Chapter 21

It was a brand new day at Potter manor, the children had been at school for a few weeks now and they had decided to clear out that one room they were putting off. Currently they were in the doorway looking out at the room.

"How much stuff could we collect in thirteen years?" James whispered shocked.

"Most of this is the kids baby stuff and other things. We better start sorting things James, don't want it to get worse." Lily muttered before going into the room and starting the process.

For hours they staid in the room trying to clear the as much as they could. But everything came to a halt when Lily found a box of photo's. They decided to sit and look at them together since they didn't seem to remember many of the photo's in the box.

"Here let's go to the sitting area." James said while taking the box and leading his wife out of the room.

When they arrived in the sitting room they sat down and opened the box. The moment they took a picture out they were met with the smiling baby faces of Demeter and Harry Potter. Twins and their sons.

"This was taken before Voldemort attacked." Lily whispered while leaning back against the sofa and looking at the photo. "We still had one of our sons back then."

"We still have them Lily we just have to figure out how to approach Harry. We were right gits this summer and we hurt him bad. I was jealous that Harry was taking after Sirius so much and gods I just things could go back to before Voldemort attacked. I wish I could just keep them safe, together and maybe Harry would have stayed this summer." James muttered as he looked at another picture. This one was of Harry, Neville and Susan all sleeping the night of the Harry and Demeter's fifth birthday party.

"He looks so sweat and peaceful. For a long time, when I look into Harry's eyes it is as if I'm looking into the eyes of one who has seen far to much. It's as if I'm looking into the eyes of an Order member. I feared those eyes James, I feared them because it told me that there is something happening with Harry that I don't know about. I'm his mother for Merlin's sake I should know why he has haunted eyes." Lily sobbed and James swiftly brought her into a his arms.

"I noticed it as well Lil's when we speak with Harry next we'll talk. We will find out what has happened with our son." James whispered and Lily gave a nod.

After a few moments she composed herself and they continued to look through the images, while reminiscing about old memories. After a bit Lily found one of Harry and Sirius or better yet Padfoot. Her son was perhaps two years old. Sirius had transformed into Padfoot and had curled around her eldest son as he cuddled to him and fell asleep. It was such a sweet picture, Harry surrounded by black fur fist clench around some a sweet look on his face. He had been dressed in a set of green pajamas that night. Her choice, James would not have really chosen such a Slytherin Green.

"He looks so adorable in this picture." She whispered and James looked at it.

He had to admit his son did look very cute in that photo.

"Did you ever notice that Sirius seemed as if he was very close to Sirius. He knows things about him that we didn't even know. I mean remember that time we first got Harry some Ice Cream. We tried everything then Sirius goes gets something and Harry instantly loves it." James said causing Lily to sighed.

"James..."

"No, not only that but Sirius got him a Quidditch, it's supposed to be me doing that. You know getting my son to love Quidditch." James whispered softly.

"Oh come on James there are things that have changed with Sirius as well. It's as if he was more mature, he seems a lot more mature then the last time I say him during the time before Voldemort's attack. He was an edge and everything. I don't know why. Sirius has never been like that." Lily whispered and James thought about it.

"You're right it was as if he were ready to flee at any moment. Then after the attack he moves into a place and none of us know where it is. He won't even tell us yet he told Sirius. What does that mean? I mean Sirius has always been forth coming with were he lives so that we know if anything happens. This time it's as if he is trying to hide stuff from us." James muttered.

"Remus acted different as well. Do you think it's a coincidence or just something happened that they didn't want to tell us?" Lily asked her husband.

"I don't know Lily, I hope it's just something simple. Maybe we should talk with them?" James asked.

"Well Remus is this years Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, as for Sirius well I don't know where he is. Since Harry left we haven't actually spoken." Lily answered then looked down at the picture of Harry and Padfoot and a smile formed on her lips.

At Nature Academy, Harry, Hermione and Ron were all listening to their teacher explain elemental Weapons. Sadly for the Professor the trio knew most of what he talked about because they had researched it the year before to make Harry's own Elemental Weapon.

"Granger, Weasley, Potter do you think the theory part of this class is boring?" Their teacher asked causing the trio to wince.

"No sir, but you see last year we sort of worked a head and started to study Elemental Weapons. Well anyway we know what you're teaching us already." Hermione answered and the Professor frowned.

"Really I was not informed of this." He stated causing Harry to sigh.

"Perhaps the Professor's sent with us to Hogwarts didn't inform you. They knew we did the extra study." Harry answered.

"Very well then, you three are always a head so leave so that you don't distract my class."

With that said the trio swiftly left the classroom all to happy to leave. They swiftly dropped there things off at their room, since it was their last class and were about to leave when suddenly Hedwig appeared with a letter in her beak. Frowning Harry went over and accepted it. The moment he spotted the handwriting he tensed.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked worried for her best friend.

"It's from my mother." He answered causing their eyes to widen.

"Well... open it. It's always better to just do things you don't want to do first then continue on." She expertly said causing Harry to smile along with Ron.

"Alright then let's see what she has to say."

Opening the letter Harry took a deep breath before reading it.

Dear Harry,

I understand that during this summer and the last few months of the last school year we were distant and it was unfair to you. We won't to apologies and hopefully in the future, whenever you want, try and fix what we have screwed up so badly. We realized long ago that what we did was wrong but we were in a sense afraid of admitting it because then it would mean we have been horrible parents and it's true. No good parents should forsake one of their children for another no matter the reason.

Today me and your father we're looking over some old photo's we found in a room. We found this one picture of you and Padfoot when you were a baby. It was such an adorable picture. If you remember Padfoot was Sirius' dog that used to come over once and a while. Me and your father thought it would be a good idea to send the photo to you.

We hope that you are doing well in school.

Love you,

Lily and James

At the mention of Padfoot Harry snorted then he spotted the picture and her grinned. He remembered that day. He wanted to cuddle with Sirius, to be closer, and Sirius had transformed into Padfoot.

"You looked so cute as a baby Harry!" Hermione gushed and Harry grinned.

"Thanks Hermione."

"I thought your parents didn't want you and your brother and sisters to know about their animagus forms?" Ron asked.

"They don't they called Padfoot, Sirius dog that used to come around a bit." Harry chuckled causing Ron to snort.

"Openly lying to their son, what has the world come to!" Hermione exclaimed in a fake tearful voice that caused both Ron and Harry to laugh.

"So what are you going to do?" Ron asked his friend who sighed and looked down at the letter.

"They took the first step and so I will continue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix things between us. You know I could never hate my parents, never. I missed them far to much the first time around. They just hurt me that was all. I am a more then just a Potter and I will try and get things right with them." Harry stated before putting the letter down. "For now though let us continue with the original plan of going to practice."

With that said the trio ran from their room and made there way to the training rooms that were located under the school.

Ar Hogwarts things were going well. Currently the Slytherin and Gryffindor's house were in Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin. Today they were learning about Vampires, not the most information but the basic. Truthfully the full information would come in their seventh year because Vampires were seventh year materiel.

"And so there are about five or so clans of Vampires in England. The clans are very secluded most do not leave their territory and they normally do not enter the magical world's business. They like to stay neutral in anything and that's why in the first war against Voldemort only rogue Vampires fought the light side. The other Vampires hid from the world so that they would not be dragged into the war. In a Vampire world there are several levels. There clans consist of servants, noble men, worrier, Healer, and other the most feared one is Lord. Each clan has a Lord. In England there is a one major clan with their head being named the Lord of England because he looks out for all clans under his command. The Lord of a clan will be extremely powerful and normally will be very old. As I heard the Lord of England is about three thousand years old or somewhere around there." Professor Lupin explained, as everybody wrote this down. In a sense they were getting a history lesson to go with their defense lesson. It was brilliant in Draco's opinion plus it was interesting.

"Sir have Vampires ever entered wizarding affairs?" One girl asked.

"Well they did once, they were asked to enter a war between a Dark Lord and the Ministry of Magic, I think it was Canada. They didn't care that they were dark creatures, they only wanted whatever help they could get stopping the guy. It makes sense as well. Since then the Vampires of Canada have been on good terms with the wizarding world they even opened a blood bank for them in each province." The Professor answered.

"Why don't we do that here, I mean Vampires would be less likely to bight others if there was another way to get their blood." Demeter asked.

"I do not know why Demeter, the Ministry refuses to see that sometimes you can do things to improve your standings with the other magical creatures around you." Professor Lupin answered but then the bell wrong and with orders of reading the next chapter for homework the group left the class room.

Thankfully it was lunch time and so Draco swiftly made his way to the Great Hall. Out of all the Grim Reapers stationed at Hogwarts, he was perhaps the most lonely of them all. He had nobody his house and it wasn't like he could interact with the other houses with out getting people suspicious especially his parents. His beautiful Luna had the others plus Mia who had been sorted into her house. Rose Potter had been sorted into Gryffindor as expected and it wasn't like he could speak with a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff, not at that moment at least. He was trying to recruit members of Slytherin to the light but truthfully he almost had no luck. He had been able to cause a few people to thick about what they were doing. Daphne Greengrass seemed to one of the only ones who actually changed as of yet. Blaise was neutral even though he was one of his friends in Slytherin. Apart from that well it was useless. He tried for the first and second years but they were to afraid that the other houses would either pick on them because they were Slytherins, the upper years of the house didn't want them to talk with the other houses and they shared the views of the upper years.

Sitting down at his seat Draco was about to put food on his plat when suddenly Daphne sat in front of him. Blaise on his right and Millicent Bulstrode on his right. He blinked a few times before putting his fork down and folding his hands together.

"We need to talk Malfoy." Daphne stated and he gave a nod.

"Of course." He agreed.

"Then let's eat then talk. we all have a free period next class." Blaise stated and with that they started to eat.

Ten minutes later they all finished and left the Great Hall. Draco lead them until they arrived at the Room of Requirements. He had taken them through many secret passageways so that if anybody fallowed they would be lost. Entering the room they were greeted with a spacious siting area done in Green, white and grey. Sitting down on the sofa's Draco waited for one to speak.

"You confuse me Malfoy. I would have thought that you would be a big headed, spoiled brat of a Malfoy who believed that the Dark Lord was right but if I understand what you are trying to do then I'm wrong." Daphne stated and Draco laughed softly.

"You are not wrong Daphne I was spoiled, still am but it has not gone to my head. I do not believe that Dark Lord, by far I find he is a lying idiot who knows nothing of the true meaning of pureblood. The true meaning has been lost for ages and will probably not be taken to light anytime soon. I want to fight him when he returns and trust me he will. I have a feeling and I know I'm not the only one. The only way we can win and survive is is few combine the four houses together." Draco stated.

"It's hard to combine the four houses, the older Slytherins try to put fear into the lower years so that they wouldn't. They try to make it seem as though the other houses would attack them if they tried to speak with them." Millicent stated and Draco gave a nod.

"That's exactly what's happening. I tried to get the lower years to speak with the other students but they will have none of it." Draco sighed.

"What about a partner group?" Daphne muttered causing Draco's eyes to widen. A buddy system!

"Brilliant, I have to go see the Headmaster keep this between us." He said before racing from the room.

Running for the Headmaster's office he came to a halt in front of the gargoyle. Panting out the password he ran up the stairs before knocking.

"Come in."

Rushing in he found that it was only the Headmaster and so was able to pant out the thought that was running through his mind. "Bunny system." \

"Pardon Mister Malfoy?" The Headmaster asked confused.

"The hat keeps talking about how the four houses should unite. Well Harry once told us about a system his muggle school used to watch over the younger years so that they could get help and stuff if need be. They had a buddy system. Everybody was paired up with a partner, for them it was older with a younger year but for us if we want to get the houses to unite all you have to do is set a one student with another student from a different house." He stated causing the Headmaster eyes to widen and a smile to appear on his face.

"That is a very brilliant idea Mister Malfoy. I will speak to it to my staff tonight. If they agree, which I'm sure they will then it will be done." The Headmaster stated and Draco let a sigh leave his lips. "Just don't partner up all Slytherin's with Gryffindor, mix it up. Let it be a mystery even to you and the staff. It makes it much more fun then." Draco said before leaving the office.

Later that night, Teacher meeting. The Headmaster looked down at the folder in front of him. After Draco had left he had started to plan. What the boy suggested could be a good way to get students to mingle around in houses but it would have to be a little more interesting then just simply if they wanted. He had finally come to conclusion and he hoped it would work.

"My fellow Professors as you all know we have tried to come up with a way to get the four houses to unite. Well, today I was approached with an idea from a student. A Slytherin no less. He explained something that the muggles call buddy system. It is when one student is placed with another to help them. Mostly an older student would be placed with a younger student. I find that this idea could be the starting point to a bigger plan. We all understand the importance of alliance all the houses why not use this method to help." The Headmaster stated and the Professors all looked at each other.

"But how would we chose Albus?" Minerva asked already know who had come up with the idea. Only one Slytherin she knew would be so bold as to suggest something that muggle.

"A spell. It will bind two students together unit the end of the year. The bind will do that the student they are bound to will be by there side at all times. There can be a sort of Limit placed on them, especially for Quidditch players." The headmaster answered. "Students would be chosen randomly but by year only. It is fitting to do so, so that they could attend their rightful classes." The Headmaster said and the Professor's looked at each other once more before the planning started up again. By the end of the meeting a full plan was in affect and would be announced to the students the next day at Breakfast. Classes would be cancelled for the day as well.

Lily smiled to herself as she cleaned the kitchen. It was relaxing in a sense to clean. She never knew why but it just did. Suddenly tapping at the window caused her to turn and the moment she spotted Hedwig with a letter in her claws she let a gasp leave her lips.

"James! James! Harry wrote back!" She shouted while hurrying to the window and opening it to let Hedwig in.

The beautiful owl flew in and landed on the table where Lily hurriedly sat along with James who came running into the kitchen panting. With shaking hands Lily took the letter and opened it.

Dead pops and mum,

What you did was unfair. Unfair to not only me but Mia as well. Mia got the same treatment I did and she did nothing wrong. Rose didn't seem to notice because she seems to be hero worshiping Demeter. That can't be really all that good for her health by the way. I'm glad that you understand that what you did wasn't right and so I am willing to work with you into making things better. It won't come right away, it will take some time. You are not horrible parents, people make mistakes and when you have the Boy who lived as a son well things tend to be harder. Perhaps we can send letters to start to try and mend this. I will be open to them and it will be an easy way to start. Plus Hedwig needs to exercise I fear she is getting a little to plump.

By the way thanks for the photo it's a great one but now Hermione keeps saying I was a cute baby. I miss Padfoot by the way what happened to the dog?

I await your answers with the next letter,

Harry.

"He wore back James, said we could work things out, oh we get a second chance." Lily cried and swiftly James pulled his wife into his arms letting her cry into his shoulder.

A happy grin appeared on his face as he thought about his son, he didn't know why he called him pops but he really didn't care his son was willing to allow them to try and fix what they had done.

"We need to send a letter to the others. Rose needs to be set strait about hero worshiping Harry is right, it's not good for the health especially if that hero was her own brother. We also have to apologies to Mia. Harry is right we did the exact same things to her that we did to Harry." James whispered to his wife who nodded.

"We can perhaps get this family back together again." She whispered while wiping the tears from her eyes then she remembered something of the letter. "What are we going to tell him about Padfoot. He can't know that Sirius is an animagus it's just going to make everything fall apart. You guys haven't registered and have no wish to do so. That's why we never told the children." Lily worried causing James' eyes to widen.

"Shit okay, okay here's the plan. Padfoot died of old age, it makes sense and Harry will buy it, hopefully. It's the only answer we got because we can't say her ran away." James stated and Lily gave a nod of agreement.

"Good idea." She agreed before noticing that Hedwig was still there. "Are you waiting for a reply?"

The owl gave a hoot and so the two parents decided not to keep the snowy owl waiting. Hurriedly Lily summoned some parchment and a quill before starting to write.

Dear Harry,

I'm sad to say that Padfoot died a few years after that photo, he was old and Sirius had had him for a while. He's in a better place now and I'm sure he remembers the times you had together. We will be happy to correspond through letters and Hedwig. I don't think she minds the journey's. May I ask what you are feeding her to make her so pudgy?

You are right though, people do make mistakes and we have made big ones. I hope you are doing well in classes and that you don't cause to much trouble.

We love you Harry,

mum and pops, as you so wrote in your last letter.

S. Why pop's?

With that done they put it into an envelope before giving it to Hedwig who flew off. When she left their sight they continued the series of letters to all their children. When they finished they sent them off with the family owl, Hawkeye.