A/N: Ah, well I can only assume that none of you can speak Gaelic, as I've had no reviews telling me that I royally stuffed it up! I confess I feel it stalling a little, but stick with me! After Christmas we're going on a time warp (let's do the time warp again, sorry, don't know what came over me) and then we'll see what happens. It's ending up quite AU as I've completely totalled the timeline. Oh well. Review me if you don't like it, and review me if you do!

Not mine. Again. Still. Always.

The excitement was palpable the next morning, with Sirius Black the biggest topic of conversation with every house. As they all sat down to breakfast Harry glanced up at the Professor's table returning Minerva's smile before glancing at Snape, who was shooting a murderous glare at Professor Lupin while he had his back turned. Harry nudged Hermione and Ron before shrugging and going back to his toast. The day passed quickly until Harry had to return to the potions classroom after lunch. Taking a deep breath with Hermione and Ron flanking him, he strode into the classroom, sitting at his bench without a word or a look at the potions professor.

"Seeing as we never got to finish the shrinking solution last time," he stared at Harry, as if expecting him to say something. Harry just concentrated on the daisy roots in front of him and didn't look up. "So we will finish it this time, and I think we will use Longbottom's potion to test on, "Snape looked at Neville and waved his wand. Suddenly Trevor, Neville's frog was on the bench top, "ah, we will test it on this poor creature," Snape said with a smirk.

Neville looked like death warmed up as he started cutting his daisy roots. Hermione had once again moved to his bench and was whispering instructions into Neville's ear when Snape wasn't looking; earning a look of admiration from Neville every time she nodded her encouragement. By the end of the lesson Neville was practically sweating bullets as Snape bottled some of the potion. Dribbling a little on Trevor's back, the Gryffindor's in the room waited with baited breath to see what would happen. The Slytherins looked on in expectation, hoping the toad would spontaneously combust. Trevor trembled for a moment and Neville let out a small wail, before there was a pop and there wriggling on the countertop was a tadpole. Snape looked decidedly disappointed and after production another vial and tipping it onto Trevor, turning him back to what he was rounded on Neville.

"Lucky, Longbottom." He hissed. "Five points from Gryffindor Miss Granger, for again being an insufferable Know-it-all." Hermione just rolled her eyes and left the classroom.

That evening Harry made his way to Minerva's quarters, accompanied by Harry and Hermione. Every time he turned a corner a teacher would suddenly appear and ask after his health. He just rolled his eyes as even Madam Hooch questioned how he was feeling and she smirked at him before stalking off to the grounds. As they approached the portrait Harry was surprised to see Minerva standing tapping her foot waiting for them.

"You're late, we're going to your extra defence lesson" she said curtly and Harry smiled apologetically at his friends, who left to go back to the tower without a word.

"Seanmhair, did I do something wrong?" he asked once they were alone. She looked at him in surprise.

"No, why would you think that?" she asked seriously. Harry almost laughed.

"Because I think maybe you're stuck in Professor McGonagall mode," he said with a cheeky smile. Minerva laughed.

"Tha mi duilich, sorry Harry." She said with a grin. "I think I'm going to do that from now on okay? I'll say something in Gaelic, and then I'll repeat it in English okay?" Harry nodded and knocked on the door they'd arrived at. Professor Lupin opened the door smiling when he saw who it was,

"Harry, Minerva, come in." he said. Harry had been in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office before, when Professor Lockhart had been in residence, but it was fantastic with Lupin here. There were weird creatures Harry had never seen before in tanks all over the room and a big trunk in the middle of the room that jumped a little when the door closed. Harry eyed it suspiciously and Minerva just patted his arm. Lupin conjured two chairs and sat on the trunk facing them. "I know you heard about what happened in class Harry, but you didn't actually get to see it, so I'll explain it to you and then we'll go from there okay?" Harry just nodded. "Okay, well a boggart is essentially a shape shifter, whereby it takes on the form of the thing that the person fears the most. Your friend Ron clearly has a fear of spiders and so when it sensed him; it turned into the biggest tarantula you've ever seen." Harry grinned as he imagined Ron's face. "In order to overcome the boggart Harry you need to think of what you fear most and change it into something funny, hence Mr. Longbottom's boggart." Even Minerva giggled at that causing the two to turn, Lupin with a raised eyebrow. She waved her hands in front of her in a sign of surrender.

"Come on Remus, Severus in Augusta's ridiculous hat? That must have been priceless." She said with a wink at Harry.

"I fear you, like your mother, have unleashed the beast Harry," Professor Lupin said nodding towards Minerva who just snorted a little before trying to glare at Lupin. With the tables turned he now held up his hands in surrender, but winked at Harry, who was sitting watching the exchange in awe. "Now," Lupin said hopping off the box, "We're going to be producing a patronus Harry. Have you ever heard of one of them?" Harry shook his head. "It's essentially a shield that acts between the dementor and the shielded. You have to think of a happy thought, the happiest thought you can and then say expecto patronum, okay?" Harry watched Professor Lupin's wand movements, and then nodded after he felt he had them. "Can you think of a memory?" Harry searched through his memory banks and thought of when they won the house cup.

Taking out his wand and gripping it tightly he looked at Minerva and she smiled. Turning back to Lupin he nodded and Lupin once again got off the trunk.

"Harry I don't expect that you'll be able to conjure a patronus, especially the first time, but we're going to help you anyway okay?" Harry nodded but then frowned,

"Wait Professor, will it be like when a real dementor is near?" he asked cautiously. Lupin and Minerva shared a look before Lupin clasped Harry's shoulder with a strong hand.

"I think it probably might be, seeing as that is the part you are most afraid of, not the creature itself." Harry nodded glumly, not feeling nearly as confident as before. But sucking it up, he once again gripped his wand and pointed it at the trunk. Lupin muttered alohamora and suddenly Harry's world went cold and he could hear voices as he fell into darkness, there was a man's voice this time, telling someone to take him, Harry, upstairs; that he was coming then in a flash of green he was awake again, with two very concerned professors looking down at him.

"Harry?" Minerva said gripping his hand like a vice. He was so cold and sad that he didn't answer immediately. Professor Lupin just pushed a bar of chocolate at him and he took it gratefully, remembering how it had helped when he was in the hospital wing. He lay on the floor, holding Minerva's hand until he had swallowed the first bite, feeling a little warmth flooding back into his bones. Between them, the two professors helped Harry up, who still was yet to utter a word. Lupin fiddled with something on his desk as Minerva rounded on him, pulling him into a hug. He gripped her robes and breathed in her scent.

"I heard my dad this time," he whispered once he had turned his head, resting his ear above Minerva's heart, comforted by the steady beating. He watched as sadness flashed across Professor Lupin's face. "He yelled for my mum to take me upstairs, that he was coming, but that's all I heard." He said quietly closing his eyes against the hurt. He felt an additional hand on his arm and he opened his eyes taking in Professor Lupin crouching down next to him.

"He wouldn't have had it any other way Harry," he said with a sad smile, ruffling Harry's hair before placing a comforting arm on Minerva who bent down to look Harry in the face.

"Ciamar a tha thu? How are you?" she asked touching his cheek with the palm of her hand.

"I'm fine," he said unconvincingly. She raised an eyebrow, "really," he added when he saw that she didn't believe him.

"Tha mi gu math," she said absently, still studying him.

"What does that mean?" He asked

"It means I am fine." She said finally deciding he really was telling the truth.

"Well then, tha mi gu math," he said without missing a beat and she smiled.

"Oh not you as well," Professor Lupin said laughing. "Lily drove us all mad when she spoke in tongues with Minerva like that," he said earning himself a light slap on the arm from her causing the tension in the room to evaporate.

"Tongues indeed," she said before nodding they continue the lesson.

"Right Harry, I think you're going to need a stronger memory. Think deep for something that really fills your heart with happiness." Lupin eyed Harry as he thought about it. He thought about something that made him really happy and he thought about the photo in Minerva's private quarters of himself being held by his mother and her and he felt his heart soar. "What about an example Harry?" Lupin said with a smile. Harry looked at him wondering what he meant. "I think Minerva would love to show you how to produce a Patronus." He said with a wink.

She scowled at Professor Lupin but stood up.

"Alright boys, let the old lady show you how it is done!" she said with a laugh. Harry sat on the trunk next to Professor Lupin, who put a friendly hand over his shoulder. As Minerva cast the spell Lupin pointed out the finer points of the movement and Harry watched as her wand shot a silver light from the tip, forming into something like a shield.

"You got it?" Lupin asked once Minerva had finished her spell. Nodding at his professor he concentrated hard on the thought that he'd picked, it wasn't a memory, but it was good as he could think of, as Professor Lupin opened the box again.

Harry really tried to concentrate, he actually got a glimpse of the boggart/dementor this time, but then he was in darkness again. He heard his father call out to his mother and then he heard his mother whispering something, he strained to hear it.

"Dìon mo mac," was all he heard before a crash downstairs, "James" suddenly the house was full of Voldemort's voice.

"I'm coming for your son," it seemed to echo into Harry's soul and he heard his mother whisper once more,

"A-mhàin thar mo mharbhan," before everything went black again.

"Harry, Harry, can you hear me?" he blinked a few times trying to focus on the blobs hovering in front of his eyes. He felt his glasses slide onto his face and he blinked once more as everything came into focus. They helped him up, siting him down, before Lupin pushed more chocolate into his hand.

"I heard more this time," he said looking from one professor to the other. Minerva looked sadly at him and ran a hand through his hair. Harry realised that when she did that it was as much for her as it was for him, not that he minded.

"Oh Harry," she said sadly. Harry thought back to what had happened and he tried to remember what his mother had said,

"Dìon mo mac," he whispered, not daring to say it any louder for fear it would disappear into the air itself. Minerva blinked as tears ran down her face,

"Protect my son," she said with a sob. Lupin placed a hand on her shoulder as they listened to Harry tell them what happened.

"He said he was coming to kill me, and she whispered A-mhàin thar mo mharbhan and then everything went black." Minerva sobbed at this.

"That's over my dead body." She said running a thumb over his cheek.

They were interrupted by a loud crack and then a house elf was standing at their side.

"Mistress, your presence is requested in the headmaster offices." He said before disappearing again. Minerva wiped away her tears and smiled a watery smile at Lupin, before placing a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"Don't keep him too long Remus." She said with a smile. He nodded and went back to something on his desk.

"Gu a-màireach, until tomorrow Harry," she said before leaving. Harry stared after her for a moment before turning back to his Defence teacher. He felt a little bad because a part of him wanted to hear his parents. He didn't like the affect it had on him, but he found their voices and he didn't really want to let go. They practiced a little more before Lupin declared that he had worked enough. Harry was both frustrated and happy at the same time. Frustrated that he couldn't conjure a patronus, and happy as well because he had heard his parents a few more times.

They walked back to the Gryffindor tower in silence only pausing when they reached the new portrait. It was Sir Cadogan, the rather annoying knight that had helped Ron and Harry to the Divination classroom on the first day. Everybody was unimpressed by the portrait as he spent most of his time challenging people to duels, and he changed the password twice a day. Harry turned to Professor Lupin.

"Thank you Professor" he said truthfully. He had enjoyed the time they spent together, even if most of it he was unconscious on the floor. He had learnt a little about his father and their escapades together.

"You're welcome Harry; we'll continue these lessons next week." Lupin said before turning away.

"Professor," Lupin stopped as Harry addressed him. "What does a dementor look like?" he asked thoughtfully. Lupin studied Harry before answering.

"The people that get close enough to see them are in no fit state to tell." He said cryptically. Harry was not one to be put off and so Lupin continued, "when you are sentenced to a Dementor's kiss Harry, do you know what happens?" Harry shook his head, "They literally suck out your soul." Lupin said with a pained expression. Harry was gobsmacked.

"So, you die." Harry said frowning when Lupin shook his head.

"No, but you'd wish you had. Without the soul the body is nothing." Lupin said. "Fudge has authorised the kiss on Sirius Black as soon as he is caught."

"Good," said Harry darkly, "He deserves it." Lupin sighed and shrugged.

"Do you really think anybody deserves it Harry?" he asked sadly, Harry just glowered at the painting.

"Some people do." Harry said before muttering oddsbodkins as the password and entering the common room. Lupin sighed and scratched his chin, he glanced out of the window and shuddered a little as the moon peeked out from behind the clouds walking quickly back to his quarters.

Detentions continued much as they had the first night, with Harry doing his punishment before spending time with his, what was for all intents and purposes, new grandmother. He hadn't complained once, because he knew that it could be so much worse. During their time together after his punishments they'd learnt a lot about each other. Harry started to see just how much Minerva was different when she was in her own quarters. He realised how much time Minerva must have spent with his family before they'd gone into hiding because everything about her was familiar to Harry, her scent, her laugh, her hugs. He loved them the most, when she pulled him to her for no particular reason and for a while they just existed together, she running her hands through his hair, which as far as Harry was concerned she could go on doing forever.

On the last night of detention she'd been particularly clingy after she'd heard what happened during Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid had brought in a Hippogriff for the students to observe. Hagrid had chosen Harry to go first and as such had ridden the strange creature through the skies, nearly causing her to have a heart attack as she saw him soar over the lake during her fifth year lessons. Fred and George had even asked her if she was okay. She realised that if the twins were concerned about her then she was losing her edge and as such had quickly pulled herself together and set them extra homework. George had even had the audacity to wink at her as they left and her mouth twitched into a small smile while shaking her head. They may have been the biggest commotion causers they'd had since the Marauders, but they held a special place in Minerva's heart. She marvelled at some of the pranks they pulled. If only they'd taken that much interest in their studies, she thought as she watched the hippogriff land on the edge of the forest, causing her to release a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Shaking her head she turned to her seventh years and began teaching them the finer arts of transfiguration.

Harry hadn't had this much fun for a while as he soared through the sky on the hippogriff Hagrid had affectionately named Buckbeak. As he came back to earth he had a smile plastered on his face and continued to pat the strange creature as Hagrid instructed the rest of the class how to approach the beast. Harry moved back to Ron and Hermione, just in time to hear Draco boasting about how clever he was and about how dumb the hippogriff was, not listening to Hagrid when he'd said the hippogriff were proud creatures and would attack when they were insulted. In a flash of beak and talons Draco squealed like a girl and dropped to the floor crying. The Gryffindor's smirked a little while the Slytherin's glowered at Hagrid, who simply scooped Malfoy up and took him to the hospital wing.

That night Harry had asked Minerva what would happen to Hagrid. She assured him that Dumbledore would let nothing happen to Hagrid, but Buckbeak's fate would depend on what happened when the incident went to the school board, of which Lucius Malfoy was a very influential member.

"But Malfoy insulted the poor thing, it wasn't his fault." Harry had said snorting at the memory. "Stupid git," he muttered.

"Hey!" Minerva had said with astonishment on her face, Harry just smiled at her,

"Tha me duilich," I'm sorry, he said smirking. He knew she couldn't do anything but smile if he talked to her in Gaelic. Conversing in her ancestral language, he found, was a favourite pastime of hers and she could never stay mad at him when he did. She laughed, cuffing him lightly on the head.

"Come here you," she said pulling him onto the sofa with her. They'd discovered something else about each other in their hours after detention: they both loved being in each other's arms. With Harry's less than perfect childhood and Minerva's self-imposed emotional shutdown, just to feel the love they had for each other was something they both treasured.

They lay there for an age, Minerva relishing the feel of holding someone dear in her arms and Harry relishing the feeling of being held. He nudged her hand with his elbow and she laughed before starting to run her fingers through his hair. They didn't talk about school, or home or Sirius Black (mainly because, much to Harry's distaste Minerva had refused to answer any questions about it) they sometimes talked about Harry's parents, but mostly they just existed. That night they were interrupted by Albus Dumbledore who wandered through the door unannounced.

"Ah, Min, Harry, sorry, I was, well Minerva I need that report from earlier in the week. There is to be a board meeting this weekend and I shall have to be present. I feel Mr Malfoy will attempt, once again to usurp my position." He said with a wink at Harry. Minerva placed a little kiss on Harry's head before walking down to her office. Harry watched in amusement as Dumbledore followed her every move.

"You like her don't you sir?" he said quietly, so she didn't hear. For someone who made it a habit of making people splutter, Albus Dumbledore was not one to succumb himself, but after hearing what Harry had asked him, he could not help but choke a little, before turning to look at the boy.

"Whatever makes you say that Mr Potter," he said, looking decidedly edgy.

"Couple of things Sir. The password for your gargoyle for one," Harry said with a smile. He'd decided not to ask Minerva what ban-dia had meant after seeing her blush at the mention of it at the beginning of the week. After a little bit of research and a little help from Hermione, who had jumped at the chance to help Harry learn a little more Gaelic, they worked out that it meant goddess. Harry assumed, correctly if the headmaster's reaction was anything to go by, that it had something to do with Minerva her name being the same as the Roman goddess of wisdom. Dumbledore just gaped at the boy. He thought he'd been so clever. Now here was this young lad seeing straight through his musings. "I think it's great by the way," Harry added quickly, smiling to his headmaster as Minerva walked back into the room.

"What's great leòmhann beag?" she said absently. Harry smiled as he heard her use her new nickname for him; little lion, for his courage, and because he was a Gryffindor of course. He nearly laughed at the look of what Harry could only interpret as fear that was plastered on Dumbledore's face as Minerva checked over her report. Harry smiled at him and nodded to him.

"Nothing, but I might go seanmhair," Harry said lightly. Minerva looked up from her report.

"Already?" she said a little disappointed.

"Yeah, I thought you'd want to talk about your report with Professor Dumbledore," Harry said sneaking a look at Dumbledore, who was now straight faced, but his eyes were twinkling like neon lights.

"Oh ok, well oidhche mhath, goodnight little lion." She said opening her arms to him, which he fell into savouring the seconds.

"Oidhche mhath seanmhair" he said kissing her cheek, a little embarrassed. He hadn't done that before, but he knew that was what people in a family did. She'd kissed his hair from the beginning, and Harry's mother had done it to her in the photo they both loved. Minerva beamed at him, before placing her own kiss on his forehead.

"Tha gaol agam ort," she whispered into his ear, before patting his cheek and ushering him to the door turning to tell Professor Dumbledore to wait while she walked Harry back.

"Wait, what does it mean?" Harry said after they'd walked in silence for a while. Minerva just smiled at him.

"You will just have to work that out young man," she said nudging him with her elbow. "You could ask Miss Granger to help you again." Harry laughed as they reached the portrait hole.

"Not much gets past you does it seanmhair."

"No my boy there's not." She said ruffling his hair.

"I'll have to let Fred and George know then."

"And ruin all my fun? Surely you could keep this one secret from me mac-mic?"

"Hmm, maybe I'll just have to remember it myself." He said rolling his eyes. She squeezed his hand before he said the password to the silly knight in the portrait. Just before he walked through the portrait hole he was stopped by Minerva calling out to him.

"Oh and before I forget I need your Hogsmeade permission slip, and don't forget to look up that phase okay?" she said with a little wink. arry's heart HHaHarry's heart dropped. He'd forgotten the permission slip; he'd had a deal with Uncle Vernon that if he behaved with Aunt Marge he'd sign it, but after he'd blown Aunt Marge up that deal went out of the window. He turned to her, but she'd already gone back down the corridor. Sighing he entered the common room, thinking that there were too many things to make mental notes of in his life.