Chapter Twenty-One: Three Years Later...

Here's the deal. If I were some famous author I would have a humongous house with lots of expensive crap that I don't need and my alias wouldn't sound like it could be a screen name. I Don't Own Any of It.

I'm so sorry that it's been taking me forever to update! Okay, enjoy!

"Keena!" Remus called up the stairs from the living room.

"What?" I yelled back from the top of the staircase.

"Molly is on the floo! She wants to know what time she can drop Ron and Ginny off!"

"Hang on a second,"

It had been three years since I had fought with Snape. Unfortunately I had not been able to get my old status as Auror back. Apparently the ministry had an issue with my dueling in such a fashion in front of a bunch of fifth year students. So I was a part time Auror now and Remus was still holding down random jobs at random times. When I wasn't in the office I usually found myself babysitting for any of my friends. Today I would be watching Ron and Ginny.

"Good morning, Molly," I said as I vaulted over the back of the couch and in front of the fireplace. She gave a look that showed her disapproving. "Don't worry, I'm a total hypocrite and I don't let anybody else do stuff like that," I smiled proudly.

Remus snorted.

"Yes, well, what time can you take them?" Molly said, choosing to ignore the situation entirely.

"Any time is fine. I'm not needed in the office today. In fact you could send them over now if you like," I answered trying not to show how much it bothered me that I still hadn't redeemed myself in my boss' eyes.

"Alright, I'll send them over as soon as I've got them dressed then. Oh and Ronald is not to brag about going to Hogwarts next year and Ginny is not to go anywhere near a wand if he does. Goodness knows, you would have thought he would've figured out that she does know curses and it isn't accidental magic anymore." Molly said, shaking her head. My lips twitched as I nodded in agreement. "I'll come for them as soon as I finish the shopping."

"Don't rush yourself; I'll keep them well occupied,"

"Thank you so much, Keena, you've been a great help, especially when you took the twins that summer. I still can't believe you pranked them. They didn't try anything for a month!"

I waved a hand. "Don't you remember who you're talking to? That stuff is right up Remus and my alley."

"Yes, I do remember. Oh, I better go, I can hear the argument starting. Goodbye Keena,"

"See you later, Molly,"

She pulled her head out of the green flames and I headed to the kitchen where Remus was browsing in the fridge.

"When are they coming?" he asked, not bothering to take his head out of the fridge.

"About five minutes," I replied summoning a cereal box from the cabinet. I had just woken up and it was nearly noon already. "What time are you leaving?"

"I got the night shift. I'm stuck with you three all day,"

"Don't sound so excited,"

"I'm well practiced. What do you have planned for today?"

"I don't know, I was thinking a trip to the park."

"Isn't that a little risky? What if Harry is there?"

"Then he's there. I'll keep them away from him if it comes down to it."

"That won't matter. If he sees you he'll be sure to wander over like he did the last time you took one of them to the park."

"We got away in time! I don't even think he realized that we saw him before we left!"

"That's not fair to him,"

"Well, he's going to meet them in a couple of months anyway. Maybe an earlier intro--"

"Keena, Dumbledore already told you, you couldn't do that," Remus said as he closed the fridge door holding milk and a serious expression.

"Okay fine, I won't introduce them," at least not as a witch or wizard…

Remus gave me a skeptical look but we were interrupted by the sounds of two siblings arguing over whether or not Ron would get into Gryffindor. Again.

"Keena," Ginny came skidding into the room. "Tell Ron he shouldn't keep bragging about going to Hogwarts! And tell him he won't be a Gryffindor if he does!"

"Nuh-uh! Keena, tell her I'm gonna be the best Gryffindor in the family!"

"Ha, that's a good one," Ginny replied sarcastically.

"Ron, stop bragging, Ginny will be there in a year in any case. And Ginny, don't say your brother won't be a Gryffindor, it's not nice. Would you like to have a Slytherin for a brother?"

"He wouldn't be a Slytherin, he'd be a Hufflepuff," Ginny stated.

"And you want a Hufflepuff as brother?" Remus asked.

She thought about it for a moment, a calculating look present on her face before she shook her head no.

"Then say you're sorry,"

"Sorry, Ron,"

"Sorry, Ginny,"

"Okay, now that that's settled, let's have some lunch. Then we can go to the park."

"Okay," they smiled in response.

The four of us ate a quick sandwich before heading out the door. It was early June so the park was full of younger children while the school age ones were probably sitting at desks in a hot classroom just waiting for the bell to ring. That meant that Harry would not be there until the afternoon at least.

"Oh," Ginny groaned when she saw how many people were there. "Now you can't push us on the swings,"

"Well, we can, you just won't go as high up as usual," Remus answered.

"But it's not the same," Ron sighed, agreeing with his little sister. "It's more fun when we go all the way around."

"Well, you both know that we can't use our wands in front of muggles. We'll have to make do with what we can." Remus said.

"Okay,"

The two of them ran to the empty swings on the end of the giant set and began having a contest to see who could get higher without magic. Remus and I found a bench not too far away to sit on while the two of them played.

"Hey! Get away from her!" the two of us looked up to see Ron's ears as red as his hair as he stood glaring at a group of laughing boys. It looked like one of them had pushed Ginny off of her swing.

"I guess you haven't heard that the end swing is mine." Said the chubby blonde one who had taken a seat on the swing Ginny had been sitting in. "So get lost!" Another one of the boys laughed and pushed Ron who (from having learned from having so many older brothers) easily dodged him before throwing a punch. In the next half a second the entire group was at war and half the playground came to watch.

Remus and I ran over and the fight immediately began to break off. All who were left battling were Ron and the skinny boy he had punched.

"Ron, I think you've got him," I said just as he shoved the boy to the ground.

"Now you're gonna get it from your mum!" one of the boys from Dudley's group laughed.

"Are you quite sure of that?" I asked as my eyes settled on Dudley who was grinning just as stupidly waiting for me to round on Ron. "Because he's not my son. But that doesn't mean you lot get off."

"Where is your mother, young man, I want to ask her about your manners. Kicking a girl off of the swings as if you owned the bloody set. Well, where is she?" Remus demanded from Dudley who had finally stopped smiling.

"My mum says not to talk to strangers," he replied, sticking his nose in the air.

"They're not strangers," Remus and I wheeled around to see that Harry had joined the crowd during the fight. "They helped Mrs. Figg babysit me once."

"Well, I don't know them do I, freak?"

"Don't call him a freak you—you—ugh! Dudley, just tell us where your mother is!" I cried angrily.

"No! You're not the boss of me!"

"She's over there," Harry said, pointing to a group of obliviously chatting mothers.

"Shut up you idiot!"

"You take care of Ron and Ginny, I'll cover Petunia," I growled. "Dudley, come with me." I commanded. He looked ready to protest but he obeyed.

"Mrs. Dursley?" I called once I knew I was within earshot. She turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of me. I raised an eyebrow and she regained composure in front of her friends.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Your son and his friends have been harassing my niece and nephew. In fact I don't know if any of you observant ladies noticed, but there was just a scuffle by the swings."

"Your point is?"

"Well, are you going to punish your son for pushing my niece off of her swing? It would be rather rude if he were not to apologize." I spoke my words in honeyed venom and I could tell Petunia was getting nervous.

"Go and apologize," she said, looking at Dudley for the first time. "You do not push girls."

"But mum it was my swing," he protested at once.

"A gentleman would give his seat up for a lady," I replied at once. "Only a pig would keep the seat," I added in an undertone I was certain only Dudley and Petunia could hear because there were no offended gasps. "Petunia, why don't you come with us," I suggested.

I brought the two of them over to the swings where Remus was inspecting Ron's fat lip and black eye. Ginny was sitting quietly on her swing, glaring at the ground and muttering to herself. As we got closer I realized that she was muttering curses. I also noticed that Harry was standing not too far from Remus and that Dudley's group was hanging back only a bit farther.

"Apologize to her," Petunia repeated, pushing Dudley in front of Ginny (who had stopped muttering but continued to glare at Dudley).

"I'm sorry for pushing you off of the swing," he muttered to the ground. I caught Ginny's eye and winked.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch that," she said understanding my point.

"I said I'm sorry for pushing you off of the swing," he ground out glaring at her.

"You don't sound very sorry at all,"

"Well I am!"

"Then why are you shouting?"

Dudley turned a shade of pink that would make his father proud. "Ginny," I said in a warning tone, though I had a small smile on my face.

"Alright, then I accept your apology."

"Thank you Mrs. Dursley," I said, smiling at her once more. She grimaced before leading Dudley away in a vice grip.

"Keena, we're gonna have to leave. I need to heal Ron's eye before his mother sees it or she'll grill us alive," Remus said.

"Alright," Ginny and I sighed. "Harry, why don't we walk you home," I called over my shoulder as I noticed Dudley's gang advancing slowly.

"Thanks," he muttered as he caught up to us.

"Ginny, Ron, this is Harry," I said, introducing them.

"Hi," chorused the trio.

"That boy wasn't very nice." Ginny said as soon as we left the park gates. "And why did he call you names? Do you know him?"

"He's my cousin," Harry replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry,"

"Don't be, he and his friends are always doing stuff like this and they never apologize for it,"

"You mean this happens a lot and they just get away with it?" Remus asked, appalled. Harry nodded. "Do they ever hurt you?" he asked seriously.

"Never that bad,"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Um…they well…It's never worse than a few bruises and maybe broken glasses,"

"Why doesn't anybody stop them?" Ron asked. "Like, I don't know…what about your mum and dad?"

"I don't have parents. I live with the Dursleys,"

"Oh! I'm sorry," Ron muttered his ears turning bright pink from embarrassment.

"What about a teacher?" Remus asked. But Harry just shook his head no. "Bloody muggles," he muttered under his breath.

"What?" the kids chorused.

"Nothing," Remus replied.

"Remus is just too embarrassed to admit he swore," I responded. "Shame on you for doing so in front of little Ginny,"

"Hey! I'm not so little!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "That's what she thinks. Ow!" Ginny punched him in the arm.

"Okay, stop right there," I said before the argument elevated. "Well, here we are Harry." I added as we stopped in front of Privet Drive. "Have a safe summer,"

"I'll try," he said.

"Okay, don't let your cousin bully you,"

"Bye Harry," called Ron and Ginny.

"Bye," he said as he walked up his driveway.

"He was nice," Ginny stated as we began walking to Mrs. Figg's house (that's where we apparated to in order to get to the park). "D'you think next time he can come over and play with us?"

"Yeah, maybe he could even visit the Burrow!" Ron agreed.

"I'm sure your dad would love that," I laughed.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Oh I forgot, he's a muggle isn't he?" Ginny sighed.

We arrived at Mrs. Figg's house and apparated home. Mrs. Weasley came for Ron and Ginny around four and Remus left for work around six. I decided to sit down and write a letter to Lily and James and send them a picture I had taken of Harry while he was sitting on the swings. I had been watching Alexis and she thought I was taking a picture of her going down the slide. The letter read:

Dear Lily and James,

I'm sending you another picture of Harry at the playground. He's grown so much and he is very polite. You would be proud. We talked to him today (Remus, Ron, Ginny and I that is). Ginny said he was nice and Ron wanted to have him over the Burrow sometime. I think I may ask Dumbledore if we can have something arranged. You see, Ron and Ginny think he's just a muggle (they didn't see his scar or they would have realized). His letter will be arriving at the beginning of next month, though I'm not certain that he'll receive it. Petunia and Vernon are terrified of Remus and I and I can only imagine how they feel about Harry.

Remus and I are doing well as are all the others. The ministry still hasn't given me my job back so money has been a tad tight but we'll manage. I'm only here for another two years in any case then I'll be a moody thirteen year old again (well maybe not moody but you get the idea).

Write back soon! Remember we all still miss you both a lot!

Love/From,

Keena

I finished off the letter and sent it on its way before I decided to keep my promise and talk to Dumbledore about Harry meeting the Weasleys.

I flooed to one of Hogwarts' visitors fires and headed towards Dumbledore's office.

"Damn…what's the password…?" I muttered to myself. "Droobles' Best Blowing Gum? No? Acid Pops? Nope…uh…Bertie Botts…no it's never that one…um…how about Ice Mice?"

The gargoyle leapt aside revealing the staircase. I headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. I heard a faint "Come in," and entered.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk in violet robes with golden shooting stars running across. Opposite him sat a man with a beard that could have rivaled Dumbledore's, though he was bald. His eyes were squinted behind his circular glasses. He wore forest green robes with a pattern of leaves circulating around the hem.

"Sorry to interrupt, Professor, I can wait outside if you like,"

"It's quite alright, Keena, my friend and I were just finishing up. May I introduce my good friend, Nicholas Flamel?" Oh, right…the Sorcerer's Stone…

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," I said, shaking his hand and smiling.

"Aye, Professor, I was right—all the pretty ones come to see ya'," the elder man grinned, shaking my hand. "I knew I shoulda' become a Professa' meself—there aren't any people who come to see me 'cept them bloody reporters. Me lab is very lonely at times,"

I smiled. "Actually, I came to see the Professor about a small matter,"

"Does it have to do with a certain ten year old boy?" Dumbledore asked, his grin fading ever so slightly.

"Yes," I said and Dumbledore sighed tiredly. "Professor, why can't we tell him a few weeks early? I don't see the harm in it,"

"The tiniest bit of paparazzi could change his opinion of our entire world." He seemed to have rehearsed what he was going to say. "The answer is no, you may not tell him earlier. He will get his letter at the same time everyone else does."

"Talking about Harry Potter, eh? You must be his godmum then?" Flamel had caught on much faster than I would have expected a man over six hundred years of age to have done.

"Yes, sir, I am," I said nodding.

"Well, I'm afraid I've got to agree with the Professa' here," Flamel said nodding to Dumbledore. "He's betta' off finding out the way you remember it," I raised my eyebrows and looked at Dumbledore who seemed just as confused as I was. "Come now, you both didn't honestly think I couldn't tell! I've seen my share of disguises and time travelers. I could tell as soon as you walked through them doors, there," he said, pointing his aged hand at the door. "Mr. Potter needs to discover what he is the way every other human being does—through experience. Waiting a bit longer to find out he's the most famous person on the face of the planet can only help him on that journey."

I sighed, realizing I had been defeated.

"Alright then, if you're both sure of this," I said. "It was nice to meet you sir,"

"The pleasure was all mine. But you keep an eye on that godson o' yours—especially when you're back in your own time," he said, bringing his glasses to the bridge of his nose and staring at me.

"You can be certain of that, sir," I said before turning around and leaving.

Perhaps I'll get Dumbledore allow me to have Harry over sometime after he's received his letter…there won't be any risk then, right? What am I thinking? He always has an excuse for that boy…

I made my way to the fireplaces thinking to myself about ways to take Harry away from the Dursley's for maybe a day or two. I was just about to turn down the hallway to the visitor fireplaces when I found myself face to face with a foul creature. Snape stood as tall as ever, his robes billowing in what he must have thought would be a threatening manner.

"You're in my way," I muttered, glaring hard.

"I believe I could say the same about you. And by the way, when were you permitted to come into this building? Only teachers and students are allowed in the school during the year."

"Well, perhaps you should go remind the headmaster of that. Now please get out of my way," I growled through gritted teeth.

"What will you do if I don't? Jinx me?"

"Care to test?" my current employment situation was the only reason I held back at all.

"You know, you're lucky I didn't kill you,"

"And you're lucky I didn't go to the ministry and plead a case about a deranged Death Eater who went crazy in front of a bunch of fifth year students. I could have had them all on my side. I can see the headlines now 'Death Eater loses his temper while teaching!' or maybe 'Auror saves students from Death Eater Spy'. Need I say more?"

His glare intensified so I let loose a smile. He stepped aside, seething.

"Goodnight, Sev," I called as I flooed home.

That's the end of this chapter! Please review! Up next is chapter 22!

:-D