I'm ignoring all similarities."

Remus frowned. "But, Sirius, you have to see the resemblance. The way he acts sometimes, his appearance, the boggart…"

"I know, Remus, I know, but…what would it mean?"

"Reincarnation?"

That could make sense. "But does he remember anything? Us?"

Remus scrunched up his face, then shook his head. "No, probably not. It's usually only the soul that's the same, not the mind."

"Or the body. Which means that his appearance and the boggart being a dementor would have nothing to do with it." Remus heaved a sigh of defeat.

"You're right. Maybe we're thinking into this too much. We're being too…hopeful."

---Harry/Charles's POV---

"Hey Lance, you okay?" I asked when I saw the boy.

"Yeah," he mumbled. When I returned to the dorms, Lance was sitting on his bed, knees under his chin, with Gunnar and Alvis on either side of him. He looked a little pale, but otherwise relatively okay. "Sorry 'bout that, mate."

"What are you sorry about?"

The redhead shifted a little in his seat and looked away from me. "You know, for freaking out and having to have you save me..."

"Um, Lance, in case you have forgotten, I passed out."

"Yeah, but you still saved me from that...thing. Thanks."

"I didn't do anything," I urged.

Lance smiled. "Take some gratitude, would ya?"

I chuckled. "Fine, fine, you're welcome." I sat down on the bed next to Alvis. "So...do you want to talk about it or would you rather not?" Not that I'm one to talk.

Lance was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "I dunno, there's not really anything to say. I had heard terrible stories about werewolves when growing up and had loads of nightmares. I guess I'm just scared stiff of them. I would never want to lose control of my body, even if it was just for one night a month."

So that's what it is. He's not afraid of werewolves, but of loosing control of himself, like a werewolf does. That's...actually a good fear to have...and more mature than I would have thought. Plus, even if he did find out about Remus, he probably wouldn't be afraid of him. Problem is, Remus doesn't know that. Bollocks. Oh well, I'll tell him tomorrow...somehow...

So, that morning, the morning after the full moon, I woke up before anyone else (which, since it was a Sunday, meant that no one would wake up before nine or ten) and walked down to the DADA classroom. I knew Remus wouldn't be up to having breakfast and would probably be in a terrible mood.

Maybe this will cheer him up after such a night. Though I guess it shouldn't be nearly as bad with the Wolfsbane Potion, but I've read that the transformation is more painful than anything. Poor Remus. But maybe if he found out that Lance wouldn't hate him for what he was, then maybe that would cheer him up.

I found the door and knocked on it.

"Come in," a hoarse voice said. I grabbed the rusted doorknob and turned it. The door clicked open and I walked in. Remus was sitting at the desk in front of the classroom looking sicker than yesterday and even more tired. Why hadn't he just slept through the day?

"Hello, Professor."

Remus looked somewhat surprised to see me, but made his face smile nonetheless. "Charles, what brings you here so early? Sirius is in the Great Hall if you…"

I shook my head. "No, it's about yesterday." I sat in a desk at the front and continued, "I just wanted to explain why Lance freaked out so you and Professor Black don't feel so bad about the whole situation."

"Yes, Sirius did feel rather bad about it. Are you sure you're okay?"

"What? Oh, yeah, of course!" I said urgently. "I'm fine, really."

Remus sighed. "Good. That's very good." He seemed like he wanted to say something else. He let out another sigh. "Would you like some tea, Charles?"

I was about to decline when my stomach made a loud grumble. Remus chuckled.

"I'll take that as a yes." He grabbed his wand and flicked it towards a metal tray that I assumed had been left by one of the house elves. Instead of coming to us, as I suppose Remus had meant for it to do, it exploded into tiny dust particles, causing both of us to cough.

"Sorry Charles," Remus said before another fit of hacking hit him. I had read that werewolves who were also wizards often had issues controlling their magic the days before and after the full moon. I guess this was a perfect example…

Thud.

I turned around and was shocked to find Remus on the ground convulsing.

"P-professor? Remus?" I walked over to him hesitantly and kneeled down next to him.

Oh Merlin, what's wrong? The dust has almost cleared, but he looks like he can't breath! What's wrong, what's wrong! Wait…what was that tray made of?

I did a scan with my wand that calculated the minerals in the air and, sure enough, I found it.

Silver.

---

-bangs head on desk- gosh, I think I made this chapter too…corny? Horrid? –sigh- Anyhwho, yeah, I know, you all want to kill me for what I'm doing to poor Remy, but trust me, it's all good in the end!

Oh, and sorry 'bout the cliffie…maybe if you all review, I'll post the next chapter sooner, hmm? –wink, wink-

Next Chapter: Chapter 8: Family Reunion! Lots of questions, answers, yelling, and eventually...a happy little reunion...

Happy Holidays!

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