Chapter 10 - Announcements, Invitations, Letters, and Moonlight

Harry woke up feeling as if a huge boulder was on his head, but somehow he didn't really care at all, he was happy... why? Well first he was made the youngest seeker in over a century, he finally perfected his occlumens, and he had his mother's letters with him, what could be more perfect? He was glad it was a Saturday, so he had all day to read them, he got up and took a shower, letting the warm water cool him off, and made his way towards the grand hall. As he sat down, he noticed that Dudley was sitting next to him, with small frown on his face.

'Can you tell me why my head hurts?' Dudley whispered.

'I did the friend linking, where we can read our minds, but don't worry, I won't be able to read what you're thinking all the time, we'll just be able to talk to each other, and in time if you're in trouble I'll be able to be by your side faster than you can say Quidditch,' he replied.

'Cool, oh hey did I tell you that I had a power transfer contract,' he said.

'What's that?'

''Mione told me it was where someone would transfer all their powers to another person, I found out that I was going to have all my powers transferred to Ron, I was going to confront him, but I decided otherwise,' he replied.

'Oh... alright then, so what do we do about him?' Harry asked.

"What are you two talking about?" Cedric asked.

"Nothing, I was just asking him how he was doing in his classes," Harry replied, quickly.

"Oh... well you guys might want to pay attention, Dumbledore is about to talk," he said, motioning towards Dumbledore as he got up and cast a snorus charm on himself.

"Attention students, I have three announcements to make, first is our monthly ranking..." he began, as he read through the list, there many that stayed the same, only this time Cedric went to first place, "and finally for our first year, in third place, it seems we have a three way tie... from Ravenclaw Hermione Granger and Dudley Dursley, and from Gryffindor Seamus Finnigan," he said, there were a series of applause, from both tables, ever since Halloween, and when Dudley arrived, Hermione made some new friends, especially with Padma. "Second place is a two way tie, from Ravenclaw; Draco Malfoy, and from Slytherin Vincent Crabbe," he announced, there was a cheer from the Ravenclaw table, although there was a small clapping from the Slytherin table, many were shocked to know that Vincent was actually getting higher marks than them. "And finally in first place... for the second month in a row, from Hufflepuff, Harry Evans!" A huge cheer erupted from the Hufflepuff table.

"Yes, yes, congrats to all our winners, but please let this not discourage you young ones, there is always next month, now on to my second announcement... it's been decided that we will hold an Inter-House tournament, I know it hasn't been done in nearly three century's, but I have decided to restart them, there will be two champions from each house, and each year group, however only those in fourth year or higher will be chosen.

"This isn't a battle, this will have you work together for the challenges that you will be given, the points will be given on who finishes each challenge the fastest, the winning team from each year will have their names on the Hall of Champions," he said, everyone was talking to one another, talking about who might be chosen. "Quiet down, now since we're already in November, I won't start the tournament until you all return from Winter break, then it will take the rest of the term to finish it, I will not tolerate any form of cheating," he looked over at Fred and George when he said this, both who had a mocked hurt look in their face.

"I can't believe the Professor Dumbledore would allow this, I mean there was a reason why they stopped doing them, the last tournament was brutal, it ended up killing four students, and that wasn't all, the challenges themselves were horrible and downright cruel," Hermione said.

"Yes well, I'm just glad third years and younger don't have to compete, otherwise, we would be toast," Harry said.

"And here I wanted to participate, it would have been a great opportunity to see what I'm made of," Cedric groaned.

"Oh come off it Cedric, you just want a certain Gryffindor to notice you don't you," Gabe smirked, elbowing Cedric, causing him to blush slightly.

"No... maybe... but I want to really see what I can do, besides don't you think this could be fun?" He asked.

"No not really," he replied.

"Now I know many of you younger years want to help, so I've decided that each champion will have a team of three younger years from their house to help out, remember, just because they are younger than you does not mean that they aren't wise, in their own ways... now you may eat, and off to your classes please," he said, as he waved his wand and the food appeared.

"Are you guys ready for potions today?" Harry asked.

"I'm ready as I'll ever be, I mean I've tried to remember all the ingridents and what they do, but it's a bit hard," Neville said.

"I'm more than ready, thanks to all the help you've been giving me," Justin said, he blushed when Harry beamed at him with a huge smile.

"I'm so glad Justin, this is going to be great... I can feel it in my bones," he stated.

Harry, Neville, and Draco were all sitting around their cauldron, they were learning how to make a cure for boils, with Draco and Neville fighting on who would is going to get the ingredients, neither wanting to leave the other alone with Harry.

"How about I go get them, since I have a slight feeling you guys won't remember what they look like," Harry said, as he went over to the supply closet.

"Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Longbottom, I hope your petty squabble, won't get in the way of making a good potion, I don't want any foolish child's play in my classroom, is that understood?" Snape asked, first glaring at both students, before glaring at everyone, who began sweating bullets.

"Yes professor," they all said in unison.

"Good, now continue on," he said, Harry walked in with the ingredients, to find both Neville and Draco, with a fearful look in their eyes.

"What's the matter you guys, it looks like you've seen Millicent dancing," he joked, suddenly the two shivered at the thought, anyone who would see Millicent Bulstrode dancing, would have their sympathies.

"Um... it's nothing Harry, we were just looking over the potion book, and found out something interesting about adding the porcupine quills," Draco stated.

"Oh yeah, that would be horrible if we didn't follow procedures correctly, something horrible will happen," he stated.

"Y-y-yeah, we just w-w-want to make sure that w-w-we get everything correct," Neville replied.

"Oh... okay then, well let's start shall we?" He smiled at them, again feeling a slight tension in the room, but it wasn't directed towards him, he looked around for a minutes, he smiled over as he saw Dudley, Hermione, and Justin working together. I must be imagining things, he shrugged it off.

Oh my poor innocent and obliviously sweet cousin, you have many guys after you, and you don't even know it, oh what shall I do? I mean it's cute and all, but what would happen when we get older, they would want to court him, and I can't have them all over him, I must protect him, no matter what the cost... Dudley thought, shaking his head with a small smile gracing his lips, which Hermione seemed to have noticed, if her blushing was any indication.

Oh Merlin, god, kami, every and any deity up there who can hear me, I can't believe how cute he is, and it makes me have butterflies in my stomach, I wonder if he might think of me as more than a... NO Hermione Jean Granger, you are an independent and powerful, slightly powerful, witch, and your 11, these are not thoughts you should be having, they will affect with your school, and school is important, now concentrate, Hermione thought, as she shook her head from the thoughts she was having, causing both Justin and Dudley too look at her with a confused expression on their faces.

Snape saw everything from his desk, he didn't even have to use legilimency to read their minds, a soft smile graced his lips, oh Lils, how would you feel looking at your baby now? Just like you in the attraction department, as well as having your unnatural talent for potions, actually everything he does is perfect, just like you were... why did you have to leave... why did you leave me and your child alone... he thought, his eyes softening a bit before going back into his famous Snape glare. He couldn't help but notice the look of happiness in Harry's eyes, as he talked to both boys about what to do, this certainly promises to be a strange year.

The whole group met up with Seamus and Vincent at the Library, they had 30 minutes before they had their next class.

"So Harry, Dudley, what are you going to do for Christmas?" Draco asked.

"Nothing much, just spending it with my aunt and uncle, oh and few of my closest friends, I haven't asked how they've been, they must think I'm a terrible friend," Harry replied, a sudden sad look on his face.

"You shouldn't think that, I've talked to Jonah and the others, before I left here, and I promised to update them on everything, they knew you were going to be pretty busy, so they're not mad at you, although Jonah is hoping you still have your necklace," he stated.

"Oh yes, I've never taken it off, I will always cherish it," he replied, taking out the pendant, showing it to everyone, a jealous look came over Neville, Draco, Seamus, Justin, and Vincent's eyes, as they watched how Harry held the pendant close to his head.

"So... Harry I'm having a party back at my house, I was hoping you and Dudley would like to come, everyone's invited, and it's just for the children, mom and dad won't be home for the holidays, it's their 13th year anniversary, so they're going out somewhere," Draco asked.

"I'd love to... I have a better idea, would you be agree to a sleepover, we can all go over to your house Draco, and stay up all night, and have lots of fun!" He exclaimed, a big cheerful grin plastered on his face.

"It would be a great idea Harry," he blushed.

"I'm okay with it," Dudley said, everyone agreed.

"Great! Oh and all of you are invited to my aunts and uncles house on Christmas eve, I want you all to meet my other friends from the muggle world, I hope you like them, they are all so nice," he said.

"And have huge crushes on Harry here," he teased, the tension rose even higher at the prospect of having an even bigger competition for Harry's affection.

"They do not! B-b-besides, I'm not interested in anything like that right now, I just want to focus on my study," he puffed his cheeks, trying to hide the blush on his face, as he remembered the kiss he had shared with Jonah.

"Regardless, it would give you all a great chance to taste Harry's homemade pies, they are seriously the best in the world, not even mum makes them that good," Dudley cried out.

"They're not that special, I mean... I just hope you all like it," he blushed even more, he still didn't like receiving compliments, even though it didn't really bother him, he was just shy.

"Alright so it's settled, we'll go to my and Harry's house for Christmas, and then we'll spend three days at Draco's house before we go back to school, how does that sound?" Hermione asked, wanting to break the tension, she found it funny but wanted to give Harry a breather from blushing so much.

The day ended with Harry inviting the Weasley twins over to his house, except for Ron, much to the young boys dismay, then he invited Gabe, Tonks, Cedric, Zachariah, Lavender Brown, and Dean Thomas.

He was currently in his room, it was already 10:30, and everyone was asleep, he, on the other hand, was sitting cross-legged on his bed, the box of his moms letters in front of him, he was about to find out more about his mother, and he was scared, he didn't know what they were going to say, so he just to a deep breath and opened it. He was shocked by how many letters there were in there, he got the first one, which looked like it was about to disintegrate at any time, he carefully opened it and read the contents.

Hey Sweetie, it's me mommy, I know it might seemed weird that I'm writing to you, when you're in your crib at this moment, but I thought... why the hell not? You're currently 2 weeks old, and just the strangest baby ever, but oh how much I love you. When I mean strange I mean it in the nicest way ever, it's just that... you hardly cry, and at first I was worried, but instead of crying, you would just look at me and you'd have the biggest smile that I've ever seen, and I knew that everything was going to be okay, well I'll write you another letter, you're currently waking up, and it's feeding time, don't forget that I love you, and I hope you know that I will always love you mia piccola gioia... it mean my little joy in Italian, because that's what you are, my little bundle of joy.

Forever yours Sweetie
Lilith Marie Evans

After rereading the whole letter, tears began forming and falling down his cheek, falling on to the piece of paper, as he folded it up and held it close to his heart, "I love you too mom..." he muttered, before going on to another letter, feeling slightly better. The next letter was also a bit older, if not older than the first one, however this one was a note, being sent back and forth between his mom and someone else;

Hey Sev, I was wondering if you know a good name for a child - LE

Lils, we're barely in 4th year, why are you thinking about names? - SS

Just give me your top 3 names, for both a boy and girl - LE

We're in the middle of Transfiguration... I don't think Professor McGonagall will like this - SS

Come on! She's not going to say anything, if you and I are gonna get married, I want to know the name of our kids - LE

WHAT?! You want us to get married? - SS

Keep your voice down! And yes, I see a future with us, not only are you smart, your kind, nice to everyone regardless of being in Slytherin, and your CUTE - LE

Um... I don't know how to respond to that - SS

Just tell me the names... please - LE

um... okay then for the boys I like; Tobias, Niklaus, Harrison and for the girls... Lily, Marie, Eileen - SS

Merlin! Those names are perfect, thanks Sev... love you - LE

Love you too - SS

Harry's eyes widen, he also reread that letter over twenty times, she was in love with someone else... could it be... his eyes widen even more as he came to the conclusion SNAPE! She was in love with Professor Snape... but what happened? He thought, he decided to read two more letters, he grabbed another one, this one has stains on it, as if someone was crying and tears fell on them;

Sev,

I know I've been distant lately, but it's because... well it's because you joined him, I can't believe you would do something like that... I hope you would've changed your mind, I've even asked James to tell you that I'm no longer mad, but every time I want to talk to you, you run away... is it because I'm talking to James now, because I don't care about him, he's just a boy that happens to have a crush on me, but you are the first and only boy I've ever and will ever love. I've forgiven you for saying mudblood, I know you didn't mean it, you were angry at James, and I was trying to help him, instead of helping you, and for that I'm sorry. Please... talk to me, I miss my best friend like crazy...

Lily Evans

Harry couldn't believe what he read, something happened between the two, and it seems that James was the cause of all of it, his father... but why would his mother marry him if he caused a riff between her and her best friend. I wonder if I'll find out, I could ask Professor Snape, next time I see him, he thought. He grabbed the last one and prepared himself for what he was going to read next;

-Hello again sweetie, it's mommy... um... you might be thinking why you're hearing my voice right? Well that's because, I created a spell that acts like a recorder, well, you're almost a year now, and I'm so happy to have you in my life my son. I know you're father has been... a little how would you say... irresponsible, but it's just the war that's been going on... it's taken it's toll on many people. You finally said your first word, it was Mommy! Oh Merlin I'm so happy! I love you so much my son, you are the light of my life, you have given me the greatest moments of my life. You also seem to like spending a lot of time with Neville, you know he's my godson right? Anyways, I hope you are doing great when you read this, well I'll let you go, baby you is making his way to the kitchen... again. I swear you spend most of your time in the kitchen watching me cook... I hope you like the Cookbook I'm leaving you, it's in my vault, it's separate from your fathers... but shhhhh it's a secret, my book of created spells are also there. I love you mia piccola gioia, blessed be.-

Lily Evans.

Harry was now crying, I heard you mom... I heard your voice, after all this time of not knowing how you sound, of wishing I could hear your voice one more time... I heard you mommy... he thought, as he held the letter tightly to his chest. "My mom has a vault, I wonder if I can access it... I'll try this break," he planned a quick trip to Gringotts, he was going to send a letter in the morning. "Mom... if you were alive... I would tell you I love you soo much" he cried, as he watched the moon shine brightly towards him, comforting him in his sorrows.

She looked up from her bed, as the moon shown brightly down on her, she looked around her 'room,' golden brown wallpaper, a queen size bed with velvet sheets, a window with a balcony a view of the sea ahead of her, while the forest were to the sides, three bookcases at the opposite of her bed, near the desk with a small shelf above it, filled with her journals and diaries, she had a walk-in closet, and a marble bathroom with a Jacuzzi bathtub. She was fed three times a day, the food was always five-stars, but the only thing she wasn't allowed to do, was leave her little room, which was as big as the Slytherin Common room she once visited.

"How long have I been here?" She wondered, the last thing she remembered was the screams, and then a green light, then she was here in this strange place, she first thought about going out the window, but there was a barrier around it, that brought her back to her room. She couldn't use the door, since it was way too small and it only opened with her food was being delivered, and she didn't even have her wand with her.

"Food is ready ma'am," the voice called out, it was the same voice she's heard since she's gotten here, she didn't even know who it was, all she knew what that it was another woman, and the woman was always nice to her, hell everyone that came by her room were nice to her, they didn't torture her, they didn't even use any kind of abuse towards her, she was treated like one of those princess' that lived in a tower, except with nice people instead of an evil witch trying to kill you.

"Thank you... I'm sorry but I don't even know your name," she said.

"I was wondering when you would ask for my name ma'am, but I don't think it's all that important," she heard her reply.

"Why not, I bet you don't even know my name," she argued.

"That is true, but Alpha knows who you are, and that is fine with me." She saw the door open, and a tray slide over to her, it was sirloin steak, with mash potatoes, green beans, and orange juice.

"Please... tell me... I've never talked to anyone, and I've read all of the books you have given me, I'm so alone, and I just... want someone to talk to," she begged.

"... alright... if you really want to know... it's Neko, Japanese for cat," she heard her say, after a slightly pause.

"Oh... Neko, that's a lovely name, well hello Neko, my name is Lily, short for Lilith," she said, he emerald green eyes holding hope, as she feels herself with possibly a new friend.

"So... what do you want to talk about?"

"I was wondering where I am... not exactly where I am, since I know you wouldn't tell me, but are we still in London? Cause your voice sounds American," she asked.

"You're right on both accounts, I am American, and no I wouldn't tell you where we are, but we're no longer in England, we're in America, and that's all I can tell you sweetie," she said.

"Can I send letters? I want to know about my family, I want to know if they're safe... please?" She begged.

"I don't know, I'll ask Alpha, but who do you want to send a letter too?"

"My baby, he's 11 this year, and I haven't seen him in so long, I miss him soo much," she whispered, tears falling, as she remembered the last memory she had of her baby, smiling at her, giggling and playing with his toy broom.

"What's his name?" She asked.

"Harry... Harry Potter," she replied, as a soft smile crossed her lips, she looked at the moon and spoke once more. "He's the light of my life... I hope you are safe... and loved."

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YEAH... PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I'M SOOOOOO SORRY FOR POSTING SO LATE IT'S JUST THAT... well I got a bit lazy, and I had some mild writers block, but I hope you all like this new chapter... I've worked really hard to write this, so please NO FLAMMINGS! THANKS YOU :D

okay so this chapter has the introduction to the focus of the story, I just wanted you all to get a feel of the story... AND YES LILY EVANS IS ALIVE Lily Potter died in Godric's Hollow. The differences will be explained once we get to the THIRD book, If we get that far *fingers crossed*, which will be where Harry goes to save his mother... this is just a little taste of what is too come.

now... to everyone that has been waiting patiently... THANK YOU ALL I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL STILL LOYAL TO THE STORY! :D