Hello, everyone! I'm so glad I was able to get this up within a month! Hopefully I can keep that pace going. I think you'll enjoy this chapter, if not simply from the name of it. For those of you who are Dumbledore haters for what he didn't tell Harry from the start, I hope you will keep your mind open with my Dumbledore because he is in such a different situation in this story. I honestly do believe he would have handled things significantly differently if Lily had survived, since Harry would have had a parent who truly cared about him and would have been involved in raising him.

With that said, I hope you enjoy! It's a longer chapter than I usually post :)

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter, unfortunately!

Harry, Dudley, Sirius, Remus, Lily and Petunia returned to their quaint home after Dudley's unfortunate birthday party. For the first time in his life, Dudley had hardly paid attention to the gifts he'd received. He went straight to his room, hoping that shooting a few aliens on his computer might make him feel better.

"Mummy?" Harry said as he watched his cousin trudge up the stairs.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I know we were going to give Dudley his present tonight, but can we give it to him now?"

Lily smiled at her son and looked at Petunia. "Why don't we get his present ready while Aunt Petunia talks to him for a minute."

"Actually," Sirius piped up. "I've had some experience with parents… very similar to Vernon. If you'd like Petunia, I'd be happy to go up and talk to him."

Petunia pursed her lips in thought. Although they had been living in Lily's generous hospitality for many years now, she had always done her best to keep Lily's friends outside her definition of family. But with how included Dudley has felt in this world of Lily's, maybe it was time to let them in. "That might be a good idea, Sirius. I still need to wrap my gifts for him before dinner."

Sirius smiled at her and headed up the stairs to Dudley's room. The boy had already closed his door, so he knocked gently.

"Not now, mum."

"What about for your uncle?" Sirius said as he opened the door.

"Sirius! Sorry, I thought mum would want to talk after what happened at the party." Sirius looked at the screen behind him. A funny man looked like he was running on top of a moving bar below the word 'AOL', whatever that meant, with a strange sound coming out of the computer box. "I just wanted to check my email before I started to play." Dudley said when he noticed Sirius' look of confusion.

"That is truly an awful noise, kiddo. I don't know how you enjoy that."

Dudley laughed. "Well I'm not entirely sure how you enjoy a game that explodes at you while you play it."

"Touché, young man, touché." Sirius said with a smile as he sat down on Dudley's bed, which was adjacent to his office chair. "How are you feeling?"

Dudley sighed. He had expected someone to come up to talk to him, although he hadn't expected it to be Sirius. "I've been better. I mean I didn't expect him to change completely, but I had hoped."

Sirius nodded. "You know, I grew up in a house where both my parents were like your father."

Dudley's eyes grew. "Really? You had to stay there your entire childhood?"

"Luckily when I was 15 Harry's dad took me in. That's partially why I'm living here with you guys today – I owe him and his parents for taking me in at a time in my life when I needed to escape. You know how your father hates us wizards?" Dudley nodded, not wanting to interrupt. "My parents were the same way, except they hated Muggles like yourself. They also hated witches and wizards who had muggles for parents. You remember the story of how Harry's dad died and Harry got that scar?" Dudley nodded again. "Well they fought in that war too – but on the other side. They fought with you-know-who. But I didn't. And even my younger brother eventually turned against him. The point is, Dudley, that you are not defined by your parents. I know your mum can be wary of our use of magic and that she is beginning to come around, but you have a unique experience where you can be involved in both worlds if you want. Some day you could run a shop in the wizarding world if you wanted to, or maybe take over as caretaker for Filtch at Hogwarts. Hell, maybe Hagrid could use an assistant. Or you can follow in your Muggle heritage and go to university and get a muggle job. And the reason why you have all these opportunities in front of you is because you are open and non-judgemental of others. Maybe that's because you experienced magic from such a young age, or maybe because this family is so odd." Sirius chuckled to himself. "But regardless, Dudley, you have the desire to learn, even if the subjects are unfamiliar to you or hard for you to understand. And you have the capacity to love those who come into your life and be kind to them. You even opened your heart again to Vernon when he called, even though he didn't deserve it. That's what makes you different from him. He will only define you if you let him, Dudley."

Dudley stared at his twiddling fingers. He didn't want Sirius to see the tears in his eyes. "I think mum is wary of you because she wishes she could do Magic. And I do to. I wish it every day. It is such an amazing world. I just want to learn more about it." Dudley looked up to the overflowing shelves next to his bed. Sirius recognized the many books he had been purchasing Dudley in the past year, next to the many muggle books that Petunia had bought him. "When I was little, I thought my dad was a saint. It wasn't until Harry opened my lives and showed me what friendship and love could be that I saw how cruel he could be to my mother. He would buy me endless amounts of toys and games, and I thought that meant he loved me. Anything I wished for I got. And it's humbling to be introduced to an entire world where everything I see I can only admire and never have." Dudley smiled. "But it's a wonderful world. And it's amazing sometimes just to see it. Just to know that magic exists." Dudley looked back at Sirius. "Don't worry, you can tell my mom I won't ever accept contact from Vernon again. In fact, I'll avoid him as much as I can. But I think today has changed me a bit. I don't want to be him, Sirius. It might be cliché but I want to experience more magic – both in my life and inside of me."

Sirius smiled. "Then why don't we see what Harry got you for your birthday. I think you'll quite enjoy it."

Late into the evening, underneath many charms so that the muggle neighbors wouldn't notice, a muggle boy was experiencing his first time flying alone. While the enlargement charm on the toy broom meant that it couldn't go more than 10 feet in the air, he had never experienced such a thrill in his life. Nor had he ever experienced such a wonderful reminder that his own future was in his hands, as long as he was open to the opportunities that came along.

HGHGHG

Sev – I'll be teaching at Hogwarts this year. I do hope we might be able to meet up privately before the school year begins for a short talk.

Lily Potter

Severus felt like a fool as he looked at the note in his hands. She in fact had thought to warn him, and wanted to meet up with him. Still, all he could do was stare at it. With the Dark Lord around, how could he rebuild his friendship with her? Even then, would it still be the one-way relationship it was in school? Instead of responding, he allowed the owl to fly back home without a response.

HGHGHG

"Daisy what's wrong?" Lily woke up in a shock. The entire house was shaking with the sound of a blaring alarm that was only supposed to go off when there was an intruder in the house.

"This elf is trying to get to the littlest master!" In front of her, Daisy had her hands on her feet from trying to shake her awake while Tufty and Finky held a house elf she had never seen before between them.

Lily wiped a piece of sleep away from the corner of her eye. "What on earth do you mean? Who are you? How did you get past the charms around this house?"

"Dobby means no harm, Ma'am." The elf, with his big eyes, looked like it was begging Lily to be let loose.

"WHAT HAPPENED WHY ARE THE ALARMS GOING OFF?" Sirius ran into Lily's bedroom, wand at the ready. "WHO GOT THROUGH MY CHARMS?"

"Calm down, Sirius! It's just a house elf!"

"Oh." With a flick of his wrist, the alarm went away. "Expecto Patronum! 'Dumbledore, it's a house elf. I will update you further through owl when we find out more. We have no need of help.'" A whispy dog ran out the window, and off to a now very awake headmaster in Scotland.

"Now, Dobby is it?" Lily asked, turning her attention back to the house elf in the room. "Why don't we all go downstairs and have Daisy make us a cup of tea and you can tell us why you're here."

"A cup of tea? For dobby? Oh no Dobby does not deserve a cup of tea! Miss Potter is too kind!" Lily watched in horror as the house elf attempted to bang the back of his head on the wall behind him. "Tufty, Finky – take him downstairs now please. And don't let him hurt himself."

With a pop, all of the house elves left the room.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Petunia said, coming into Lily's room.

"There's a house elf that has crossed the charms. It says it has no intention of harming anyone, which must be true otherwise it wouldn't have been able to get through and into the house. Sirius has already told Dumbledore of the situation but I'm still on high alert. I won't be letting anyone touch my baby or yours tonight – Daisy should be done setting up the tea by now. I want her to take the three of you to Potter manner until I send for you. He may just be a house elf, but house elves can be dangerous if they have knowledge." Petunia nodded and without a word went down the hall to get the boys dressed and ready to go to Potter manner.

Lily sighed as she looked at Sirius, realizing he was in his matching pygmy puff pajamas and slippers. "Well what are you doing still standing there? Go downstairs and keep an eye on the elves. Tell Daisy when she's done making the tea to take Petunia and the boys to Potter manner until I call her back when we know it's safe. And maybe change your shoes." Sirius nodded, still in Auror mode. Lily shook her head as she thought to herself there was no way he could have noticed what he was still wearing.

Lily got out of bed and finally saw the time – 2:03 in the morning. She sighed and grabbed the bathrobe hanging on the back of her closet door. She hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Tufty and Finky holding Dobby with all their might away from the still hot stove. Sirius was standing infront of the stove, using his body as a shield.

"Would you quit moving? All I did was ask if he wanted a biscuit with his tea and now he's trying to stick his hands on the stove! Lils make it stop!"

"DOBBY DOES NOT DESERVE TEA OR A BISCUIT. DOBBY HAS BEEN A VERY BAD ELF!"

With a flick of her wrist, Lily made the stove cool to the touch. Sirius visibly relaxed and poured himself a cup of the tea that Daisy had made before she brought Petunia, Harry, and Dudley to the Potter Mansion. "Dobby? Could you please quiet down and tell me what's in your hand?"

Tufty and Finky visibly sighed in relief when Dobby stopped his struggle and looked at their master. His head hung low and he made patterns on the floor with his toes as he began to talk. "Master had said that any letter Draco sent to Harry Potter had to be given to him first, but since Dobby took this letter himself instead of sending it, he could give it to Harry Potter's mother who could then give it to Harry Potter since master has to read every letter that Draco owls to Harry Potter. OH DOBBY IS SUCH A BAD ELF. DOBBY MUST BE PUNISHED!" Dobby wiggled out between Tufty and Finky and ran towards the kitchen counter.

After the first bang of his head onto the hard granite, Lily shouted, "INCARCEROUS!"

With a flick of her wrist, Dobby was tightly bound by a rope that had appeared out of thin air. "Why didn't I think of that?" Sirius muttered into his tea.

"Because you didn't pay enough attention in Charms, Sirius. You were far too interested in Marlene McKinnon's shorter than usual skirt that day."

With a mumble from Sirius, the two turned their attention towards the now very anxiety-ridden house-elf/guest that had disrupted their sleep.

"Now Dobby, if I heard your story right, you're one of Malfoy's House Elves. Am I right?" Lily asked.

"Yes ma'am." Dobby struggled in his binding, trying to let himself fall so he could bang the back of his head on the floor.

"Stop struggling, Dobby. You'll only make the ropes tighter. Why don't you give me the letter?"

Dobby used his wrist to try to lift up the letter in his hand, but the ropes prevented him from lifting up his arm.

"Thank you, Dobby." Lily said as she grabbed the letter from the house elf's hand.

"I must warn you, Mrs. Potter. Harry Potter should not return to Hogwarts this year. You will greatly regret it." With a pop, the elf was gone. Lily and Sirius looked at each other, both with a face full of concern.

Lily opened the seal on the letter in her hands, gently unfolding the letter to make sure the wax didn't rip off any of the parchment.

Dear Harry –

My father is planning on sneaking something You-Know-Who left in his possession before he passed as retribution to the Weasley family for their father's raids on our house. I don't know what it is or what it does, but I felt you needed to know as soon as possible to warn them of possible danger. Additionally, he is hoping to rope you into it somehow. Since getting into Gryffindor, he has done his best to exclude me from any of his plans so I am afraid I am left to only what I can overhear. I'm unsure of how helpful this will be, but any warning bell I can send off I will. Good luck, Harry. I'll see you at the Quiddich game for your birthday, but I don't believe we should discuss this in public. Any new information I can find out, I'll send through Dobby. He says he figured out a way around my father's rule that he has to read anything I send to you, wonderful elf he is.

Your friend,

Draco Malfoy

"Tufty, Finky – retrieve Daisy, Harry, Petunia and Dudley from Potter Manner. Tomorrow morning it looks like we're going to have to go back to the Weasley's."

HGHGHG

The next morning, Lily relayed the message that Dobby had sent to the Weasleys. She thought they had taken it well, considering that Malfoy was somehow trying to sneak a dark artifact of Voldemort's into their children's lives. They had decided to discuss protection plans for their children with Dumbledore. She also decided to inform them that she would in fact be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year, which visibly reduced their stress. Now that the Weasleys knew Lily would be a professor, she decided it was time to tell Harry before their kids did.

When she returned home from the Weasley's, she found the house empty. Smiling to herself, she went through the house to the backyard to see Petunia and Remus sitting on the patio furniture sipping lemonade, while the boys flew around the backyard on their brooms. She was a bit wary removing the Quiddich ban from the Voldemort incident last year a few weeks early, but Sirius had done a good job convincing her that he needed to practice if he was going to feel confident on the team next year. "Is Sirius already at work, Remus?"

"He wanted to go early since he took Friday off to help with the charms back here." Lily nodded in understanding.

"I'm going to steal my son if that's alright. I think it's finally time to tell him about my job change." Remus nodded at his old friend.

"Before you go, how did the conversation with the Weasley's go about last night's… incident." Petunia had been extremely put out when she was taken away via apparition last night. After Lily explained everything, she had been a bit more understanding. But her stomach still hadn't returned to feeling normal.

"It went about as well as it could have. They have decided to inform both Moody and Dumbledore and go over with their kids how to recognize dark objects and the effect of dark magic on one another. Hopefully it's enough to protect them from whatever Lucius was planning." Petunia sipped her lemonade, keeping her eyes on her son.

Lily took her sister's silence as an end to their conversation and called Harry down from his broom. Since Harry had just been released from his grounding, he wasn't going to complain if his mother called him down.

"Harry why don't we have lunch in the library, just the two of us?" Lily smiled. "I've had Daisy make you a grilled cheese with treacle tart for desert."

Harry smiled. Usually they had their lunch dates only once a month since his mum usually worked during the week, but Harry was happy to spend some time alone with his mum.

Lily smiled as she followed her son with his wind-tousled hair that reminded her of her husband into the library.

"How is Hermione? I haven't heard you say much about her yet this summer."

"She's on vacation in France. I actually just got a letter from her this morning – she wants to set up a time for all of us to go to Diagon Alley this summer after we get our booklist."

Lilly smiled as Daisy placed the two hot grilled cheeses down in front of the two of them. Harry picked up one of his diagonal slices and watched in delight as the cheese stretched further and further and further. No matter what she knew her little boy would have to face in the future, it was always wonderful to be reminded that he was still just a kid.

"That's nice. I'm glad she's having a good summer. Mrs. Weasley and I can call her parents and set something up the day you get your letter."

She and Harry chatted back and forth until the treacle tart came. "When are our letters supposed to come, by the way." Harry said in between sips of tea. "I know I should be getting it earlier than my birthday."

"Well, since there's a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I think it depends on when they are selected and get their book list in."

"Who do you think Dumbledore will ask, Mummy?" Harry said out of curiosity. As Lily was taking a deep breath, Daisy came in with two perfect slices of treacle tart.

"Thank you so much Daisy." She gave the house-elf a pat on the shoulder, which the house-elf knew meant that they were not to be disturbed until they left the library. "Now, about the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. Dumbledore actually asked both Remus and I."

Harry's eyebrows shot up, which was quite funny considering he was just about to use his fork to shovel a large piece of treacle tart into his mouth. His forehead began to burrow in thought. She let Harry have his time, as he clearly looked like he had something he wanted to say.

"You quit your job at the flower shop for it, didn't you. You already said yes." His treacle tart had been forgotten.

"You're right, Harry. I hope you aren't mad. I had to make a decision quickly, and to be completely honest Dumbledore has been asking for a few years now. But since I would have to live at Hogwarts for the year as well, I didn't want to take the position when you were still here at the house. I know it's cursed, and I know you won't like having your mum here, but until we know more about how Voldemort survived that night and how he plans to return, I would feel safer being there with you. I know you don't want your mum to hover, but after losing your father, I can't imagine losing you too."

Harry sat, thinking for a moment. "Do you think he'll come after me again? He only came after me last time because I was the one who found him in the chamber. Why would he target me again?"

Lily sighed. She was honestly surprised he hadn't asked this question in the hospital wing after Voldemort had come after him in the first place, but she didn't feel ready to tell him the prophecy. He was still her baby, wasn't he? "I don't know if I can answer that question, Harry."

"Why not, mum? Ever since I was little you wouldn't tell me why he was after me in the first place. You've always avoided the question. I'm almost 12, I'm not a baby anymore."

Dumbledore's reminder to let him have this summer to be a kid danced through her head, but looking in front of her she couldn't help but see James in her son. His tousled hair from quiddich, his knobby-knees, his round glasses…

"If I tell you, you must keep it to yourself. No telling anyone until the time is right, Harry. You must stay absolutely mum about it." She wouldn't tell him the entire thing. Just that it existed. Harry nodded, finally remembering that there was a treacle tart in front of him and taking a bite. Lily sighed, "just after you were born there was a prophecy told to Dumbledore. In essence, it said that a baby born at the end of July to parents that had defied Voldemort three times would have the power to stop him. There is more to it, but that is all that Voldemort himself heard. And no, Harry, I will not tell you the rest either. At least, not until you're older. When Voldemort heard the prophecy, he assumed the child was you. That is why we were hidden the night he came after us – Dumbledore had been warned that Voldemort had gotten a hold of the prophecy although how much he knew we still aren't sure. And that's why Pettigrew was our secret keeper. We thought he would keep us hidden." Lily took a moment before continuing. "But he was the wrong person to trust, Harry. Which is why for now you need to keep all of this information to yourself. Remus and Sirius know, but I only told them at the beginning of the summer."

"What about Dudley and Ginny?"

Lily smiled at her son – he may not realize he loved her yet, but she knew he did. "Dudley will be finding out on his own soon – there is something else I should mention. Next summer, we won't be coming back here. Until we figure out how Voldemort survived that night, I want to move to Potter Manor. We will be keeping this house so you can still visit the Weasley's via the floo any time, and Dudley will still be traveling here to go to school every day so it won't isolate you from your friends. But Potter Manor hasn't been lived in in almost 150 years. Your ancestors bought the house in Godric's Hollow in Victorian times. It has largely been forgotten by history, so it would be a safe place to stay that Voldemort's followers wouldn't be able to find."

Harry sat there staring at his half-eaten treacle tart.

Lily was uncomfortable with his silence. "I know this is a lot to take in. Maybe you can tell Ginny eventually, but right now I want to keep this in the family."

Silence still filled the air as Harry said nothing, still staring at his tart.

"Well?"

Harry grabbed a piece of tart with his fork and as he was about to shove it in his mouth, he said, "well there's at least two good things that will come out of this." Lily looked at her son curiously. "I'll finally have a secluded backyard away from muggles where I can practice Quiddich."

"And?"

"At least you're teaching my favorite subject, so when you grade me harder than everyone else I'll still pass!"

Lily laughed, happy that for the moment her son was still happy and laughing.

At least, for the moment.

WHAM BAM! Harry already knows about the prophecy! I honestly believe it would be Lily's job to tell him in this scenario, since Dumbledore clearly would have told her about the prophecy from the get go to get them into hiding (which I already addressed in a previous chapter).

I also really hope I managed to nail Dobby! He has always been one of my favorite characters and this is my first time writing him into any story of mine.