A/N: some described a bit of the last chapter as filler, as fans of my GH stories know, often what you think you can skip believing that, turns out to be important at a later date. For example, that scene where Severus tells Harry about the incident with Lucius and his smoking will be back at a later date. There is also a reason that Severus hasn't met the Grangers yet. To me what is filler is setting up later chapters. I like layered stories, where you don't piece everything together until the end.

Chapter Ten

Lucius looked around his kitchen, still not understanding why his wife seemed angry with him. He knew it wasn't about the incident at breakfast, he was sure she wasn't unhappy about their time together the previous night. Frowning, he thought back and went through the last few days and was sure that he had done nothing to upset her.

He had been on his best behavior at all times, though that was getting easier by the day. Hermione Granger was a perfect example. She was a mud-er muggleborn yes, that much was true, but as his wife taught her the pureblood customs, he saw that she was refining their beliefs to fit her own habits.

In fact his only complaint about the young woman was her very uncomfortable reaction to the house elves. He had made a point the day before of lending her one of the volumes he had on the history of the creatures on the hope that she would soon realize that it wasn't slavery. It had however reinvigorated his thoughts about removing muggleborn students to the magical world as soon as they had their first bout of magic though.

Potter was proving very interesting and he was beginning to see that the reason the boy relied so much on Dumbledore's word was because that was what the old man had planned from the beginning. As the boy learned more and more about their world, he was becoming much more acceptable to Lucius.

If only he would end that friendship with the Weasley family but he knew that given time, Harry's close friendship with the youngest boy would end up frayed. After all the boy was the one most like his mother and Lucius just marked time, knowing that the boy Weasley would ruin everything on his own without any help from him.

The werewolf was keeping Black on a leash to a certain extent and if Severus was correct about what the goblins had done, he would soon cease to be an issue all together. As for Black; well, he knew that there would be a reckoning between the spoiled brat and himself at some point. He was just hoping it would wait until the children were back at school.

Hearing his name being called, he glared at Severus and said "What?

"I think that the bread can come out of the dip now." He said dryly pointing to where his latest attempt was soaking in his bowl next to all his mista-er, experiments. Looking around the kitchen, he saw that his son and wife had their attempts now on the flat dark surface and seemed to be cooking their toast.

Following Potter's directions, Lucius moved his own slice of bread onto the nearby griddle and carefully followed his directions, hoping that eventually he would figure out what had upset his wife. With a sigh, he looked down at the grill and shook his head at the fact he was taking part in this cooking lesson at all, the things he did to please his wife.

Severus was debating smacking Harry on the rear with his wand when the pre-teen grinned at him as he gave them directions on cutting up the strawberries and other fruit. He had at first wondered if it was a coincidence how much the boy had sounded like him while he was teaching his students.

He heard Harry directing Draco to cut the banana slices a bit thinner. The boy was moving between the various cooks and he couldn't help his chuckle when Harry admonished Sirius who was playing around with his wand and dripping water into the grill.

Black had grinned and then overplayed the victim act as he stepped back and promised to behave.

When Harry was standing between Lupin and himself, Severus watched as the boy used the spatula he was carrying to expertly flip the werewolves french toast slices and showed the older man how to crisp up the edges. Unable to help himself, Severus lifted his hand and messed up Potter's hair more than it usually was when he saw the boy was heading to check on Lucius who looked like he was being tortured, though to Lucius being forced to learn to cook was probably less painful than being crucioed.

Looking at Lupin, he saw the sadness in the other man's eyes and quietly muttered "What?"

"I was enjoying this, enjoying watching how comfortable and talented Harry was at teaching and cooking until I realized WHY he had to be so comfortable with cooking. Those damn Dursleys." Severus looked down at the cut up fruit in front of himself, his own enjoyment ebbing away as he found himself thinking about that statement.

"I know." Severus said as he looked over at Harry who was now speaking to Granger who seemed to be having issues with the grilling of her french toast. Severus watched Harry correct his closest friend but doing so in a manner that had Granger smiling at the boy and couldn't help thinking that Harry would be a good teacher someday.

Narcissa was thrilled, no, not thrilled but relieved when she was told that she had successfully cooked her first meal. Sitting at the small table outside, she looked around to see that the plates the others had brought out all for the most part resembled Harry's. She wanted to laugh when she saw the smug grin on Draco's face as he showed off his own attempts.

In the center of the table were two platters with stacks of french toast, with bowls of freshly cut fruit, some cream cheese and lots of maple syrup. Amused to realize that her son had already prepared his serving, she looked to see Hermione was delicately spreading cream cheese evenly over hers and then reaching for some blueberries.

When Harry had thanked the house elves, he exited the house and joined the rest of the cooks at the table. He went for the basic dish of toast and bananas along with syrup.

As he cut up his meal, he looked around pleased to notice that everyone even Sirius had managed an edible meal. Surprised to see Snape was only putting syrup on his, he looked up to see that his godfather/potion's professor was staring at him. "What?"

He heard Remus chuckling and turned to the werewolf, "What is going on? Did I miss something on my face?"

"Nope." Remus replied and then bit into his own serving of french toast. When he saw the confused expression on Harry's face, he said "It's nothing bad, Harry. I am just rather proud of how easily you slipped into the role of teacher and how you managed to keep all of us from ruining the toast."

"It's french toast, it's hard to ruin." He replied not understanding why Hermione was grinning at him as well. "Have you gone loony, Mione?

Remus let his smile slip from his face as he recalled something he had intended to speak to his fellow professors about but had forgotten at the end of the year. "Harry, do me a favor, please don't call anyone that. I spent a good portion of this year trying to get the second year students to stop bullying one of the Ravenclaw girls with that terrible nickname?"

"The Lovegood girl?" Severus inquired. Seeing Lupin nod, he said "It's being led by the current crop of fourth year girls. I caught Edgecombe with Lovegood's quills. Gave her detention and spoke to Filius who punished them but it made the situation worse not better. Cho is going to be made prefect this year in hope that it may help but I think he doesn't realize that she is part of the mess."

"Why are they bullying her?" Lucius asked. He knew the Lovegood family. The father was rather odd but he seemed to recall that the man's late wife was from a well known and influential pureblood family. It had been an arranged marriage but Selene had stuck it out.

"She is a rather unique young lady." Remus said diplomatically. "She believes everything her fathers tells her, including about the rather elusive animals he chases after. She dressed unlike anyone else."

Scoffing, Snape sneered "Well of course she does. The other girls in Ravenclaw hide her belongings or outright steal them."

"Why hasn't anyone done anything about it?" Hermione asked sounding appalled at learning about this girl's torment and that she hadn't noticed it was going on.

"The Headmaster has prevented anything more than detention and points." Remus replied as he shook his head. "I had no idea about the thefts."

"Filius reported in a meeting of the Heads of the Houses that that is the least of the issues. Unfortunately without the backing of the Headmaster there is little we can do. I put a charm on her so that at least they can't mess with her books and homework but the charm only works for that." Severus said.

Hermione and Harry were eyeing each other, speaking without words. Harry who had thought that Cho Chang was pretty and had distantly believed her to be kind had been surprised to learn the truth while Hermione who had dealt with similar problems before Hogwarts was trying to find a way to introduce herself to this unknown girl.

Hermione looked up to see Draco watching them, then a odd agreement in his eyes that told her that maybe they could leave punishment of the Ravenclaw girls to him. When he nodded, she saw Harry's small hidden smirk and shuddered. The idea of the two of them colluding together against another was a scary thought.


A week after the first cooking lesson, the group was back in the kitchen and this time Harry was convinced that last week had been a fluke as once again he watched Remus put out a fire started by Sirius.

Looking warily at his first godfather, Harry moved closer to oversee his attempts at a grilled cheese sandwich. Around the room, there were a few pots of various soups on a gentle simmer to go with the sandwiches which they had prepared first.

Hearing his name being called, he cautiously looked at Hermione who was scowling as she held up her burnt-to-a-crisp sandwich. Sighing, he saw out of the corner of his eye his godfather once again dripping water onto the griddle. Reaching out, he caught his hand and shook his head before turning to Draco who had been paired with Sirius and said "Please help Sirius do a sandwich while I go help Hermione. Sirius, one more drop of water and I am banning you from this kitchen."

Ignoring the wizard's protests as much as the laughter from the other adults, he went to help Hermione. The problem was that she was following his directions word for word and was still ending up with the same result.

Thankfully, a very quiet Lucius and Remus who were working together had been successful on every attempt. They were now serving themselves bowls of the homemade minestrone soup which they had been making. Looking at Severus, Harry saw that the potion master had mastered the thick firecracker roasted pumpkin and coconut soup, which was the hardest of the recipes he had found. His grilled cheese sandwiches were just as perfect, to his annoyance they looked better than Harry's.

Hermione and Narcissa had made the homemade noodle soup which was a recipe he had found in one of the more posh cookbooks that they had picked up in Diagon Alley.

He supervised Hermione as she once again attempted to make her grilled cheese sandwich and all was going well until he turned to check on the now quiet Sirius and Draco. He could suddenly smell the acidic scent of burnt bread and cheese. Hermione looked ready to burst into tears.

Hugging her, he said "We will figure it out."

Narcissa who had gone for a basic grilled cheese of wheat bread and swiss cheese was looking relieved when she removed her own sandwich. Harry suggested that Hermione use the other witch's griddle and when her sandwich turned out fine, blithely blamed it on the original griddle to make his friend feel better about the situation.

Eventually they were once again seated at the same table as a week ago, Sirius eating the extra sandwiches that Harry had made to go with Draco and his garden pea soup. The former marauder announced that he was giving up cooking.

"Thank goodness for house elves or you would starve." Draco said with a smirk on his face. "Potter I think he needs detention for slacking off."

"Oh, I have a worse punishment in mind." The emerald eyed teenager said. Looking at his godfather, he announced "While Remus is unavailable for the next few days, someone has to supervise me. Snape has already offered so that means Sirius gets to help Mrs. Granger pick up the supplies for my birthday party. After all she is generously offering to host it."

Sirius glared at his godson. "I hate shopping."

"Snape, what would be the punishment for one of your students if they behaved the way that Padfoot did in class today?" Harry asked while grinning at Hermione who was now giggling.

"Nevermind, I will go visit Mrs. Granger." Sirius hastily replied having heard tales from the three teenagers about Snape's classes. "You're a cruel and hard task master, Harry. You remind me greatly of your mother."

Remus burst out laughing to the amusement of the younger kids. Seeing them looking he said "Let's just say your mother was very initiative with punishments, Harry. When Sirius got you your toy broom in spite of Lily's firm directive regarding presents for your first Christmas, she ordered him to wash dishes by hand for a month. No magic allowed."

Seeing the accepting expression on their faces, Remus told them the rest of the story. "Did I happen to mention that she meant the dishes at the Potter house and that Sirius didn't even live there. The funny thing was he was already so scare of her and her wand that he turned up every single night and did them without complaint."

Draco looked at Sirius Black and said "I thought that you were training to be an auror."

Sirius looked at the teenage blond and said "Have you ever heard of Mad Eye Moody?"

"Auror, scary wizard. Complete nutter." Draco replied while both Hermione and Harry listened without knowing who he was. "Why?"

"Moody pissed Lily off only once. You know why it was only once?" Remus asked with an amused tone. "Let me tell you the story. See, Moody thought it would be educational to remind everyone about his watch words Constant Vigilance by hiding in the pushes as the Potter Manor. James and Lily were returning from a dinner at the Tonks household and it was almost midnight. He jumped out and tried to hex them in the back while shouting constant vigilance. James burst out laughing when he noticed who it was, Lily however, she was a different story."

"Lily never really approved of his surprise attacks and before he even finished speaking, she had his wand in her hand and had silenced him, tied him up and removed his magical eye then turned him into a wild boar which we quickly learned was a type of pig. She corralled him and then started a pot of water on this huge outdoor fireplace all the while telling Mad Eye about how she was going to turn him into a pot of stew. I should explain that she kept the ruse going all the way up to the point where she held her wand on him and pretended to prepare him to be skewered."

"He squealed and kept trying to escape her as she threw cutting hexes that just missed him. Finally, just when Mad Eye was sure that he was about to be the pork filler in the stew, she transfigured him back into human form and told him if he EVER snuck up on her again, she would not be so kind. His hands were trembling as he caught his wand and he apparated away."

Lucius didn't believe them at first, convinced that Lupin and Black were exaggerating for the entertainment value to Harry when he noticed the rueful look on Severus' face.

"Minerva told me about it a few years ago when Mad Eye came to Hogwarts to visit the Headmaster. She made a point of bringing Lily up to the nutter when he started to harass me during lunch in the Great Hall. Moody fled so quickly you would think that Lily was in the same room." Severus said.

"Mom did that?" Harry asked laughing. "I thought that dad was the prankster?"

"Harry, you don't understand." Sirius said with a grin on his face. "Your mother wasn't joking. If Moody had persisted in his sneak attacks, she would have turned him into stew with no qualms. She was every scarier once she was pregnant with you. Peter tracked mud into the house and when she pointed it out, he said something about it being the house elves job to clean it up. She charmed the mop and water bucket in the kitchen to follow him around and hit him on the butt until he finally got the hint to clean it up."

"Since it was Peter it took a while for him to get the hint." Remus finished. The group went quiet as they finished their lunch then Narcissa requested the house elves clean up the kitchen as Hermione and she had a meeting with the rest of the Vestas and were meeting with Boudacia beforehand.

Draco who had spent very little time with his parents since the talk a week before with his dad quickly exited towards his bedroom while Snape and Lucius went to the library along with the two remaining marauders. Harry who was planning on joining Draco outside flying first went to send a reply to Ron who had written him a note in which he complained about how mean his dad was being.

As the two boys were planning on heading to the pitch, a rain storm began outside so waiting for the wizards to end their meeting so that Lucius could perform a weather charm, Draco suggested that they go to the upper library and hang around not telling Harry that they would be able to eavesdrop on the adults.

In the library, the four men were soon seated in the comfortable conversation area then Sirius handed over what the goblins had given to him the day before. On it was a list of everywhere that contained Potter family heirlooms. They had recalled the ones at Hogwarts and from what I heard from Amelia Bones she is going to be dealing with Albus about illegally removing items from the estate. She is also looking into the estates of other war orphan that he had expressed any interest in, just to twist the knife"

"Severus, what did you find out about why they dripped Harry's blood onto Remus?"

"I have an idea but I don't want to say anything until I am positive. We should know by the end of next week." Severus said keeping the research he had found to himself. "Lupin, the wolfsbane potion will be prepared for you tonight."

"I will be staying at Grimmauld with Sirius supervising for the next three nights." Remus told the others. "It's strange, I haven't felt as short tempered as I usually am this close to the full moon."

"I think that is a side effect of what the goblins did, but want empirical evidence before I explain anything else." Severus said. "Before we split up for the afternoon, Black, you should know, Molly Weasley sent Hagrid an invite to Harry's party. He seems to believe it is still going to be at the Burrow."

"The Grangers sent out invitations to all of those Hermione felt Harry would want invited and I paid a visit to those who I was sure the Weasleys would invite to their place. The odd thing is that there were no children out side of their own and Hermione who were invited to the party. It's all adults." Remus replied. "Everyone except the Weasleys all RSVPed. Minerva said she would bring Hagrid with her to Harry's party."

"While serving my punishment I will speak to the Weasleys, maybe visit Arthur at work." Sirius replied with frown on his face. "I haven't been able to find the courage to tell Harry about Molly's past with the Potter family. Mainly because I really haven't developed an opinion of the the Weasley children."

Snape shook his head and answered. "The two eldest fled the country as soon as they legally could to get away from her controlling attitude. Bill is fairly intelligent and works for the Goblins. He is the eldest. A former head boy, he was well liked at Hogwarts. Worked hard for a Gryffindor."

Lucius shrugged when he saw Sirius looking his way. "What?"

"I know how you dislike the family. We both know that like my uncle you have dossiers on those who you consider problems." Sirius replied.

"Fine, Severus is right about the eldest. He graduated six years ago and promptly asked for a foreign assignment and only came back this summer. He had to, his mother offended his boss in Egypt last summer and the boy knew he was finished there thanks to her. He was offered a curse breaking position here and is first in line for the next foreign assignment this fall. He will be offered a job in Paris."

Remus saw Sirius looking his way and said "Never met the eldest or the one who works with dragons."

"Charlie is a bit hot headed, but when at Hogwarts, followed Hagrid around like a lost puppy." Snape stated. "Boy was besotted with dangerous animals as much as Hagrid and helped him with his so called pets. He hasn't been home and from what Kettleburn says, he like his brother was very eager to escape."

"Pretty much the same as what I have in my file except that he will be returning for the World Cup. Charles also tends to favor his youngest sibling. He often sends presents to Geneva from Romania." Lucius added.

"Who is next?" Sirius asked.

"Percy." Severus said with a shake of his head. "I spoke to him about his failing in his duties as prefect towards Potter during the boy's first year. Interestingly enough, he had a different plan of action and had one on one meetings with the muggleborn boys but when he requested his brother give Harry a note about meeting, Ron somehow convinced him that because Harry was a half blood he didn't need to meet. He ordered the menace to give Harry the note but he didn't show up. I spoke to Harry and found out he never got it."

"I taught Percy this year, he is a bit of a stickler for the rules, so if he says he tried to set up the meeting, he did try." Remus said. "I get the feeling he isn't very close to his family though."

"Amelia made him have a mental health evaluation after Crouch's death." Lucius said. Seeing the way they were looking at him, he said "Fudge told me."

"And?" Sirius asked.

"Boy admitted to feeling alone once his older brothers left England and that the twins are too loud for him to be around. He also isn't very fond of his younger siblings. He is like Lupin said a stickler for the rules and should do a good job in his new position. He is ambitious but is also very loyal to his father even if embarrassed at how his father seems to have no ambitions of his own."

"So like Molly?" Sirius replied.

"No, it's a different situation. Percy Weasley doesn't mind hard work or slogging through paperwork to get what he wants. He wouldn't want to take a short cut to get to the top, either." Lucius reluctantly admitted. "He also hasn't inherited her temper, he is more placid like Arthur is."

"What about these infamous twins." Sirius asked.

"They are trouble with a capital t." Snape answered but with a bit of admiration added "They should have been in Slytherin though."

"Really?" Sirius asked.

"Unfortunately yes." Snape answered. "Their plan is to open a joke shop to rival Zonkos when they are finished with school."

"So they want to put Harry's company out of business?" Sirius asked amused. Seeing the way the others were looking at him, he said "I bought into the company when Harry was born and put the stock into his vault. He has been getting profits put into a separate vault since that day."

"They gave Harry the map." Remus told Sirius. "They like we were are a bit obvious to the damage they create but with guidance they will mature. As for Zonkos, if they ever get the funding, they will probably be able to put it out of business. As for their relationship with Molly...they receive howlers from her about twice a month. At this point, they just walk out of the Great Hall and ignore them. They love their family but I don't think they are blind to it's faults."

"What about the boy Harry is friends with? This Ron?" Sirius asked.

The other three were quiet for a moment and then Remus said in an uncomfortable tone "If Ron accepts the changes in Harry's life things will be fine, if not, he is in for a bumpy ride. Ron is the most like his mother. I should tell you how he reacted to Hermione's going to Minerva about Harry's Firebolt..."

Fifteen minutes later, Sirius looked at Snape who had been quiet. "What is it?"

"I think that Ron will attempt to stay friends with Harry but he is going to be upset about his dropping Divination because he went for the easiest classes and will not like that Harry is no longer slacking off. He is also going to have a major issue when Hermione and Harry realize their feelings for one another. I only wish it was because he truly liked Granger but I don't think that is the case."

Remus agreed and then said "If Ron can mature he will be fine, but I also think that when he hears about the truce between Draco and the other two, he won't be happy and will order Harry to make a choice. Harry's progress will be determined by how he reacts."

"What about this girl?" Sirius asked.

"She is a nonentity in regards to the situation. I think Molly would love it if Harry and she started dating but otherwise, I think that there is nothing to worry about."

Lucius looked at Remus and said "Do you know how much those idiotic Harry Potter adventure books cost? They bilked the readers out of four galleons a book. For a family like the Weasleys, that is a lot of money. At a time when she bought everything second hand for her sons for school including textbooks and family wands were used for her sons, Molly purchased those books brand new for her daughter."

Up on the balcony a confused Harry was trying to figure out why Sirius disliked the Weasley family when he heard all three of his godfathers groaning in pain. He heard Lucius continue talking. "I think that it was her lucky day when Ron and Harry met on the train. Remember how she got Arthur to date her after all. He was betrothed to that Davis girl at the time."

"You really think she would go that far?" Sirius asked.

"This is the same woman who grew up on Potter land while her entire family worked for Charles and Dorea. The same woman who has long wished to have the Potter name, titles and wealth." Lucius pointed out. "Thankfully she realized that it wasn't going to happen and ended up moving on to Weasley."

Harry wanted to reject what Lucius was saying after all this was the man who had loathed them enough to have a feud with them.

He heard Sirius replying "I knew she resented Lily. That day at Madam Malkins, when she showed up and verbally attacked her when she saw her in her wedding gown instead of robes. First insinuating that she didn't deserve to wear white, then there were her disgusting comments about Lily living with the three of us as if she wasn't aware that the Headmaster had suggested Lily stay with us after she fought off Bellatrix."

"Is it true she called Evans a mudblood?" Lucius asked.

"WHAT?!" Harry heard the anger in the harsh tone of Snape's question and wanted to peer over the wood railing but he stayed quiet wanting to hear more shocked at the thought of Molly Weasley using that disgusting word. He was struggling to stay quiet, the hurt at the idea he had been lied to by someone who had hurt his mother creating an ache in his chest.

"Yes along with calling her a scarlet woman and a muggleborn in other words a loose woman. She apologized but James always believed that Arthur made Molly do so. I wasn't there that night when they showed up but I heard that for once Arthur recalled he wore the pants in that marriage. It might have been forgotten if she hadn't kept running her mouth to other witches about Lily but James never forgot what she did and when they showed up at the wedding. He stopped the ceremony when he saw her and demanded they leave." Sirius replied.

"Yet according to Harry she has been very kind to him. She even sent him Christmas presents that first year and they took him in last year." Remus added.

"I am fine with that. I just think that Harry needs to know the other side of the story." Sirius said. "I also know that Arthur doesn't have a mean bone anywhere in his body. Who knows, maybe she really have evolved but just in case I am going to tell Harry both sides of the story."

"The problem with Weasley senior is that he has no bones. He doesn't stand up to his wife and listens to everything Dumbledore says as if it is the last word." Lucius stated. "I heard that Perkins and he were upset that Bones conducted an audit of the goods they raided from various homes two years ago. They were ordered to produce all of the missing items within the next three weeks or be demoted."

"I doubt that Albus will give them up." Snape replied. "I know that he is furious that the Goblins have ordered him to return those he removed from Potter manor after I intervened and pointed out to the goblins that he had no legal right to them."

"Black, you three are going to have to tell Harry what all of those instruments do before he returns to Hogwarts. He deserves to know." Lucius pointed out.

Groaning, Sirius answered "I know. I just hope it goes better than the talk I had with him about growing up. If I ever meet Oliver Wood again, I am going to owe him big time."

Lucius chuckled and said "Snape told me."

Harry was embarrassed when his latest godfather said "I listened in on Lupin's behalf. We wanted to make sure you didn't traumatize the brat too much. If there was so much as a mention of a blow up doll and banana I was to hex you into next week. I believe you told me it was my choice of hex and anything less than an unforgivable was acceptable, wasn't that how you put it Lupin?"

"I owe you one, Moony." Harry got the feeling that Remus Lupin wasn't too worried when he blew a raspberry at his old friend. "Still, that Wood boy, he was as thorough as Harry mentioned and though I am a bit confused as to why he spoke to my pup, I am grateful."

"Turns out Wood talked to the Weasley twins as well." Severus added. He had in fact confronted the former Gryffindor Quidditch Captain looking for answers. "Apparently, after Arthur spoke to Charlie, Bill and he had a talk. Charlie did the same thing with Percy who apparently attempted to get through to the twins. When he saw them ignoring their brother, Wood stepped in. I did some checking into Wood. His father died and he has an older brother who stepped into that role for him."

"Lucius, how are things with Draco?" Remus asked. "We have been a bit busy with Harry and getting him ready for school next year but I have noticed that Draco has been sitting in on our lessons."

"He is still blushing when he sees Narcissa and myself." Lucius admitted. "He avoids us other than meals and the cooking lessons. I need to speak to him, find out exactly what he saw and talk to him but at the same time, I worry that if I push him too much he will retreat again."

Harry looked at Draco who seemed ready to lose his lunch, so he grabbed him by the arm and tiptoed back to the upper entrance. Once in the hallway, he quietly suggested that they head to the classroom.

When the door was shut, both boys sat on the nearby comfortable leather chairs both lost in thought. Harry's mind was on the discussion he had overheard about Molly Weasley. He needed to know the truth but before he confronted the woman he had believed cared about him, he needed to talk things out with Hermione. Hermione... he blushed as he recalled his half remembered dream that had ended with his kissing her on the lips instead of her cheek.


A day later, Remus was swallowing the wolfsbane potion and thanking Severus who had handed it to him in the basement of the Grimmauld Place manor. Sirius was getting ready to change into Padfoot when Severus stopped him and asked to speak to him in the hallway out past the solid steel door.

"What?" Sirius asked wanting to seal Remus and himself in as his friend has been rather nervous about things this month. "I have to get back in there. Moony is worried about how bad it is going to be since he hasn't felt his normal edginess. He is afraid it is going to be harder this month without the preparations his body usually goes through."

"I haven't told him because I don't want to give him false hope, but there is a reason for his unusual calm behavior. A potion master experimented with different options to create the wolfsbane potion before the Great War, Black. He never found an agent to neutralize the poison that would help the potion work. Larionovich who perfected the potion has long attempted to use it as a portal to cure Lycanthropy."

"What are you saying?" Sirius snapped.

"I will tell you in the morning, if I am right you won't need an explanation about what, simply why and how." Snape answered. Sirius changed into Padfoot when they heard the chimes of the clock announcing that it was almost eight o'clock.

The potion's master sealed the room and went back up to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea before falling asleep on the nearby sofa knowing that if he was correct Black's notorious impatience would want answers right away.

Dawn broke through the open curtains and Snape who had been dozing hurried downstairs to unlock the steel door and had barely stepped back when a large black dog barreled out of the room and knocked him to the ground before running around the lower level like the idiot it was in human form.

Peeking in, Severus saw the large hairy wolf but not werewolf curled up fast asleep and from the sounds of it snoring loudly and chuckled at being right. Leaving the door open he ignored the sound of Padfoot barking and went straight to the kitchen.

Sirius changed into his human form and looking at Snape asked "What the hell was that?"

"Let's wait for Lupin, I don't want to have to answer your questions more than once." Severus said pulling out the old potion's journal from Boston in the colonies and handed it over. "This might help."

Finding the appropriate article, Sirius read what had been theorized and found himself grinning as he realized the hope this would give his old friend. Looking up he said "Is this permanent."

"I am not sure. I figure if we watch and show our evidence to Diggory at the Ministry and Amelia Bones, we might have just found a way to help a hell of a lot of people." Snape answered. "At least if the goblins are willing to perform the ritual since it's illegal to perform blood rituals elsewhere."

"Oh Merlin, the ministry will want Harry's blood." Sirius said turning green.

"They won't need it. The basilisk is still in the chamber. The Headmaster sealed it and he might be forced to open it but he should have allowed the snake to be harvested anyhow. He was too busy covering up what happened to think about the very rare potion's ingredients that were available to be rendered. As for the phoenix tears, they need to be fresh so Harry won't work as a source. He only did for Lupin because of the ritual we were in the middle of. Lupin had already bled to protect Harry."

"I owe that goblin." Sirius said shaking his head. Looking at the red streaks in the sky, he grinned and said "It's the morning after a full moon."

Down in the basement, Remus Lupin was sitting on the soft bedding Sirius had had placed down there stunned to realize he hadn't turned into a werewolf the night before. He had been some sort of wolf but it hadn't been a were.

Standing, worried about pain, he was pleasantly surprised to feel none. Heading through the open door, he quickly climbed the steps to see Sirius standing there with a huge grin on his face.

No words were necessary as they tightly hugged one another and just held on while tears fell onto the sandy haired man's cheeks. Looking at Snape who was drinking tea and seated at the table, Remus finally asked "Was this you or the goblins?"

"They did this, I only altered the wolfsbane so that it didn't kill you if I was right and you didn't change. I wasn't expecting the timber wolf you turned into it though I should have." Severus replied as he watched the two men.

"We have to go tell Harry." Remus said with a grin on his face as he finally let go of Sirius. As he moved forward, he held out his hand to shake Snape. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, thank the goblins." He curtly replied. Looking at Black he said "Don't you have to meet Granger's mother at nine?"

Looking at the clock, Sirius grimaced as he saw that it was almost seven thirty and that he had to go home and change first. The trio exited the Black house and he flooed straight to his new place while Lupin flooed to Malfoy manor.

Severus returned to Hogwarts, today was only the 23rd of July but he knew that Harry's birthday was going to be quickly upon them and Minerva and he were preparing for the return of the Headmaster. They both knew that the secret of who Harry was staying with would soon be out and that there would be trouble on the horizon.

Meanwhile at Malfoy manor, Lupin only found Lucius at the breakfast table and no one else. "Where is Harry?"

"He went straight to see Ms. Granger this morning." Lucius said after inviting the other man to join him at the table. "Severus' house elf just about had a fit when the boy refused to eat breakfast. He drank his potion, took the muffins and fruit and then left after apologizing for not staying."

Remus frowned, Harry had been quiet all week, too quiet truth be told. He had been around his godson long enough to know that that meant something was going on and that he was keeping a secret.

With Harry secrets often meant danger so the not werewolf finished his meal and then sent a patronus to Severus asking him to come as soon as he could. Explaining to Lucius what was going on, he was soon told that Severus had mentioned the possibility to Lucius but had him promise to stay quiet in case things didn't work out.

The potion's master quickly arrived and after hearing why Remus was worried, suggested that they go to the Grangers to see Harry themselves. Lucius suggested that he side apparate Severus since he had never been to the Granger home while Remus brought himself.

Knocking on the door, they were let in by Hermione's father who said "They aren't here. Mr. Black and my wife went to the mall and he okayed Harry and Hermione heading into the city for the morning."

"London?" Remus asked sounding shocked.

"No, I believe they were heading into Crawley proper to locate a present for that young man my wife has been gardening with." Dr. Granger said. "They wanted to find something this morning before spending the afternoon working on a very secretive plan that they think I know nothing about."

"Should we be concerned?" Lucius asked the man who had somehow managed to settle his own son down this summer.

"I am not sure. I was rather hoping you would be able to tell me." The man said as he leaned on his golf bag which was behind the sofa. "They have been speaking in code about confronting a howler to learn the truth. They have both been sending that beautiful owl of Harry's back and forth between here and the Weasley residence."

"Uh oh." Remus said. He could only think of one person who could be nicknamed a howler. "Do you know what store they went to?"

"I heard mention of a stationary store, a typewriter shop and an antique store. Considering it is my daughter who went, you should check the two book stores in town and maybe the nearby gardening center since the present is for Mr. Longbottom." Dr. Granger said not mentioning that his daughter took his cell phone with her.

He might not know who but he had a good idea that whatever they were planning was harmless. So, heading out to this vehicle after wishing them luck, he went to join the rest of his foursome on the golf course.


Across the country, the current Vesta board were meeting. They were going to be rather busy over the next few months. Minerva and Boudica were telling the others about how things were working out with their latest crop of newcomers.

With the decision made to invite Vesta Initiate Cordelia Bucklehurst into full membership they moved on to the second Initiate, Molly Weasley. There was major disagreement about the former Molly Prewett so her invite was shelved for now after the standard half hour with Griselda Marchbanks warned not to speak to Albus Dumbledore about their inner workings.

The older witch had huffed and puffed before going silent, well aware that she had almost been sanctioned as a result of her early manipulations regarding Molly Weasley and the Granger girl on the Headmaster's behalf in spite of Minerva McGonagall originally getting the blame.

"Pending her success with the party, I vote we accept Narcissa Malfoy nee Black into membership." Boudica announced.

Griselda watched as other than her own vote the Malfoy witch was voted into membership as they moved onto her Vesta apprentice. It was decided that Hermione would continue on her track into full membership.

Amelia Bones was requesting names for possible apprenticeships for the next year when she noticed a strange beetle on a nearby chair. Using her wand, she swiftly stunned it and then conjured a jar with a lid.

Once the beetle was inside she quickly scanned the small red bug with very familiar markings and a feral grin came to her face as her monocle fell out of her eye. As soon as the meeting ended, she quickly exited the temple and returned to her office.

Once locked inside with Auror Tonks who she had grabbed as she entered the DMLE, she used the animagus revealing spell on the now released bug. As it turned into a human being, she said "Hello Rita, I think we need to have a nice long talk. So do you prefer the cell I have kept waiting for you in Azkaban or do you want to make a deal."

TBC

Up next:

Harry and Sirius speak about the Weasleys

Draco attends Neville's birthday party

Narcissa visits her sister

Severus speaks to Amos Diggory/Amelia Bones

AND Rita gets her just desserts.