Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter. All I own are my OC's and even then they have a mind of their own...
As the fire crackled loudly in the empty common room, Harry, Theo, Blaise and Tracy were talking about Daphne's detention- her first detention of the year- and what it might entail.
"It's got to be something like an extra credit class. No way Professor Quirrell would ever punish one of his 'star' students." Tracy argued, "Plus the stuff you guys learn are way ahead of ours."
"Yeah!" Blaise agreed "While you four learn about spells that can kill, we're still stuck on jinxes and minor things like that."
Harry and Theo shifted in their seats uncomfortably. This conversation had happened a number of times in the last month and each time none of them had ended on a good note.
It didn't help their cause that privately they both agreed with Blaise and Tracy that this detention was less of a punishment and more of an excuse for Professor Quirrell to teach Daphne more spells.
"It's more complicated than that. It's not just that we're learning new spells, it's that we're learning how to apply them in a fight as well. We have asked whether you guys could join us but Professor Quirrell's said no each time." Theo began to explain but before he could continue Blaise stood up and said
"Screw this. I'm heading to sleep."
And without another word Blaise headed down the corridor to the dorm rooms.
Tracy yawned before saying "I suppose I'm going to head off as well guys. I don't agree with how Blaise stormed out but I understand why he did. Night."
As Tracy left Harry and Theo were left in comfortable silence before Harry asked "Do you think we could try and ask the professor again? Or ask whether we can teach them some stuff? They are right, it is unfair to the rest of the class."
Theo bit his lip before answering "I know it's unfair but I'm sure the Professor has his reasons. How much longer do you think Daphne will be? If she doesn't get back by curfew then Professor Snape's gonna be annoyed."
A sudden thought burst through Harry's head.
The vial of memories was still sitting at the bottom of his trunk along with the journal he was supposed to give to 'Severus' or as Harry knew him- Professor Snape.
"Erm, sorry Theo but I just remembered I need to talk to Professor Snape about something." Harry said as he got up from his chair.
Sighing, Theo said "Alright Harry. Do you know how long you'll be? Curfews soon."
"Shouldn't be long Theo. Just sit tight, I'll be back before you know it." Harry replied as he walked out the room.
Quickly making his way back to the dorm, Harry quickly grabbed the journal and the vial from the bottom of his trunk. As he made walked out, Harry noticed that the curtains around Blaise's bed were closed. Making a mental note to talk to Blaise and Tracy in the morning Harry quickly jogged down the corridor and out of the common room, waving goodbye to Theo who had picked up a book, towards Professor Snape's office.
Harry knocked on the door nervously. It wasn't the first time he was going to talk to Professor Snape and was most certainly not the last but this time felt more personal somehow. Maybe because he wasn't going to speak about school matters and instead the journal and vial he had found in the Potter family vault.
He had done some background research on the Professor and he managed to confirm that he was the same 'Sev' on the journal his mother had told him to give the journal and memories too. Thank Merlin that Hagrid had told him that Snape and his mother were friends! Otherwise he might have been searching for a while yet. Tonight though, he planned to give both to his head of house.
As Harry heard the drawl telling him to enter, he opened the door slowly and closed it behind him as he took a seat in front of the professors desk.
"Mr Potter. What can I do for you tonight?" Snape asked, looking for all the world as if he didn't care what Harry's problems were.
Harry replied by placing the journal face up on the table first with the words 'To Sev' clearly visible on it before placing the glowing vial next to it.
"Wh-What. Where did you get this!" Snape's faced grew pale and it was quite clear the man was shivering in his seat. "Explain what this is Potter. Now!"
Harry sighed before saying "I went to Gringotts over the summer during which I found these. It took me a while but I managed to figure out you were the same 'Sev' she asked me to give these to. I would have come earlier but I wasn't sure if she had meant someone else."
The Professor visibly deflated as he picked up the book and flicked through it seemingly looking at random parts of it before carefully placing it back down and picking up the shimmery vial of memories.
"Do, do you know what's in here?" Snape asked cautiously as he stood up with the vial, holding it cautiously.
"No." Harry replied simply, "I was just told to give it to you. Do you have a way to view the memory sir?"
Giving Harry a death glare, Snape said "That Mr. Potter is none of your concern. I thank you for giving me these but I would ask you to mind you own business. Now for some reason the Headmaster has asked me to tell you that he has approved your trip to Godric's Hollow and that he will be personally taking you there tomorrow at Seven pm. Any questions you may have you can ask him tomorrow. Goodbye Mr. Potter."
Taking the queue to leave, Harry left the office making sure to close the door behind him and walked back to the dorms.
When Harry entered his dorm, the curtains were drawn around both Blaise and Theo's beds and with a smile, Harry quickly slipped under the covers before falling asleep.
"So the Professor had you practising more spells?" Faye asked Daphne as they sat in the library completing an essay on the levitation spell for Flitwick.
"Yes, except I can't remember anything that I was taught. Professor Quirrell says that I hit my head badly, except there's no bruises or anything there to show a fall whatsoever."
"That's fairly strange" Theo stated as he scribbled some notes down "Have you forgotten anything else?"
"No, I remember walking into the classroom but after that it's a blank."
"Hmmm, but why would the Professor have any reason to remove your memory?"
Harry asked.
"I have no clue, as far as I know House Greengrass has no political enemies and even if they did I don't think Quirrell would have any reason to work with them."
"Gold is a very good incentive" Theo said offhandedly "Father has often reminded me of that."
"Yeah..." Daphne sighed "By the way, why have Tracy and Blaise been glaring at me all day?"
Harry and Theo shared a glance before answering "They're upset that they're not being taught advanced stuff."
"ah" Daphne sighed.
"At least they're not attempting to get you to demonstrate things." Fay interjected, "Weasley's been attempting to get me to teach him some of the spells. Thankfully Neville's been keeping him off my back."
"Neville?" Daphne smiled nudging the girl. "Is he Neville now?"
Faye blushed and looked back down at her work "It's nothing. He's just sweet that's all."
Harry shared a smile with Daphne before he looked down at his watch. "Well, I've got to go. Professor Dumbledore wants to see me."
Harry quickly packed up his notes and stuffed them into his bag before saying goodbye to his classmates and making his way to the headmaster's office.
"Good evening Harry. Are you all ready to leave?" Dumbledore asked as Harry opened the door.
The headmaster stood up draping a thick black cloak over his blue robes as Harry replied "Yes sir, thank you for allowing me to visit them before the year ends."
"It's no problem Harry. You can leave your bag in the corner there."
As Harry placed his bag down, the headmaster asked"While we are there may I make a couple of requests of you?"
Harry paused a moment while he wondered what requests Dumbledore could make of him "What do you need sir?"
"Firstly, while we are there, I would like to visit my mother and my sister. I believe they are buried somewhat close to your parents. Secondly I would like you to wear this while we are out. Just to be on the safe side." Dumbledore opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a shimmery fabric.
"An invisibility cloak" Harry whispered.
Dumbledore's eyes lit up at Harry's recognition. "Not just any invisibility cloak my boy! This one belonged to your father, and his father before him. He entrusted this item to me shortly before he died and I believe it is time for you to have it. Take it as a sort of peace offering. An olive branch. I know I have done you wrong but believe me when I say I did not do anything maliciously. I just did what I believed was best."
Taking the fabric from Dumbledore's outstretched hand Harry looked over the cloak before draping it over himself. The sleeves were a bit long but the fabric was light but warm. Pointing to a mirror, Dumbledore grinned and gestured for Harry to look at himself.
Harry walked over to the mirror and as expected, he could only see himself as a floating head. Smiling Harry pulled the hood over his head and he became completely invisible.
"Ahem." Dumbledore said getting Harry's attention back to him, "Just to let you know, I am able to see through invisibility cloaks. Some other professors are able to as well I believe such as Professor's Flitwick and Quirrell. Now are you ready to leave?"
"Yes sir." Harry replied to both the question and Dumbledore's unsaid warning as he walked over to the professor.
"Take a hold of my arm Harry. I will apparate us there and back."
The winters chill hit Harry unexpectedly. Granted, he had lived in a cold place all his life but it was the sudden temperature change that really caused him to stumble. Looking around, Harry could see they had apparated into the outskirts of a small village. The little he could see was lit up by street lights and the light from the old houses that they had apparated near.
"Godric's hollow." Dumbledore said as he brushed off his cloak and began walking towards the graveyard. "Both our families grew up here. It was also the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor and, according to legend, the place he died. The graveyard is this way I believe."
As Dumbledore led them through the village, he remarked "Harry, I heard about what you gave to Professor Snape and I feel like I should thank you. He had been looking for forgiveness for a number of years as he never had the chance to apologise to your mother after they fell out. What you did has helped a very broken man begin to heal."
"Thank you sir. Why did Snape need to apologise to my mother?" Harry asked politely.
Dumbledore sighed and said "Ah Harry. I believe that is a tale best left to Professor Snape, after all it is his story." Opening the gate into the graveyard, Dumbledore allowed Harry through before closing it behind them and leading Harry through the graves.
As the headmaster led him to the familiar graves Dumbledore pointed out other families buried in the graveyard. Abbott. Kenton. Williams. Stevenson. Some of the names seemed familiar to him-maybe from classmates-but Dumbledore quickly ushered him towards the row which Harry knew his parents were buried.
James Potter
27 MARCH 1960-31 OCTOBER 1981
Lily Potter
30 JANUARY 1960-31 OCTOBER 1981
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Pulling them out of nowhere, Dumbledore placed a bouquet of flowers on the Potter graves while Harry looked on.
After an untold amount of time Harry heard "I sometimes forget how important it is to remember those who die." Dumbledore stated as he cleared some of the freshly fallen snow off the graves "Although you are called the boy-who-lived your parents were true heroes in their own right and the Wizarding community should recognise that."
"Thank you sir." Harry replied quietly. After a few minutes of quiet thoughts he said "I think I'm done here."
"Of course Harry. Would you mind if..." Dumbledore gestured to another row to their right.
Nodding, Harry and the Headmaster silently walked towards a pair of graves which Dumbledore knelt in front of before conjuring some flowers and placing them on each grave.
After a few moments Dumbledore stood up, wiped a tear from his eye and gestured for Harry to follow him.
As the two wizards walked out of the graveyard and back to the alleyway neither noticed the shabby man watching them from a distance.
AN: So This chapter has been ridiculously difficult to write since my muse went on strike, however, I have done minor tweaks to previous chapters since uploading the last chapter. some things have been changed slightly whereas others have been removed completely.
Out of interest, would you like to have faster updates but shorter chapters, or keep the same length chapters but sporadic updates?
As always, if you liked this chapter/story so far, favourite, follow and if you're feeling kind review!