Disclaimer: Characters etc belong to JKR, except for OCs who belong to me.
Chapter 28: A Summer of Discoveries
19th June 1993
Harry awoke early and quickly washed and dressed, before making his way downstairs. He had not even made it halfway down the staircase before he was accosted by Alicia.
"Jamie said I've got to say sorry," Alicia informed Harry. "So here I am saying sorry."
Harry didn't find it a particularly heartfelt apology but under the circumstances he decided that it was the only one he was likely to get. "Thank you."
With that, Alicia swung around and disappeared with a parting message. "Dad's in the dining room."
Not having any idea where the dining room was, Harry just stood in the hallway, unsure of which direction to take, until Cassie suddenly appeared at the top of the staircase. "Harry!"
"Cassie, slow down." Harry was worried that the little girl would slip in her hurry to reach him.
Heeding Harry's worried call, Cassie slowed down her steps. "Do you want some breakfast? I do, I'm hungry."
Not giving Harry a chance to respond, Cassie grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the second door on his left. Upon entering, Harry was taken aback at the amount of silver platters covered with matching silver lids that littered a huge cabinet at the back of the room.
"Is this all breakfast?" Harry whispered to Cassie.
Cassie nodded.
Sirius put down the newspaper and left the table to swing his daughter around before placing her back on the floor. "Good morning, angel. Good morning, Harry. Help yourself to breakfast. The house-elves went a bit wild when they found out we had a guest staying."
"Thanks, Sirius." Harry walked up to the cabinet and started lifting up the lids until he found something he wanted to eat. After having put some bacon, egg and toast on to his plate, Harry walked over to a seat and sat down. In front of him sat a jug of orange juice to which Harry gratefully helped himself; he was really not that fond of pumpkin juice so he was glad to find the more Muggle orientated drink here.
"Do you feel up to seeing Lily today?" Sirius took a mouthful of coffee.
Harry nodded his head, his mouth too full of food to speak.
"Good. I'll get Jamie up and we'll set off in about twenty minutes. Is that okay with you?" Sirius stood up and headed for the door.
Harry nodded again and carried on eating.
Five minutes later the door flew open as Jamie, looking as if he had not bothered to brush his hair, bolted in and headed for the serving dishes at the back of the room. Harry felt a small niggle of disgust at the amount of food that Jamie piled on to his plate.
After an uncomfortable ten minutes where Jamie practically inhaled his food without stopping to chew, Harry found himself wrapped in Sirius arms once more as they flooed out of the Manor. Sirius again had to stop Harry from stumbling on their arrival at the hospital as Jamie walked casually out of the fireplace, brushing off his robes as he did so. Harry groaned quietly. It looked as though Jamie was far better at this then he could ever hope to be. He just hoped his twin never got to witness him traveling that way.
"Let's go, boys. Now don't forget, your mother knows nothing about you two not living together." Sirius looked concernedly at Jamie, who had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
"I won't forget." Jamie marched briskly in the direction of the stairs.
As soon as they reached the first floor, Sirius took the lead steering the boys in the direction of the private section of the ward, known as the Black Wing. One of Sirius' ancestors had donated a tidy sum for the wing to be built, on the proviso that should any of the Blacks ever need a hospital room, then they would be placed here and not in the public wards. It had been in this wing that Harry had been placed at Sirius' behest during his stay earlier that year, the only difference being that Harry had been on the ground floor.
Reaching Lily's door, Sirius knocked and ushered the two boys in.
A few days later
Sirius stopped outside of Lily's room and, aware he was unable to put it off any longer, pushed open the door.
Lily was concerned by the grave look on Sirius' face. She started to become even more alarmed when he finally spoke. "Lily, we need to talk."
"Is something wrong?" Lily was scared that he was going to tell her that she was not going to get better.
"Don't worry, there's nothing physically wrong with you that we can't deal with." Sirius moved to stand at the end of Lily's bed. "It's something to do with your personal life."
Relieved at not having to deal with a prolonged illness, Lily now wondered what she had to face about herself. "Okay."
"Lily, I'm not sure how to say this." Sirius hesitated before continuing. "But after James died you got remarried."
Lily was stunned. "But if I got remarried, then why hasn't my husband been to see me?"
"He has." Sirius was about to tell her it was him, when Lily interrupted him.
"Was I sleeping when he came to see me? How long have I been remarried? Do we have any other children?" Lily would have continued with her almost manic questioning if Sirius had not held up his hand.
"Slow down, Lily. Yes, you do have more children. You have another son, Orion, and two daughters, Cassandra and Alicia. And no, you weren't sleeping when your husband came to visit." Sirius watched Lily's face take on a look of puzzlement.
Lily thought hard about who had been to see her but came up blank. "Why don't I remember seeing him then?"
Sirius swallowed hard before answering. "You do, Lily. It's me. I'm your husband."
Lily's face initially reflected her shock, then it changed just as suddenly as Lily burst out laughing. "That's a good one, Sirius. You really had me going for a minute."
"But I'm not joking," Sirius protested.
Lily shook as she laughed. "Come on, Sirius. You really expect me to believe that we're married?"
Sirius turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
Lily's laughter died as she watched Sirius leave her room, his face a picture of anger and desolation. "Shit!"
Sirius briskly marched up the corridor and headed for the nearest apparition point.
Remus looked up as a crack sounded behind him. It was Sirius. "What's wrong?"
"I need someone to talk to," Sirius admitted, although Remus was his second choice, Craig being on duty.
"I take it that things didn't go well when you spoke with Lily." Remus had had a feeling that they would not.
Sirius barked a bitter laugh. "She bloody well laughed at me. She thought I was joking."
Remus decided not to point out that it was exactly the same kind of stunt the Sirius Lily remembered would have pulled. "Let's get out of here." Remus went to the cupboard and pulled out two Muggle jackets. "Put one of these on."
Sirius looked at the Muggle jacket as if it was something that would bite him.
Remus sighed. "We're going to a Muggle pub."
Sirius begrudgingly put the leather jacket on and waited as Remus stuck his head through the door leading to the stairwell and yelled, "Nia, I'm going out. I don't know when I'll be back." He then turned to Sirius. "Take hold of my arm."
Sirius did as he was told, and within a short time, found himself sitting in a slightly smoky Muggle bar. "Not exactly the Ritz, is it?" The Ritz was one of the few Muggle places Lily had taken him to.
Remus stood up. "Shut up and tell me what you want to drink."
Sirius dutifully complied and watched as Remus walked up to the bar.
Claire looked up as Remus headed towards her. "Remus Lupin, we haven't seen you in here for some time."
"I've been busy. Can you get me two double scotches and a couple of pints of Newcastle?" Remus flashed Claire one of his most beguiling smiles.
Claire swiftly got Remus' order together and placed the drinks on a tray. "That'll be six pounds sixty. Can I get you anything else?"
Remus watched as Claire leant forward, the front of her blouse falling open as she moved. "That'll be it for the moment." He then paid for his drinks and picked up the tray.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where I am." Claire watched as Remus walked back to his equally attractive friend.
"Merlin, Remus! She was practically offering herself to you on a platter!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Claire's always been very accommodating." Remus passed Sirius his drinks before placing the tray at the side of the table and sitting down.
"You mean to say that you've slept with her?" Sirius looked at Claire again before turning back to Remus.
Remus looked uncomfortable and nodded. "If you must know, then yes I have."
"I take it you haven't exactly been faithful to Petunia then," Sirius observed.
Remus sighed and shook his head. "Not exactly, no. But tell me, are you really surprised?"
Sirius responded truthfully. "Not really. Sorry to say it, but if I'd been married to Petunia I'd have been unfaithful as well."
Remus looked a little annoyed at Sirius' response, and decided to change the subject. "I didn't think we were here to talk about my wife."
Sirius swallowed the contents of his tumbler in one go before replying. "And I don't really want to talk about mine."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you want to do?"
"I want to get so drunk that I forget I exist." Sirius got up, feeling around in his trouser pockets for his wallet.
Remus stilled his hand. "They only take Muggle money here."
"Then it's a good job I've got plenty on me." Sirius pulled out his wallet and waved it in front of Remus. "Lily always makes me carry it, just in case."
"Just in case of what?" Remus enquired.
Sirius shrugged. "I don't know. She simply said 'just in case'. Must be a Muggle thing." Sirius walked off to the bar, determined to forget about his wife and his problems for the night.
Remus watched as Claire turned her attention to his friend. He had a feeling that Sirius would either knock her back with a few carefully chosen words, or he would flirt outrageously with her. Hearing Claire's throaty laugh, Remus realized that Sirius had gone with the latter option.
Sirius picked up the tray with the drinks on and walked back towards Remus. "Seems like a nice girl."
"As I said earlier, she's very accommodating."
"I found that out." Sirius pulled a piece of paper with a series of numbers and Claire's name written on it out of his top pocket.
"She gave you her telephone number?" Remus knew Sirius was smooth but that had to be a record, even for him.
"Yep. She thought I might need cheering up." Sirius grinned, the alcohol now beginning to take effect. "In fact, she and one of the other barmaids, Keira, I think she said her name was, get off at eleven. I've asked them to join us."
"Sirius, are you mad?"
"Nope, just looking for a friendly bit of company, nothing more," Sirius protested.
Remus groaned. "Great, just what I needed."
"You said you've already slept with her anyway, so what's the problem?"
"I don't have a problem with Claire," Remus snapped.
"I don't blame you." Sirius turned to look appreciatively at the barmaid.
Remus followed Sirius' gaze and shook his head. "I don't believe you'd ever cheat on Lily."
"Well, you'd be wrong then." Sirius leant back against the long seat he was currently seated on.
Remus felt angry on Lily's behalf. "You're telling the truth?"
Sirius nodded. "It was just the once."
Realizing he could hardly lecture Sirius on how to behave without being a hypocrite, Remus asked the question. "Who?"
Sirius knew his response would surprise his friend. "Alice Longbottom."
"Alice, but how?" Remus was flabbergasted.
"The usual way," Sirius told him. "We snuck out, put on our white masks and black outfits, apparated to one of the Dark Lord's revels and had our wicked way with each other in front of everyone."
Sirius was so sincere that Remus was about to protest when he realized that Sirius had to be messing with him. "You had me going there for a moment."
Sirius barked out his trademark laugh at the look on his friend's face.
Remus stood up. Despite the fact that they each still had a drink left on the table, he wanted to speak to Claire alone. "I'll get a few more drinks in; save us keep getting up as it's becoming a little busy in here."
On reaching the bar, Remus called Claire over. "Claire, can I have a word?"
"What's up, Remus?" Claire rarely saw Remus looking as stern as he did now.
"Sirius is off limits. His wife is just getting over a serious illness and there have been a few complications. He's just here to let off some steam." Remus trusted his friend, but he wanted to make sure that there were no temptations; he himself knew how easily things could get out of hand.
"No problem, Remus. Do you want us to forget about joining you later?" Claire was hoping that Remus would say no.
Remus shook his head. "No, a little company and fun is fine, as long as it goes no further."
Claire nodded. "Let me get you another round of drinks, and I'll let Keira know the status quo."
Remus really did like Claire. She was the only Muggle who knew what he was, and she was also one of the few women he had slept with on a regular basis. "Thanks. Can you also order us both something to soak up all the booze we're drinking?"
"Sure thing." Claire grinned and waved at Sirius who was watching the pair. "Anything else?"
"Not right now. I'll see you later." Remus handed Claire a twenty pound note and told her to keep the change.
The hours before the girls finished work passed quite quickly and before Remus knew it, the girls were walking over to join them, each carrying a bucket with a bottle of champagne and ice in it.
"Champagne?" Sirius was glad that Remus had had the foresight to order food.
"I thought a little celebration might be in order." Claire began to unwrap the foil from one of the bottles. "It's the first time we've met any of Remus' friends that aren't women."
Remus grinned boastfully. "What can I say? The ladies just love me."
Sirius threw a peanut at Remus' head. "I don't think so, Moony. They just feel sorry for you."
"Moony? Where did you get that nickname?" Keira asked.
"From showing his bum too many times," Claire stepped in.
Sirius stood up. "Say, ladies, why don't we get out of here and go back to my place?"
Claire stopped what she was doing and looked at Remus, before asking, "Is it far?"
"It's actually just round the corner."
Keira gave a squeal. "Don't tell me you live in one of those big houses in Grimmauld Square?"
Sirius shook his head. "No, I've got a house in Grimmauld Place."
Keira was still impressed. "Blimey, you must have some money."
"He does okay," Remus interceded. "Sirius, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Come on, Moony, I'm fed up of sitting in a smoky bar. I just want to enjoy this champagne in a more comfortable setting."
Against his better judgment, Remus acquiesced to his friend's suggestion, picked up the bottles of champagne and followed Sirius and the two girls out of the pub.
The next day
Remus woke up to feel a warm body snuggled up to him. "Good morning, Claire."
"Is it time to get up yet?" Claire still sounded half asleep.
"Not if you don't want to. I'm going to check on Sirius." Remus slid out of the bed and pulled on his trousers.
Sirius groaned as a hand shook him awake.
"Padfoot, wake up." Remus shook Sirius a little harder. He had always been notoriously difficult to get up when they used to drink together; it looked as if nothing had changed.
Sirius felt terrible. "What happened to me?"
"You achieved your goal. You forgot you existed." Remus smiled at his friend.
"Why are you so bloody chipper?" Sirius just wanted to find a hangover cure.
"Lupine metabolism. It has its advantages." Remus passed Sirius what he was desperate for.
"Thanks, Remus. I needed that." Sirius picked up his wand and cast tempus. "I need to get dressed, or I'm going to be late for work."
Remus headed towards the door. "I'm just going to get a shower and take Claire home. Do you think you can drop by and see Harry before you go to work? He was looking a little under the weather yesterday. Nia thinks he's got the flu and is going to take him to a Muggle doctor but I don't trust them."
"I need to check in at the hospital first and see how Lily is. I'll drop by after." Sirius pulled back the covers and headed for the shower. A thought then occurred to him. "Remus?"
Remus shoved his head back around the door. "What?"
"What happened to Keira?" The last thing Sirius remembered they had been talking, trying to ignore Remus and Claire's antics on the other sofa.
"She took a taxi home." Remus closed the door and headed back to his bedroom.
Sirius quickly showered and got dressed, and set off for the hospital.
At the hospital, he walked up to Lily's door and tapped lightly. Getting no response, Sirius pushed open the door a little. "It's Sirius. Is it okay to come in?"
Lily who had been snoozing shot up in her bed, relieved beyond belief to see Sirius. "Sirius, thank goodness. I was hoping you'd come back yesterday. I'm so sorry about how I reacted."
"It's okay. It must have been a bit of a shock to you." Sirius walked up to the bed and took Lily's hand in his.
This time Lily did not pull away. "I really did think you were joking. It was only when I saw your face that I realized you were telling the truth. By then it was too late and you'd already stormed out."
"I was disappointed. I'd hoped you'd be pleased that it was me you'd married," Sirius admitted.
"I am pleased it's you. I have to be honest though. It's going to take a bit of getting used to the idea." Lily hoped Sirius would understand.
Looking into Lily's eyes, Sirius knew that she was telling the truth. "It's okay. Take as long as you need."
"How are the children?" Lily thought that Sirius had gone home to them.
"I didn't see them last night," Sirius told Lily without thinking.
Lily was curious as to where Sirius had gone. "Where did you go then?"
"Out with Remus and got drunk." Sirius omitted the fact that they had been chatting to a couple of barmaids and that they had taken them back to his home.
Lily felt bad for what she had put him through. "I'm sorry, Sirius."
"Lily, don't worry about it. No harm done." Sirius knew he had to tell her about Harry. "Lily, there's something else I need to tell you. It's about Harry."
"What is it?" Lily had a feeling that she was not going to like what Sirius was about to tell her.
"He doesn't live with us. He lives with your sister," Sirius blurted out.
"He lives with Petunia? Why?"
"Because when You-Know-Who attacked you there was a bit of a mix-up, and you were told Harry was dead. He actually ended up being adopted by your sister and Remus." Sirius waited for Lily's reaction.
"So you're telling me that not only does Harry live with my sister, but that Petunia's married to Remus." Lily's face was white.
Sirius nodded. "We didn't know anything about it until last year. You've been corresponding regularly with Harry since then, and have been starting to build up a relationship with him."
Lily burst into tears and Sirius pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Lily, but we couldn't tell you straight away. It would have been too much."
"I know." Lily hiccupped a little as she answered. "It's just I can't believe that my baby went to live with Petunia."
Sirius reached into his inside pocket. "I brought you these."
"What are they?" Lily asked as she took the proffered bundle.
"All of the letters that Harry sent to you. I thought they might help," Sirius explained.
"Thank you." Lily placed the bundle of letters on the bed, before looking up at Sirius. "At least I know why Harry seemed a little reticent with me during his visit, whereas Jamie was all over me."
"Harry does care for you. It's just difficult for him at the moment." Sirius looked at the letters. "Why don't you read through those while I'm gone? I need to go and see Harry."
"Is something wrong with him?" Lily was immediately concerned.
"I doubt it. Remus said he was a little off color. I said that I'd look in on him, just to put Remus' mind at rest." Sirius headed towards the door. "I'll be back later."
Lily thanked him, and then she picked up the first of the letters from the pile he had given her.
Sirius flooed into Darcy Cottage into the middle of what appeared to be a fight. "Have I come at a bad time?"
Remus responded tersely, "A little. However, I'd still like you to take a look at Harry. His room is at the top of stairs; you'll find his name on the door." Remus then turned his attention back to Nia as Sirius walked out of the room.
Sirius made his way up the stairs and knocked on Harry's door. Getting no response, Sirius gently pushed open the door. "Harry, it's Sirius."
Harry was sitting up, hugging his knees, tears falling down his cheeks. Hermione was sitting on the bed next to him, gently rubbing his back.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Sirius was alarmed at Harry's white face and he hurried over to him.
"Feel sick." Harry barely got the words out before he threw up all over Sirius. "Sorry."
"It's okay." Trying not be sick himself as he hated the sight of vomit, Sirius quickly cleaned himself up and checked Harry over. He didn't have the Muggle flu as Nia thought. From his readings, it looked as if Harry had a form of pneumonia. "I want to take you to the hospital with me. It's nothing to worry about but I want you where I can keep an eye on you."
Harry listlessly nodded. "Can we go now?"
Harry's desire to be gone immediately convinced Sirius that something else, apart from his illness, was bothering Harry. "Is something else wrong?"
Harry nodded, more tears trickling down his cheek. "Dad's been, Dad's been…" Harry could bring himself to say it and buried his face into his knees again.
Sirius turned to Hermione who, up until now, had been silent. "What happened?"
"We were sitting up here when we heard Mr. Lupin apparate in. We didn't hear anything for a while; then we could hear raised voices. Mr. Lupin said that he wasn't happy about how much time the children were spending with Mr. Lovegood. Mrs. Lupin told him that maybe he should spend more time with them himself then, instead of running around with, um, his whores." At this point Hermione blushed, but still continued. "They ended up having a terrible argument about Mr. Lupin sleeping around. We could hear pretty much everything."
Sirius cursed Remus under his breath before answering Hermione. "Thank you, Miss Snape."
Sirius turned to Harry. "I'm just going to talk to your parents. I'll be back in a minute."
Remus looked round as Sirius entered the dining room. "Is Harry okay?"
Sirius shook his head. "He's got a form of wizarding pneumonia. I think he's more vulnerable at the moment because he hasn't been eating properly."
Nia stood up. "Can you treat it?"
"I can, but I need to admit him to hospital. This sort of illness can sometimes turn nasty." Sirius turned to Remus. "Can I have a word with you alone?"
Remus headed for his study, Sirius following, and shut the door. "What is it?"
"Did you stop to think for just one minute before you and Petunia got into a screaming match about your screwing around?" Sirius snapped.
"What are you going on about?" Remus asked.
"Harry and his friend. They both heard you two arguing. Harry was upstairs crying when I got there," Sirius explained.
"Fuck! I'll go and speak to him." Remus went to leave, only for Sirius to stop him.
"I don't think that that would be a good idea at the moment. Harry's quite sick and doesn't need any further stress." Sirius pushed past Remus. "I'm going to portkey him to St. Mungo's. I take it Petunia found out about last night?"
Remus looked embarrassed. "Yes, she spotted a love bite Claire left on my neck." Remus turned his head slightly so Sirius could see the incriminating mark.
"You bloody idiot. You should have checked before you left." Sirius shook his head. "Merlin, Remus, why don't you use that brain you're supposed to have, and think of others before you do these stupid things."
Remus was a little angry now. "I'm not the one who suggested going back to your place."
"Did you see me climbing into bed with Keira? No, you didn't. I didn't force you to sleep with Claire, Remus. That was your own choice," Sirius growled out.
Remus realized he was in the wrong. "I know. I'm sorry."
"It's not me who you need to be apologizing to. Tell Petunia she can visit Harry in a couple of days," Sirius responded brusquely, before apparating up to Harry's room.
"Harry, I'm going to portkey us to St. Mungo's. Okay?" Sirius pulled out his emergency portkey and gathered Harry up into his arms. "Miss Snape, would you like to come too?"
Harry did not bother responding and just snuggled deeper into Sirius' arms but Hermione nodded and took hold of Harry's arm. On arriving at St. Mungo's, Sirius immediately headed for Lily's room. Pushing open the door, he found Lily sitting up reading the last of Harry's letters, which she quickly put aside as soon she spotted Harry curled up in Sirius' embrace. "What's wrong with him?"
"He's got wizarding pneumonia. I'm going to set him in a bubble so he won't infect you, but I thought you might like to keep an eye on him," Sirius explained.
"Enlarge my bed and put him here with me," Lily ordered.
"But, Lily…" Sirius got no further as Lily grabbed her own wand and enlarged the bed herself, all the time looking pointedly at Sirius.
"Put him on the bed." Lily's tone brooked no argument, so Sirius laid Harry on the bed, where he immediately snuggled under Lily's arm and fell asleep almost instantly. Lily then turned to look at Hermione, who was standing shyly in the doorway.
"Hello, I'm Lily Black." Lily held out her hand.
Hermione felt a little more comfortable in Lily's presence than she did in Sirius'. Walking over to the bed, she shook Lily's hand. "I'm Hermione Snape, Lady Black."
Lily laughed lightly. "Please call me Lily. There's no need to stand on formality with me."
Hermione liked Lily as much as she disliked Sirius. "Thank you. Is it okay if I just sit down over there?"
Lily nodded. "Of course. I think Sirius just wants to check Harry's okay."
Sirius finished scanning Harry. "He should sleep for a while."
"Sirius, why didn't Remus bring him in?" Lily was surprised at not seeing Harry's father.
"He and Nia are having a few problems. Harry and Miss Snape overheard them arguing. He threw up all over me when I first arrived. I think it was a bit of shock for him," Sirius explained.
"What kind of problems?" Lily had a fairly good idea but wanted Sirius to confirm her suspicions.
"Nia found out that Remus slept with a barmaid last night. I think it was the last straw for her." Sirius totally forgot that he had told Lily he had been with Remus the previous night.
"And how about you Sirius? Did you sleep with anyone last night?" Lily asked in a quiet voice.
"Of course not. I'm not Remus."
"I believe you." After doubting Sirius once already, Lily couldn't bring herself to upset him again by questioning his word.
"Thank you." Sirius dropped the privacy bubble he had erected around him and Lily while they were talking about Remus. "I'll be back later. We still have things to discuss."
Harry stirred at the sound of the door closing.
Lily looked down as Harry opened his eyes. Because of his illness he was not wearing his contacts, and eyes identical to her own stared back at her. "Harry, you're going to be staying here with me for a little while."
"Good. I don't want to go home." Harry's breathing sounded a little labored as he spoke.
"Why not?" Lily gently probed.
"Dad."
Lily pushed a little harder. "What about him?" She knew he would be better off getting it off his chest and not letting it build up.
"He's been, you know, with other women." Harry's voice cracked a little as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Harry. Don't you want to see your Mum?" Lily asked.
Harry shook his head. "No. I wouldn't know what to say to her."
"You wouldn't have to say anything," Lily said.
Harry shook his head once more. "He'll be there. I don't want to see them."
"If that's what you want, then it's fine with me. Would you like your own bed?" Lily felt Harry's head as she spoke; he definitely had a fever.
"Can I stay here with you?" Harry felt awful. He just wanted to be held by the next best option to his mum.
"For as long as you want." Lily drew Harry closer to her and stroked his head.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry tried to sit up.
Hermione stood up. "I'm here, Harry."
"I'm really sorry about everything." Harry struggled to get the words out.
Hermione felt a little alarmed at his breathing. "Don't worry about it, Harry."
Lily spoke to Hermione. "Would you mind fetching Sirius back or finding another healer? I'm a little concerned about Harry's breathing."
"Of course." Hermione pulled open the door; she felt annoyed that Sirius hadn't done anything for her friend except bring him here and dump him in a bed with Lily.
Hermione soon found a healer who came back to the room with her. "Lily, I found a healer."
Craig smiled at Hermione before turning his attention to Lily. "We've actually already met. I take it something is wrong with Harry."
Lily nodded. "Yes. Sirius brought him in this morning with wizarding pneumonia but I'm a little concerned about his breathing. It seems to have gotten worse over the last ten minutes."
Craig scanned Harry. "I'm going to sedate him and put him under an oxygenated bubblehead charm. That should help with his breathing. He seems to be exhausted."
Craig popped out of the room and returned after a few minutes. "Harry, I'd like you to drink this for me."
Harry drank the potion without argument and soon slipped into a deep sleep. Craig then cast the bubblehead charm on him and Harry's breathing evened out almost immediately. "The potion I just gave him will let him sleep for 48 hours until the worst of his infection is over. If you have any problems, Lily, just call for Beauregard. He's my ward elf here."
"Thanks, Craig." Lily smiled at the man she obviously knew well, but was unable to remember.
Hermione stood up. "Perhaps I'd better find my way back home."
"Don't feel that you have to go. I'd like to get to know you better. Harry talks a great deal about you in his letters, but it's not the same as meeting someone in person." Lily picked up her wand and the chair Hermione had been sitting on flew across the room until it came to a stop at Lily's side. "Please come and sit down."
Hermione nervously walked across the room. "What would you like to talk about?"
"How about your family? I already know Severus but I don't know your mother or if you have any siblings." Lily was interested in the pretty girl who was now seated next to her bed. If Harry's letters were anything to go by, she had a feeling that Harry had a crush on Hermione. It was a pity that Hermione was already engaged.
Hermione proceeded to fill Lily in on her family, her home life and school in general. Before either of them realized, several hours had flown by.
Sirius pushed open the door to Lily's room to find Hermione seated at the side of his wife, the pair of them engaged in lively banter. "I've come to see if Miss Snape wants to return home."
"Sirius, she's called Hermione. You make her sound like an old spinster aunt." Lily laughed lightly, not having picked up on the animosity between the two of them.
"Okay, I've come to see if Hermione would like me to escort her home." Sirius smiled but it failed to reach his eyes.
Hermione graciously accepted Sirius' offer to return home. "Thank you, Lord Black. That would be very kind of you." She then turned to Lily. "It's been so nice to meet you. Lily. Hopefully we'll meet again in the future."
Lily smiled at Hermione. "I hope so. Harry's supposed to be coming to stay on his birthday for a week. Perhaps you'd like to join him."
Hermione's face lit up. Even though she disliked Sirius, she had heard that the Black Library was without equal in the wizarding world. "I'd like that very much, thank you."
Sirius interrupted the conversation. "I'm sorry to break this up, ladies, but I need to get Hermione back as I've got rounds to do in fifteen minutes."
"Thanks again." Hermione waved as she left the room and dutifully followed Sirius to an apparition point.
Sirius turned to Hermione and brusquely asked, "Are you returning home or to the Lupins?"
Hermione noticed that Sirius had dropped his pleasant act as soon as he was out of earshot of his wife. She was unable to see what Harry saw him in. "I'm actually staying with the Lovegoods. If you could return me to the front of Darcy Cottage, that will be fine."
Sirius didn't bother responding as he put his hand on Hermione's shoulder. As he did so, he felt a shudder run through her. He knew she disliked him, and he had to be honest, even though she was only a child, he didn't like her either.
Before Hermione could take a breath, the squeezing sensation of apparition took over her body and she suddenly found herself standing in front of Harry's home. "Thank you, Lord Black."
"Miss Snape." Sirius inclined his head slightly before disapparating.
Hermione headed for Fable House thinking about Sirius Black. She couldn't put her finger on why, but she really didn't like him. When he had placed his hand on her shoulder, she had been unable to suppress a small shudder of disgust that had run through her. Deciding that she was being probably being paranoid, Hermione headed up the pathway where she was met by Luna.
"Hello, Hermione. We've just gotten home. Mrs. Lupin said that Harry's had to go to the hospital." Luna's usual smile was missing.
"He's going to be fine. He's been placed in a room with Lily Black," Hermione told her friend.
"Oh good. Perhaps they can have a chance to get to know each other better." Luna's beautiful smile returned at the thought of her friend bonding with his birth mother.
"Not for a few days. He's going to be sleeping to give his body a chance to recover." Hermione followed Luna into the cool interior of the cottage.
"Poor Harry. Perhaps things will get better for him soon." Luna pulled Hermione into the dining room. "Do you really have to go home tomorrow?"
Hermione nodded. "I do. I miss my family."
Luna impulsively hugged Hermione. "I'm going to miss you. It's almost been like having a sister of my own with you stopping here."
Hermione was touched by Luna's admission. "I've really enjoyed it too. Perhaps we can do it again next summer."
Luna's face lit up. "That would be great. Let's go get some ice-cream. Uncle Grim bought about ten gallons of different Muggle ice-creams for us to try. Draco and Dudley began sampling them before we even got home."
Hermione adored ice-cream and, deciding to stop worrying about Sirius and Harry, she followed Luna into the kitchen.
The next day
Severus was waiting for Hermione at the arrival floo in Snape Manor. Hermione flew into his arms as soon as she cleared the chimney. "Papa, it's so good to be home."
Severus was surprised at the ferocity of Hermione's greeting. "Hermione, it's only been a week since I last saw you."
"I know, I just missed everyone." Hermione grinned at her father and followed him out to the carriage to take them up to the main house. "Papa, when I've seen Mama and the others, can we speak about something?"
"Of course. I also wanted to talk to you about a feature in the latest edition of Potions World."
Hermione was thrilled. She enjoyed it when Severus included her when he wanted to dissect a piece that he didn't agree with. "Okay. Perhaps I should get changed after meeting Mama though."
Severus looked at Hermione's almost impeccable clothes, marred by a little dust from her trip through the floo system and smiled. "If you want to. I'll be in my study. Just come in when you're ready."
The coach drew to a halt, and Hermione bounded out of it and into the house. Severus watched her go with a smile on his face. His wife had missed their daughter and was looking forward to being able to move back into Hogwarts for the start of the fall term so that she could see more of Hermione, as she felt that Dominic was now old enough to cope with the cold.
Hermione smoothed down the front of her dress and knocked on the door to her father's study. Severus' smooth tones entreated her to come in.
Severus got straight down to business. "Hermione, do you want to go through the paper or discuss whatever's on your mind first?"
"I'd like to talk about what's bothering me," Hermione informed her father.
"Go ahead then." Severus sat down and indicated that Hermione should join him.
Happily, Hermione slid into the space left on the sofa next to her father. "It's about Sirius Black."
"What about him?" Severus tried to keep his tone even.
"I've met him twice now. The first time I met him, he was barely civil to me…" Hermione began.
"That doesn't surprise me. Black and I have never had a good relationship; it only follows that his hatred of me would filter down to you," Severus responded.
Hermione wasn't exactly shocked but she was a little surprised. "I knew that after the Whomping Willow incident you two didn't really get on, but I didn't know that he hated you."
"The feeling between the two of us is mutual, believe me," Severus told his daughter. "I wouldn't trust Black even if my life depended on it."
Hermione got the picture. "I have to admit, I don't trust him either."
"Why not?" Severus knew he had good reason to dislike and distrust Black, but he was unable to comprehend why Hermione would feel the same way.
"I don't know," Hermione admitted.
Severus was thrown as Hermione suddenly asked, "Papa, can I tell you something in confidence?"
"Of course you can," Severus promised.
"It's about Mr. Lupin…" Hermione started. "Harry's sick, so we were both upstairs, when…"
Severus interrupted her. "I thought you wrote and said that he had gotten over his upset with the whole Lockhart thing."
"He had, but because he hasn't been eating well, he's come down with wizarding pneumonia…" Hermione tried to continue, only for Severus to interrupt her once more.
"What has Lupin been doing to the boy?" Severus actually liked Harry, despite his unfortunate connections.
"It's not Mr. Lupin's fault that Harry has wizarding pneumonia." Hermione stopped to chew her lip nervously. "Papa, Mr. Lupin's been having lots of affairs with different women. Harry and I heard him and Mrs. Lupin arguing about it. Harry got really upset. That was when Sirius Black turned up." Hermione stopped for breath.
"Go on," Severus urged.
"Harry threw up on him." Hermione hid a smile at her father's smirk. "Black said he was going to take Harry to St. Mungo's after he'd spoken to Harry's parents. He then went downstairs, and when he came back he asked if I wanted to go, so I went along."
"Is Harry all right now?" Severus asked.
Hermione nodded her head. "Yes, he's going to be fine, no thanks to Black. He just left Harry in a room with his wife. He didn't give him any medication or anything. I had to find a healer to help him."
"Is that why you don't trust Black?" Severus enquired.
"Not really, there's just something off about him. When he smiles at me, it doesn't seem real. Also when he touched me..." Hermione didn't get a chance to finish her sentence as Severus butted in.
"How dare he touch you!" Severus jumped to his feet.
"Papa, he just put his hand on my shoulder to apparate me back to the Lovegoods after I visited Harry." Hermione grabbed her father by his hand and pulled him back down next to her.
Severus looked a little sheepish. He was unable to help his feelings; he abhorred the thought of Black placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder, even if it was just for the sake of apparition. In fact he never wanted him anywhere near her again. "Sorry, Hermione."
"When he did that I felt as if I wanted to pull away. I don't know what it is, but I just don't like him." Hermione fell silent as she finished speaking.
"I can't say that I'm too unhappy about that," Severus informed his daughter. "How does Harry get on with him?"
"I think he really likes him. When Black picked him up to take him to the hospital, Harry just snuggled up next to him." Hermione shuddered at the thought of being that close to the man. "Do you think I'm being silly? I mean Harry doesn't seem to have a problem with him."
Severus shook his head. "I'd always trust your instincts, and if yours say don't trust him, then don't. But don't be swayed by my own opinion of the man."
"I'm not," Hermione reassured her father. "Papa, did you two always hate each other?"
Severus nodded. "Pretty much from the first moment we met on the train."
"How about Harry's dad?" Hermione knew Severus loathed Remus but she had no idea if it had always been that way.
"Actually no. At first we got along quite well, despite our House differences. But the more Lupin hung around with Potter and Black, the more I began to dislike him. He never stood up for himself or for anyone else against them. Lupin has always been a bit of fence-sitter and that was his biggest problem. He doesn't seem to like to upset anyone." Severus recognized the inquisitive look on his daughter's face, and sighed. "Do you want to know more about them?"
"Yes, please." Hermione settled back into the sofa.
Severus realized that this could take some time, and called for Salty to bring them some refreshments. After passing Hermione a butterbeer, Severus picked up one for himself. "I first met Black and Potter on the train to Hogwarts. They came into my carriage where I was sitting with Lily. They were absolutely vile to me and asked Lily if she would prefer to sit with them. She refused and threatened to curse them if they didn't get out."
Hermione remained silent as Severus related his tale.
"By the time we had arrived at Hogwarts, the twosome had become a foursome. Lupin had joined up with them and another boy, Peter Pettigrew." Severus took a mouthful of butterbeer.
"Do you mean the same Pettigrew who's escaped from Azkaban?" Hermione asked. "Was he evil in school?"
"Yes, the same Pettigrew. At school he was a bit of a hanger-on. He seemed to follow Black and Potter around like a sheep." Severus pictured the slightly overweight, insipid boy in his mind. "He certainly wasn't Death Eater material. I still can't believe that he gave the Potters up to You-Know-Who."
"Did you dislike him as well?" Hermione wondered.
"No. I didn't have any strong feelings for him either way. He never picked on me, nor did he go out of his way to be friendly either," Severus told his daughter.
"How do you think he got out of Azkaban?" Hermione had thought long and hard on this subject but had come up with no real answers.
"I have no idea. Azkaban is supposedly the most secure place in the wizarding world; it's meant to be inescapable," Severus told Hermione.
"Do you think he's a danger to Harry or Lily?" Hermione asked, sounding a little worried.
"He might be. However, I think it more likely that he's going to go after Potter," Severus theorized.
"But everyone knows that Harry is actually a Potter now," Hermione pointed out.
"Yes, but Harry's not the Boy Who Lived. Potter's the one who destroyed Pettigrew's master, not Harry," Severus countered.
Hermione thought of her friend lying in the hospital. "I hope so. Poor Harry's had enough to deal with."
Severus deduced Hermione's thoughts. "He'll be fine. Lily will look after him."
"Papa, do you think you'll ever be friends with Lily again?" Hermione asked.
"We are still sort of friends. Whether we will be close again though is another matter. I don't really deserve her friendship after how I treated her," Severus reminded Hermione.
"I really liked her. I spent several hours talking to her when I was at the hospital," Hermione informed Severus.
"I'm glad. Lily is a good person." Severus smiled softly at the thought of his childhood friend.
"Papa, you'd never cheat on Mama, would you?" Hermione asked the question after seeing Severus' face soften at the mention of Lily.
Severus answered honestly. "No. Just because I think a great deal of Lily doesn't mean that I would ruin what I have with your mother for a night of sex with Lily."
Hermione blushed at little; she still found the thought of sex a little disconcerting. "Why do you think that Mr. Lupin does it?"
"I don't know, Hermione. Perhaps his marriage isn't as wonderful as mine." Severus had met Petunia before, and he had every idea why Lupin would cheat on her, but he didn't want to blacken Petunia's character to his daughter. Petunia might have changed since he was a boy. "What is Harry's mother like?"
"I thought you knew her," Hermione observed.
Severus skirted the truth. "I've only met her a few times. We didn't really say much." Petunia had hated his guts, going so far as to insult everything about him. They never spoke again after that.
"She seems very nice. She always looked harassed though." Hermione didn't really feel as if she had gotten to know Harry's mum that well, even though she had stayed there for a few days. She had to be honest with herself; she had bonded far easier with Lily Black.
"I'm not surprised. If I had to put up with Lupin I'd be fed up," Severus said.
"I didn't say she was fed up, Papa." Hermione looked thoughtful. "Do you think it has anything to do with his being a werewolf?"
"Perhaps. I don't really know." Severus didn't really want to talk to his daughter about the baser side of a werewolf's urges, and he therefore steered the conversation back towards Sirius. "Is there anything else you'd like to know about Black?"
"I don't think so." Hermione knew Severus would answer her questions if she thought of anything else.
"In that case put him out of your mind. You probably won't have to see him again for a long time," Severus consoled his daughter.
Hermione swallowed hard. "Um, Papa?"
"Yes, Hermione." Severus knew that look; Hermione was about to drop a bombshell on him.
Hermione's words rushed out. "Harry's going to stay with the Blacks on his birthday for a week. Lily asked if I would also like to visit and I accepted."
"Absolutely not. You're not going anywhere near that excuse for a human being." Severus' tone was firm.
"Please, Papa, I want to spend Harry's birthday with him." Hermione's face took on a pouting expression.
"No, Hermione. I won't be swayed by your faces." Severus was adamant, despite the fact that he had told already told her that she was allowed to take two weeks out of the remaining summer holidays if she wanted to spend them with her friends.
"But Harry's my best friend. I just want to spend some time with him." Hermione finished her speech and promptly burst into tears.
Severus immediately regretted snapping at his daughter. "I don't know, Hermione. You've already said you can't trust Black."
"But Lily will be there. She'll take care of me," Hermione said logically, sniffing as her tears fell.
"Let me write to Lily, and I'll give you my answer after I've heard from her," Severus offered.
"Thank you, Papa." Hermione hugged her father and wiped her face. "Can we look at that article now?"
"Let me just fetch it." Severus got up and missed Hermione's triumphant look. She felt a little guilty at using tears to get her own way, but she badly wanted to meet the rest of Harry's family and to get a look at the Black Library.
31st July 1993
Harry's birthday morning had not been an enjoyable one. With Harry still not talking properly to Remus, things between them had seemed false and insincere. Harry no longer felt as if he could look up to Remus, and he now tended to turn more to Nia for advice than he had previously done so.
Things had also gotten much worse between his parents, with Remus moving out of the main bedroom and into the spare one. With the arguing that seemed to flare up on a continual basis, Dudley and the girls tended to spend a lot of their spare time at the Lovegoods. Harry had been unable to escape from the arguing as he had spent the last few weeks in bed recovering from his spate in hospital, his pneumonia taking longer to get over than anyone had anticipated. Now he was finally back on his feet, and he was looking forward to staying with the Blacks.
Harry lurched forward as he arrived at Black Manor and ended up on his knees in front of the fireplace.
"Harry, are you okay?" Lily's concerned face looked down at him.
"I'm fine." Harry felt faintly embarrassed at being caught by his mother face down on the floor.
"Happy Birthday, Harry." Lily pulled Harry up off the floor and into a hug.
Still not quite sure of how to act, Harry quickly hugged Lily before pulling away. "Where is everyone?"
"They're waiting in the dining room for us." Lily put her arm around Harry's shoulders and steered him towards the room in question.
On entering, Harry spotted two small piles of presents on a large side table. He had the feeling that they were for him and Jamie. Jamie waved at Harry as he entered the room, before returning to his conversation with Ron.
Upon seeing his brother, Orion shot forward. "Harry, Happy Birthday."
"Where's Cassie?" Harry noted the absence of his little sister.
"She's upstairs with Hermione showing off her dolls." Lily grinned. "I doubt whether Hermione will be resurfacing anytime soon, unless you want to go and rescue her."
Harry had really missed Hermione. "I think that I'd better go and rescue her. Exactly where is Cassie's room?"
Lily told him and Harry set off upstairs. He didn't have to look far as he could hear Cassie's high childish voice drifting down the hallway to him as she told Hermione all about her dolls.
Harry knocked on the open door and was nearly bowled over by the two girls as each vied to reach him first. "Hey, slow down."
"Harry, you're here. You can sleep in my room tonight if you want to." Cassie's voice rose slightly in her excitement at seeing Harry.
"Thanks, Cassie." Harry grinned at the excited girl, and turned to Hermione. "Hello, Hermione."
Hermione appraised her friend. "Harry, you're looking so much better."
"I feel it too. Everyone's waiting for us downstairs." Harry took both girls by the hand and led them downstairs.
As Harry entered the dining room with the girls, Alicia spotted that Harry was holding Hermione's hand. "Harry's got a girlfriend."
Harry blushed as Lily defended her son. "Alicia, don't start. Hermione isn't Harry's girlfriend. She's already engaged to Felidae."
Alicia had met Felidae a few nights earlier when her parents had hosted a dinner party. What the children didn't know was that the dinner party had been a cover for a meeting of the Alliance. Alicia was impressed. "Wow, Felidae's really hot."
"Alicia Black, where did you learn a phrase like that?" Lily was a little shocked at her nine year old using such a term.
"A movie," Anna told her mother.
"Which movie?" Lily wanted to know so she could remove it from her daughter's viewing.
"One of the ones we watched last week. I can't remember what it's called," Alicia admitted.
Lily made a note to go through the films the children had watched the previous week and remove them. "I'll let it go this time, but please don't let me hear you talking about any other adults like that again."
Alicia apologized hurriedly. "Sorry, Mum."
"Let's just forget about it." Lily turned to Hermione. "Sorry about that."
Hermione just shook her head and whispered conspiratorially to Lily, "She's right, he is."
Harry felt a little dismayed at Hermione's comment, and he let go of her hand. "Where's Sirius?"
"Alice Longbottom needed him overseas. He's not going to be back for a few days at least. Apparently things are very busy over in Hungary," Lily explained.
Lily didn't want to admit it, but since her release two weeks' earlier, things between her and Sirius had been extremely uncomfortable as most of her memories still had yet to return. She was somewhat relieved by Sirius' absence, which had allowed her to escape from the pressure of pretending that everything was all right.
Harry looked a little crestfallen. "Will he be back before I leave?"
Lily nodded. "Yes, he said that he'll try and get back the day before you're due to go home."
Harry brightened up a little at the news. "Good."
Lily turned to all the children. "What do you want to do first: eat or watch Jamie and Harry open their presents?"
"Presents!" Cassie and Orion yelled at once. They had already eaten cake and ice-cream earlier in the day when Draco and Narcissa had dropped by to deliver Jamie's and Harry's presents.
"Okay then, presents it is." Lily sat Jamie and Harry down and picked up a present from each pile. "These are from Sirius and me."
Harry carefully opened his gift. It was a set of mirrors. Lily saw his quizzical look. "They're for communicating. You keep one and give the other to the person you want to talk to."
Harry was very pleased with his gift and immediately passed one back to Lily. "I'd like you to keep this one."
Lily felt a little choked up. She had expected Harry to give one to Petunia or Remus, not her. "Thank you, Harry."
Jamie opened up his gift. "Thanks, Mum." Jamie lifted up the signed Chudley Cannons sweater his parents had managed to get for him and showed it off to his siblings. Ron was almost drooling.
Harry then opened his next present which was from Orion and Cassie. It was a note saying that they had paid for a year's subscription to his favorite quidditch magazine. Harry thanked them both. Jamie had received the same gift. Alicia and Jamie had bought him a voucher for Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Draco had attached a note to his gift saying that he hoped it helped Harry hold on to his wand in future. Harry undid the wrapping to find an Auror-class wand holster. Harry wondered how Draco had managed to get hold of one as they weren't available for public sale.
Finally Harry opened his gift from Hermione. "Wow, Hermione, it's brilliant."
Hermione blushed as Harry pulled out a broom polishing kit. "I'm glad you like it."
Despite Hermione's engagement to Felidae, Lily was convinced that Hermione liked Harry as much as Harry appeared to like her.
Jamie's yell startled everyone. "Thanks, Harry. Look, Mum, Harry got me three tickets to the next Chudley Cannons match. Can I go?"
Lily had found out that Jamie was almost as crazy about the Cannons as his friend Ron. "I'm sure Sirius will take you. Who are you going to take with you?"
"Ron, of course." Jamie turned to grin happily at his friend, who looked as if he had died and gone to heaven. Having finished opening his presents, Jamie's mind turned to the next most important thing to him. "Can we eat now, Mum?"
Lily grinned at her ever-hungry son. "Don't you think you had enough earlier?"
Jamie shook his head. "Nope, I'm starving."
Laughing, Lily led the children outside where a meal had been laid out in the sunshine. The day continued in a pleasant fashion until eventually all the children trooped tiredly off to bed. After checking they were all asleep, Lily set off for the entrance fireplace and placed her hand on the mantel to open the entrance up. Ten minutes after doing this, Lily watched as Felidae and a tall blonde man stepped through into the hallway.
Felidae smiled at Lily. "I hope you don't mind but I've brought my brother with me."
"Of course not. Please, let's go into the drawing room." Lily led the way. Once in there she cast several spells before turning to the two men. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Both men opted for red wine and Lily joined them. "I've decided to accept your help. I can't cope without my memory."
Felidae nodded. After the last Alliance meeting, he and Lily had been quietly chatting when she had mentioned her frustration at only having regained a few partial memories. He had said that he might have a way to help her and would be in touch. He had contacted her the previous night when he had told her that while he could help her, the ritual he planned to use did have some element of danger. "You're willing to take the risk? You do know that if it doesn't work, you could lose even more memories than you have already."
Lily nodded. "I'm willing to take that chance. I feel as though I'm living a half-life at the moment. I barely know my children, my work is lying around half-finished because I don't know where I've gotten to, and I'm fed up trying to hold Sirius at arm's length."
"In that case, I'd like to introduce you to my brother, Leo. He's going to perform the ritual," Felidae explained.
"I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Venant." Lily held out her hand.
Leo shook his blonde mane. "I'm not actually Mr. Venant."
Lily looked confused. "But…"
"I'll explain after the ritual." Felidae got up. "Are you sure we won't be disturbed in here?"
Lily nodded. "The house-elves have been informed to alert me only if there's a problem with the children."
"Very well. You'll need to lie on the floor." Felidae nodded at Leo who got up and bent over Lily as she lay down.
Lily watched as Leo pulled out a small ankh; she immediately recognized the Egyptian representation of life. Leo placed the amulet on Lily's forehead and spoke a few words in what Lily presumed to be Egyptian. After that, all coherent thought left her head as she was bombarded with image after image of her life. Felidae watched as Lily writhed on the floor. He knew that she was probably unaware of her screaming as Leo forcibly ripped open her blocked pathways using the ankh. Eventually Lily quieted and her body relaxed as the pain ebbed way.
Lily opened her eyes. "Ouch."
Felidae reached down and pulled the redhead to her feet. "Did it work?"
Lily nodded and staggered back into a chair. "I feel as though my head is going to explode though."
Leo pulled out a vial and passed it to Lily who immediately tossed it back, sighing as the headache receded. "Thanks."
Leo spoke gently to her. "Things will seem a little strange for a few days as your mind recovers... almost as if the memories aren't yours. Don't worry. This is perfectly normal."
Leo was right. Even though Lily knew that the memories belonged to her, it was almost as if she was seeing someone else's life.
Felidae interrupted Lily's musings. "Lily, it's important that no-one else knows about Leo. One of the reasons I introduced you to him was because I can't perform the ritual, and I knew how desperate you were to recover your memories."
Lily wondered what other reason Leo could have for being there, but pushed it to the back of her mind as she realized that she might have a problem. "You mean that I can't tell Sirius how I got my memories back?"
Felidae nodded. "I'm sorry but I need you to swear an oath that you won't discuss Leo or his part in being here with anyone else."
"What if Sirius finds out?" Lily asked.
"How could he unless you try to tell him?" Leo asked.
"He's a pretty good Occlumens and Legilimens. My vow will only stop me discussing it. It won't stop Sirius being able to enter my mind if he wants to. I'm not particularly good at hiding my memories, and he'll spot a gap in my memory, and wonder what went on," Lily informed them.
"I can use a form of the Fidelius Charm to mask our discussion if you'll let me," Leo informed her. Leo couldn't see why Sirius would find it necessary to enter his wife's mind, but he kept his opinion to himself. "It'll make it seem as if there's no gap."
Lily was instantly fascinated. "That's amazing. I've never heard of being able to use the Fidelius on someone's mind before. Where did you learn about that?"
"Do you want me to go ahead and perform the spell?" Leo refused to say anything more until Lily had agreed.
"As long as it doesn't affect my regained memories, then yes." Lily forced herself to relax.
Leo smiled. "It won't and it also doesn't hurt, so just relax."
Felidae took Lily's hand in his own while explaining his reason for doing so. "Leo is going to cast the spell and I'm going to act as your secret keeper. I need to be touching you while we do it."
Lily held firmly on to Felidae's hand as Leo performed his second ritual of the evening.
"That one always takes it out of me." Leo sat down, breathing a little heavily.
"What happens now?" Lily asked.
"At the end of our discussion, I'll finish the spell in its entirety, concealing everything that has been discussed here," Leo explained.
"Good, in that case I'd like to hear all about you. Felidae's never mentioned you before." Lily smiled brightly at the big bear-like man in front of her.
"That's because I asked him not to. He's probably not told you all about himself either." Leo waggled his eyebrows at his brother who frowned angrily at him. "Stop pulling faces, Dae. It's not as if she's going to tell anyone."
Felidae grimaced as Lily now fixed him with her stare. "Okay, okay. Lily, my real name isn't Felidae Venant."
"Then what is it?" Lily asked.
Felidae hated telling anyone his first name and scowled as he told Lily. "It's actually Felix Flamel, but my family and friends call me Dae."
Lily hid her smile and asked Leo about his name. "And is yours really Leo?"
Leo scowled even harder than Felidae had. "No. It's Fitzwilliam Flamel, but I prefer to go by my mother's pet name for me."
"Are your names supposed to mean something to me?" Lily asked.
Leo nodded. "Our parents are quite well known."
"Your parents are the Flamels... as in Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel?" Lily had guessed at the only Flamels of whom she was aware and was surprised when both men nodded in affirmation. "But I thought that they didn't have any children."
"We're not their natural children. They adopted us when we were ostracized by our families," Leo explained.
Lily's maternal heart went out to both men. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how someone could do that to their children."
"I ran away from home because my parents wanted me to follow their master, and I refused. They tortured me until I escaped." Leo gave a little of his background before discussing his brother. "Dae had a different problem. As his parents were dead, it fell to his brother to take care of him. It was the same brother who, because Dae didn't agree with his ideals, cast him aside."
Lily quickly deduced what Leo had not exactly come out and said. "You're both from Death Eater families aren't you?" Lily gulped a little nervously when both men confirmed her suspicions. "Are either of you Death Eaters?"
Both men shook their heads. "Definitely not!" Felidae sounded terse in his response.
Lily apologized. "I'm sorry but I had to ask."
Leo put a hand on Felidae's arm. "It's okay; we understand."
"How did the Flamels come to adopt you?" Lily was interested in how the couple managed to adopt to ex-Death Eater children.
Felidae answered first. "Our mother, Peri, came across me lying on a beach. I'd been attacked by Voldemort's most trusted Lieutenant."
Lily gasped. It had been rumored that Voldemort had had an inner circle of trusted Lieutenants, each of whom was privy to everything that Voldemort knew. "It was only ever rumored that You-Know-Who had Lieutenants. How the hell do you know that he had them, let alone that it was his most trusted Lieutenant who attacked you?"
Felidae realized his mistake as Lily jumped to her feet and pulled out her wand. "Lily, it's not like it seems."
"Then tell me exactly how it is," Lily snarled.
Leo sat calmly in his chair and sipped his wine while watching his brother trying to defend himself against Lily's accusations.
Felidae looked at Leo. "Well, aren't you going to help?"
Leo grinned and shook his head. "Nope."
Lily let down her guard as she watched the byplay between the two brothers. It was all Felidae needed as he shot forward and grabbed Lily's arm, forcing her to relinquish her wand to him. "I'm not a Death Eater. Lily, I promise I won't hurt you." Felidae then let go of her. "Please hear me out."
Aware that she little choice as Felidae now had her wand, Lily agreed. "This had better be good."
"As I was telling you, I was attacked by one of Voldemort's Lieutenants…" Felidae began.
"Who was he?" Lily wanted to know.
"I can't tell you that. When I joined the Dark Lord's side, I had to make an unbreakable vow not to reveal the identities of his Lieutenants to anyone, not even to other Death Eaters," Felidae explained. "While I'm aware of three of the Lieutenants, I'm not sure that I know who all of them are."
"But you said you weren't a Death Eater; if you joined then you must be," Lily accused. "You even call You-Know-Who the Dark Lord."
"Look, I admit I was a Death Eater. When I first joined, I agreed with the Dark Lord's ideals. I disliked the idea of Muggle-borns watering down the bloodlines in the Pure-blood families," Felidae snapped. "However, I fled just before the Dark Lord's downfall."
"I hope you're aware that I'm actually Muggle-born." Lily sounded bitter as she spoke.
"I am," Felidae told her. "As things began to change, I became more and more disillusioned with the Dark Lord's principles. The final straw came when I learnt about the planned attack on you and your family."
Lily's eyes flashed fire. "You knew he was going to attack us and did nothing?"
"I didn't know how he found you; just that he had. He was only going to be taking his Lieutenants with him," Felidae told Lily. "It was only after the attack that the truth about Pettigrew betraying you came out."
"Was he one of You-Know-Who's Lieutenants?" Lily knew Felidae would be unable to answer her but she still wanted to ask the question.
"We don't know," Leo interjected. "We searched him when he was first taken into custody but we couldn't find a Dark Mark anywhere on him. It was only his confession and your own testimony that led to his conviction for James Potter's death."
"And now he's escaped. He could be rounding up all of the Lieutenants right now." Lily wondered exactly who 'we' was and what Leo's role in all of this could be.
"We're still not sure he is a Death Eater," Leo reminded Lily.
"He must be. Why else would he have betrayed us to You-Know-Who?" Lily pointed out.
"I don't know. However, we've got a fairly good idea as to where he's heading. We've had two positive sightings of him," Leo informed her. "One was north of Manchester, and the other not far from Leeds."
"So he's in the North of England. What's so interesting there?" Lily pondered.
Leo told Lily of his own theory. "I think he's heading for Hogwarts or Hogsmeade."
Lily's legs suddenly felt shaky. "Do you think he's going after Jamie?"
"We think that might be the case. However, we're going to put measures in place for the school's and village's protection," Leo told Lily. "Lily, we will do everything we can to look after your son."
"Thank you." Lily felt reassured by the big blonde's air of confidence. "However, I still would like to know where his Lieutenants are now."
"One is in Azkaban; the other two that I'm aware of are free," Felidae admitted.
Lily stood nose to nose with Felidae as she enunciated each word. "I want to know who they are!"
Leo rejoined the conversation. "I'm afraid we can't tell you."
Lily finally voiced her earlier thoughts. "Who exactly is we?"
"The Ministry of Magic," Leo said, enlightening Lily. "I actually work for an organization in the Ministry who are working to find these people, and so does Dae."
"But how does a Death Eater get a job at the Ministry?" Lily was a little confused.
Felidae cursed himself for slipping up earlier; he knew that Lily would now just view him as Death Eater and nothing more. "I told you, I'm not a Death Eater any longer. I haven't been one for some time, and I've been working with the Ministry to try and help them track down all the remaining Death Eaters."
"But I thought you made an unbreakable vow," Lily pointed out.
"That only applies to his Lieutenants. The rest of his men are fodder; he didn't care what happened to them," Felidae told Lily.
Leo tried to comfort Lily. "Even though Dae hasn't been able to tell us anything about them, we still have some idea as to who they are."
"Why haven't you arrested them then?" Lily wanted to know.
"Because we have no proof," Leo admitted.
Lily started pacing. "What about their Dark Mark? Isn't that proof enough?"
"No. We discovered that Voldemort doesn't brand his Lieutenants on their left arms," Leo told Lily.
"How could you know that?" Lily's head was now starting to ache again.
Leo sighed; he was going to be roasted when he reported in the next day. "When we took Bellatrix Lestrange into custody she didn't have a Dark Mark on her left arm. However, she freely admitted to being a Death Eater and being proud of it, so we searched every inch of her body until eventually we found a tiny barely visible Dark Mark."
"Where was it?" Lily was intrigued.
"Hidden beneath her left breast. It could easily have passed for a birthmark. We only found it because we were looking for it," Leo disclosed.
"Great, so his Lieutenants could be anyone," Lily observed.
"As I said earlier, we do have some idea as to who they are. Unfortunately Dae can't confirm or deny our suppositions." Leo refilled his wine glass and did the same for Lily and Felidae. "Lily, can we put all discussion about the Death Eaters aside at the moment? There's something else I want to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Lily wondered if this was the other reason that Felidae had brought his brother along.
"As I mentioned, I'm part of an organization at the Ministry. We'd actually like you to become part of it as well." Leo sat back and waited for Lily's response.
Lily was shocked. "But why me? I'm nobody special."
"Actually it's your expertise in the field of charms we're after. I've already had you investigated. Your work for Charisma is outstanding. We'd like you to bring your expertise to my department," Leo explained.
Lily was flattered. While she enjoyed her work at Charisma, the premise of getting her teeth into something more stimulating piqued her interest. "I'm interested, but I'd need to know a little more before I commit."
Leo spent the next fifteen minutes filling Lily in on the bare bones of his organization.
Lily was fascinated. She had no idea that such a department actually existed. "You've found yourself a new recruit."
Leo stood up. "Then that's settled. I'll be in touch again before your husband returns."
Lily also stood up. "Felidae, before you go, I want to know, does Remus Lupin know what you are?"
Felidae nodded. "He knows what I was."
"And he still trusts you?" Lily had to know.
"He does." Felidae hoped Lily wouldn't take it out on Remus.
Lily's words surprised Felidae. "In that case I'm willing to trust you as well."
Felidae felt relieved. "I'm glad to hear it. I meant what I said. I really am no longer a Death Eater despite the fact that I still bear the Dark Mark. I also no longer have the same feelings for Muggle-borns."
"I believe you." Lily really did. A lot of it had to do with Leo; for some reason she was unable to explain, Lily trusted the blonde man without question, even though she had only just met him. If Leo and Remus trusted Felidae, then she would as well.
"I think it's time we let you get some rest now." Leo opened the door and headed towards the fireplace.
Lily followed with Felidae walking behind her, after passing her wand back to her.
Leo took Lily's hand in his own and brushed a light kiss across her knuckles, his head inclined. "It's been a pleasure, Lily."
Lily recognized the pure-blood stance immediately and wondered which family Leo came from. Suddenly she realized something. "You didn't finish the spell."
Leo smiled. "I did, you just didn't notice me doing it."
"Oh." Lily turned to Felidae and hugged him. "Dae, you're always welcome in my home."
Dae felt himself choke up at Lily's acceptance of him, despite what he had just told her. "Thank you."
The two men then departed and Lily closed the fireplace up. As she headed up to bed, she realized that she had been diverted about finding out more about Leo by Dae's confession. She would have to ask him about his background when she saw him next.
Harry was delighted, as were all the children, when Lily explained that somehow she had regained most of her memories overnight. After hearing the news, Harry looked seriously at Lily. "Can I talk to you alone?"
Lily warned the other children. "Don't touch anything; I'll know if you have."
Hermione watched as Lily and Harry left the room. She wondered what Harry could have to discuss with Lily. Sighing, she turned her attention to Cassie, who by now had latched on to Hermione as easily as she had Harry.
"Let's go in here." Lily opened the door to a room where a large billiards table was set in the center of the room. Dark paneling covered the walls and torches were set around the room at measured intervals. "It's a little gruesome I know, but Sirius loves it. He refuses to let me redecorate."
"Lily..." Harry's voice sounded nervous as he spoke. "Can I call you something different than Lily?"
"What would you like to call me?" Lily's heart began to race a little as she spoke.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I just feel awkward calling you Lily after all this time. I know Mum is my mum but you are as well. I think it's more important now, particularly as you've gotten your memories back."
Lily felt her heart soar. "Well, I don't think Mrs. Black will work then. How about Lils?"
Harry shook his head. "I was thinking of something more, um, motherly."
Lily realized that Harry was struggling to find a way of calling her mum without upsetting his own mother. She had watched at the hospital as Harry had tried to keep the peace when Petunia had visited. Lily knew that her sister had been unhappy about Harry sharing a hospital room with her. Lily was just glad that she had taken the precaution of moving Harry into a bed of his own before Petunia had visited. Things had been difficult enough as it was, with Petunia barely speaking to her and concentrating solely on Harry. Both she and Harry had been happy when the visit had ended. Petunia had not visited again, opting to keep in contact with Harry via letter instead.
Lily thought about Harry's request before finally coming up with a solution. "How about Maman? My great-grandmother was French."
"Maman." Harry rolled the word around his tongue. "I like that."
"I do too." Lily smiled but wanted to check that Harry was not doing it for solely for her benefit. "Are you sure about this, Harry? I don't want you feeling that you have to call me anything other than Lily."
Harry looked a little worried. "Don't you want me to call you Maman?"
Lily pulled Harry into her arms. "Harry, hearing you call me Maman is the best thing I could have wished for."
Harry held tightly on to Lily and the two just stood there for a while before Harry finally pulled away. "There are a couple of other things I wanted to ask you about."
"You can ask me anything," Lily told her son.
"I received a few proposals in the mail yesterday. I don't really know how to deal with them. I would normally have asked Dad but…" Harry's voice trailed off.
"I understand, Harry. Exactly how many proposals did you receive?" Lily asked.
Harry blushed. "Twenty-two."
"Twenty-two?" Lily was astounded. Jamie had received ten, but being the Boy-Who-Lived, she had half expected it.
"I'm obviously going to say no to all of them but there's one I'm not sure how to deal with," Harry explained.
"Who's it from?" Lily was curious as to why Harry would have a problem with just one of them.
"Pansy Parkinson," Harry told his mother.
"She's the young lady who was your girlfriend before she was petrified, isn't she?" Lily checked. "Draco's friend?"
Harry nodded. "I don't want to lose her friendship but I know I don't want to marry her."
"I think in that case, you should tell her in person," Lily advised Harry. "I'd hate to get a rejection via letter. I take it she really likes you."
"I think so. Draco told me she didn't stop going on about me after they cured her," Harry revealed.
"Then set up a meeting with her, and tell her face to face. She might stop being your friend for a while but that's only to be expected. Give her some time and space to get over her disappointment and I think she'll return to being your friend in time." Lily knew what she was talking about; she had gone through the same thing with her and Remus. "What else did you want to discuss?"
"I want to learn how to become an Animagus like you." Harry had originally intended to ask Remus, but in light of the current circumstances, he had decided to ask Lily instead.
Lily tried to discourage Harry. "Don't you think you're a little young for that yet?"
"I think it would've helped me if I'd been able to do it when we were in the Chamber. Look at how you used your abilities," Harry argued.
Lily thought for a few moments. "If I do this, you have to promise me that you won't abuse what you're being taught."
Harry nodded his head eagerly. "I wouldn't."
"Don't get too excited, it took me nearly two years to master it," Lily informed Harry. She didn't tell him that James had started teaching her when she had been a seventh year, and that they had had no guidance from an expert in the subject.
Harry looked a little disheartened at Lily's words. "But if I try hard, perhaps I might learn quicker."
Lily was concerned that Harry might try to get ahead of himself. "You might. I can begin your lessons this week, but after that you are only to practice what I've taught you and not try to take it any further."
"I understand. Are there any books I can read about the subject?" Harry asked.
Lily smiled. "Yes, I believe there are several in the Library. Perhaps you and Hermione would care to spend a little time there this afternoon?"
Harry grinned. "You'd teach Hermione as well?"
"Only the basics. I don't think Severus would take it too well if I took this experience away from him," Lily pointed out.
"Professor Snape's an Animagus as well?" Harry was surprised as he had believed that becoming an Animagus was extremely difficult, and few people actually succeeded.
Lily confirmed Harry's assumption. "Yes, he is, but please don't repeat that information to anyone, even to Hermione."
"I won't," Harry promised.
"Now, is there anything else you'd like to talk about?" Lily enquired.
Harry thought for a moment. "I don't think so."
"In that case, I think we should get back to the others." Lily turned to leave the room, only to stop as she felt Harry's hand on her arm.
"Thanks, Maman." Harry hugged Lily before letting her go and walking out of the room.
"You're welcome." Lily could not have been happier at that moment: her son had called her Maman, her memories had been returned to her, and she would soon be starting a new job. Lily grinned widely as she followed Harry out of the room.
