So I'm posting a day early. I have things to do Wednesday and am unsure that I'll remember to post then, so I decided that a day early wouldn't hurt. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10

A few days after his discovery that Demona's human form was the gargess' animagus form, Demona was able to change into either form at will. Granted, if she changed to a gargoyle during the day, she instantly entered stone sleep. Both she and Macbeth were pleased with the revelation that she was no longer forced out of her human or gargoyle form, respectively, at dawn and dusk, which meant that they didn't need to feel the shared pain.

Demona figured it was Puck's reward for figuring out his trick.

Harry wasn't having the same progress as his mother. But he also hadn't been changing forms, albeit unwillingly, twice a day for more than a year. He still needed to be forced into his human or gargoyle form by outside magic, though he was able to change his brow ridge and talons on his own.

Regardless it was agreed by Demona and Macbeth that, now knowing what to do, Demona was more than capable of continuing to teach Harry how to complete the animagus transformation.

And that meant it was time for the two to confront Dumbledore. Depending on how that went, they'd see about Harry meeting with his friends, or Demona would take Harry to Manhattan while Macbeth and Arthur dealt with the magical world.

Not sure what to expect, Macbeth was wearing his combat outfit, and Demona was forgoing the usual dress suits she wore in human form. Instead, Demona was wearing a pair of pants that would allow her to move freely in a fight, a dress shirt, and a long coat which concealed not only one of Macbeth's firearms, but her mace as well.

Even in her human form, Demona was rather muscular, even if it wasn't as evident as it was in her gargoyle form.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Harry asked, currently in his human form, as he watched the two prepare and arm themselves.

"Aye lad, we're sure," his father assured him.

Before Harry could question the decision further, his mother supplied, "We have some issues with Dumbledore, and more than a few questions about his motives considering what you've told us of the event's after our…'deaths," she explained. "So we are really unsure about how tonight will go. Not to mention what his first reaction to see two dead people may be," she added. Looking over at Harry she continued, "Your father and I are essentially immortal, and very experienced. Dumbledore really poses no threat to us. That said, you don't have the same protections we do." Looking away from Harry to grab her mace and hook it on her belt, she grinned. "Besides, I believe Constance is coming over to visit you tonight."

"She is?" Harry asked. Sounding a little happier.

The female gargoyle was quickly becoming a friend to Harry. And although a relatively new friend, Harry was finding himself drawn to her, not that he realized it of course.

"She is," his father confirmed. "She stopped by last night, but you in the middle of meditation. We told her you wouldn't be doing anything tonight, and she said she'd be by first thing after waking."

Harry looked down at himself. He didn't know if it was due to being stuck as a gargoyle for several weeks, or if perhaps his human form was his animagus form (which was something neither Demona nor Macbeth was sure of), but it felt strange to be human again, even temporarily. "Uh…You're going to change me back to a gargoyle before you leave, right?"

"As much as I would prefer you to change yourself, yes," Demona assured him. "If only because you're more durable as a gargoyle should something go wrong."

"Harry," Macbeth said, drawing his son's attention to him. "If we're not back by the Constance has to leave to reach Knight's Spur before dawn, we want you to go with her."

"You think something will go wrong?" he asked his parents.

"There is always a chance," Macbeth told his son. "And it is best to prepare for that chance if it comes, than to be caught unprepared."

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It was shortly before Sunset when Demona and Macbeth apparated into the public appartation point of Hogsmeade.

""I'd forgotten how much I hate apparition," Demona grumbled.

Macbeth smirked. "It's not so bad. I seem to remember you hate floo travel and portkeys even more."

The redhead glared at him, silently daring him to make a comment on her inability to land on her feet when traveling by floo or portkey. It may be slower, but she'd take gliding on her wings over magical travel any day.

Still smirking, Macbeth looked up towards the castle that he and Demona had spent some of the happiest years of their lives in, even if they didn't know who they were at the time. Sadly, he found the castle didn't hold the magnificence he remembered. Perhaps that was due to his own fond memories of his first home, Castle Moray. Frowning slightly, he said, "Let's get this over with."

"Just remember, if we see Snape, he's mine," Demona growled, her eyes briefly flaring red.

""I wouldn't dream of stopping any reunion between you and dear Snivellous," Macbeth assured her.

Demona found that, unlike her days as Lily Potter, she didn't mind Macbeth's nickname for Snape anymore. In fact, she believed that he had taken it rather easy on the man compared to what she planned on doing to the bastard.

The two silently began the walk up to the castle. They didn't stop until they reached the castle gates.

Knowing how the gates to the castle worked from their time as Lily and James, Macbeth stepped forward and rested his hand on the Hogwarts Crest emblazoned on the gate. "We wish to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore," he said honestly, knowing the gate would detect a lie. He felt the gate acknowledge him, and he lowered his hand, steeping back.

About five minutes later, the two saw a familiar figure approaching the gates.

Stopping on the other side of the gate, the stern Minerva McGonagall looked like she'd seen a ghost. In a way, she had. "Lily?" She looked at Macbeth, and though it took her a minute, no doubt due to his white hair and beard. "James?"

"Hello Minnie," Macbeth greeted, a bit cheekily. "I don't suppose you'd let two dead people in to yell at Dumbledore."

McGonagall drew her wand, and an angry look crossed her face. "How dare you," she snapped. "You're the ones who kidnapped Harry, what have you done with him?"

"I'm hurt," Macbeth said, grinning slightly. "Would an imposter know that I sent you a bag of catnip the Christmas of my fifth year, or a scratching post my sixth?"

The old witch's mouth hung open, and her wand hung limply from her hand. She hadn't told anyone what James sent her those Christmas' namely because he would never admit to her love of catnip, or that she still used the scratching post. "It really is you," she mumbled. "How is this possible?"

"That's an explanation that is both too complex and too personal to share," Demona said coldly, drawing the witch's attention to her. "What I'm most concerned about, is why, if we were believed dead, our wills were not followed? And most importantly, why Dumbledore took it upon himself to place my son in a home I explicitly stated he was to never go near?"

McGonagall looked down, before waving her wand, allowing the gate to open. "Albus is in his office," she said. "I'll escort you."

"Thank you Minnie," Macbeth said, still smirking.

McGonagall cast a quick patronus messenger to let Albus know of his visitors, before leading her two former students up to the castle.

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About the same time that his parents were arriving at the Hogwarts gate, the sun set, and Harry awoke from the stone sleep he had been forced into when his parents cast the reverse animagus spell on him before leaving.

He hadn't been stone an hour, yet the young gargoyle found he was hungry. So he went down to the kitchen and began preparing a meal for himself. Not knowing whether Constance would eat before she left Knight's Spur, Harry decided to cook extra, just in case. Worst case scenario, he had leftovers he could reheat later.

Making Spaghetti, sauce, and meatballs, along with some garlic bread, Harry had enough to feed five people. Since gargoyles generally ate more food than humans, it was about enough for either two gargoyles, or one starving gargoyle.

Harry was just putting the spaghetti in a serving bowl when he heard someone coming down the stairs. Soon he heard Constance yelling "Harry?!"

"In the kitchen!" he yelled out.

Moments later, Constance came into the room. "Hi Harry," she greeted.

"Evening," he returned, continuing his preparations. "Did you eat before coming over?"

The muscular gargoyle blushed lightly. "No," she admitted. She audibly sniffed and said, "Whatever you're cooking smells amazing however."

"Then it's a good thing I made extra," he said with a grin. "I hope you like spaghetti."

Constance grinned and asked, "Will we be sharing a plate?"

"What?" Harry asked, confused.

"Will we be sharing a plate?" the blonde gargoyle repeated, enjoying the flustered look on the male's face. "I understand humans find it a romantic meal." As she watched Harry's mouth open and close, her grin widened and she continued, "of course we need candles as well, you do have candles, don't you Harry?"

"I...I...It's not…I don't mean…"

Constance couldn't help it anymore, she burst out laughing. "I'm sorry Harry, I couldn't resist."

"What?"

"I'm teasing you Harry."

"Oh…OH!" Harry breathed a sigh in relief.

"I heard that sigh," Constance said.

"Not that I wouldn't want to romance you…I mean I don't want to…Not now….that's not what I..." He sighed again. "There's no answer I can give that won't get me in trouble, is there?"

Constance chuckled. "No there is not," she confirmed. Patting him on the back, she said, "I'll set the table."

"Thank you, for the help, not the attempts to give a heart attack."

"We're gargoyles Harry, we don't have heart attacks."

Harry decided at that moment that gargoyle females were just as much of a mystery to him as human females.

Though a gargess was much more dangerous.

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After arriving in Dumbledore's office, McGonagall immediately told the Headmaster, "It really is Lily and James Albus."

"You're sure?" he asked.

McGonagall nodded. "Only James would know what he told me."

"I see." The Headmaster then turned to Macbeth and Demona. "How is it you're alive?"

"Magic," Demona growled. "But that's not why we're here. Why did you place Harry with Petunia?"

"And why did you let Sirius go to Azkaban?" Macbeth asked.

Before Albus could say anything, the door to the office opened and Severus Snape stepped into the office. "You wanted to see me…," he trailed off as he registered just who was in the office. "Lily?" he whispered, almost reverently.

"YOU BASTARD!" Demona growled, unable to stop the red glow in her eyes as she punched Severus Snape as hard as she could in the jaw.

Considering the fact that even in human form she was quite muscular, that was rather hard.

The audible sound of bone breaking echoed through the office, even as Macbeth rushed to restrain Demona.

He hated Snape, but they needed answers at the moment. And Demona in a rage wouldn't stop at just breaking the man's jaw. After they got their answers however, he wouldn't stop her if she decided to go after Snape again.

"Let me go!" Demona demanded. "You said you wouldn't stop me!"

"Now isn't the time lass!" he reprimanded. "Not now!"

Demona growled in anger, baring her teeth, an instinct of hers even in human form.

"Think of Harry!" Macbeth shouted.

The gargoyle in human form finally stopped struggling. "Get him out of my sight," she hissed, turning away as Macbeth released her.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore had knelt beside the potion master, healing his broken jaw. Once he was done, Snape pleaded, "Lily, please…"

"Not one word!" she snapped, spinning around to face him. "After the way you've treated my son, I promise you, the next time I see you, I will kill you."

And although the red had faded from her eyes, as Snape looked into her glaring emerald eyes, he saw no pity, no love, only a raw, burning anger and hatred.

In the eyes of his childhood friend, his teenage crush, the only woman he had ever loved, Severus Snape saw his death.

He needed no further prompting and left the office.

After he left, McGonagall asked, "Lily…what happened to your eyes? They were glowing red."

She and Macbeth shared a look. That was something they hadn't wanted to explain.

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