Disclaimer: NOT Blonde, Not rich, not living in Britain, initials are not JKR therefore don't own. Love the characters and the setting so I am just playing, I get nothing but the reviews my readers give me. Authorship shared with Darkshadowedrose. Beta read by Alix33.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. Summer heat is killing my creativity, also Harry's Hero has been flowing well so it has been getting my time.

Trust is a Relative Thing

Chapter 35

Remus Lupin had been patient, he had allowed Harry time and space. He knew he hadn't done well by the boy, but his wolf was starting to overwhelm his reason. It wanted his pack. Harry was pack. It was due to Harry that on full moons he had Padfoot again. With Sirius' permission his healer had talked to Remus.

Paige had told him Sirius was likely to be permanently damaged, but given the ten years in Azkaban high security it was a wonder he wasn't worse. Sirius had so many bad memories of his family that he had regressed mentally and emotionally to a maturity more like what he was at thirteen or fourteen. Sirius had finally been working with her and over the last two weeks he had made what she called significant progress, in terms of recognizing his failures as Harry's guardian that long ago October night. She had said it was progress but she warned Remus there was still a long way to go. Sirius needed to work through his issues about his family and he needed to grow up and make several realizations one of which was that a person's school house did not automatically determine if that person was good or evil, courageous or cowardly. It was that comment that gave Remus some insight into Harry's standoffish behavior. He really wondered what Padfoot had said to the somewhat prideful and studious boy.

Harry was unlike the other Slytherins, who travelled the school in self-defensive packs that constantly tried to position themselves as higher in the pecking order. He interacted without prejudice with all the houses and took instruction well. Singularly self-possessed, most other students even older ones skirted around him rather than interact with him. Some people took his attitude to be arrogance but Remus didn't think it was; he thought it more an independence of thought and self-reliance. The exception being his study group, they were in and of themselves remarkable in that they ignored everything but brainpower.

Harry was an amazing flier; James would have been proud. Remus hadn't seen him in a game yet, but he had watched the Slytherin team practice.

In class Harry was a bit of a defensive prodigy. In many ways Remus longed to work with the boy to see just how much he could learn and how quickly. But Harry didn't trust Remus, that was obvious in the way the boy avoided being alone in the same room with him. Remus really wondered how Petunia raised him because he had been such a trusting little chap as a baby. There was nothing of that child in the boy now. Remus wondered if Lily were here now who she would curse more: Petunia for raising Harry to be so untrusting, Dumbledore for having put him with Petunia, or himself for being so weak as to allow Dumbledore to dictate the terms of his interaction with Harry.

Remus was also certain that if there was one person in the school Harry hated it was Albus. He also didn't seem to like Minerva, and from what Remus could see that was mostly mutual. Harry was very careful though, if he did any rule breaking, he had definitely absorbed the Slytherin motto of thou shall not get caught. Remus sometimes wished the other Slytherins had learned that one as well. He finally resolved to talk to Severus perhaps he could give some insight to Harry's psyche. To that end, he went to Severus' quarters and asked the portrait to ask Severus to let him in.

Moments later Severus opened his door. "What do you want wolf?" he asked with a sneer.

"I'd like to talk with you, about Harry."

Snape frowned. "Why?"

"You're his Head of House and I'd like to understand him better."

"Did Albus put you up to this?"

"Not exactly."

"Humph. Albus underestimated Petunia and he's been trying to make up ground in his manipulations ever since. Not too successfully I might add."

"What do you mean? Albus put Harry with Petunia to protect him. He-"

"Wants you to believe that of course. Surely you are adult enough to realize anything the Headmaster does has at least two or three motives and a dozen plans behind it or are you too much a Gryffindor to see it. How that man was ever sorted into Gryffindor, I'll never know."

Remus was quiet. Part of him wanted to deny that the Headmaster would do any such thing. But the logical side of him demanded that he put his emotions to the side and examine this new thought. It was hard, he respected the Headmaster and he was grateful that the man had allowed him to attend Hogwarts. But there had been times when Albus had used that gratitude to get him to agree to things against his wishes, like remaining out of contact with Harry, and there was the matter of James' will...

"Come in. Have a seat. Yes, Harry is a conundrum. He is very like Lily. Very, very intelligent. I made mistakes with him last year, I mistook his physical likeness to James and his attitude as him being like James. My mistake...Don't mistake Harry's tolerance in interaction for forgiveness, from what I've seen he neither easily trusts nor forgives. He has not, and part of me suspects, he never will forgive me for last year."

"Why? What would make him that way?"

"I don't know. I know that Petunia has no love for magic or things that are magical. I know that Harry was not physically abused, I've checked Poppy's records to verify that. But I very much doubt he was raised with much love or acceptance. He's a very hard worker. I suspect he has always had to earn his way as it were. Some of what was in the paper last summer makes me sure of it. I know from his interactions with other students when threatened the boy can fight. He fights very well, if he knows or suspects he is outclassed magically he takes the fight physical and he is formidable, largely because there is a ruthlessness to him when he fights. Mad-eye Moody would like his fighting style. Also there is a …part of him... "

"Yes?"

"Tell me Remus, were you ever on the receiving end of one of Lily's pranks?"

Remus remembered the one time he had provoked Lily into pranking him. Her retaliatory prank had left him quite certain he never ever wanted to arouse her ire ever, ever again. Her prank had been borderline cruel but it also had the effect of making him think. James and Sirius had never been introspective enough to get the lesson but that hadn't stopped Remus from getting it. "Yes," he said hoarsely.

"Now imagine such a prank pulled on all of Hogwarts."

Remus winced.

"Exactly. There was no proof he was behind it. He's merely the most likely candidate. At the closing feast last year, everyone's biggest fear about themselves was put on display for the whole world to read.

"He is a suspect because last year he was being pranked unmercifully by the Weasley twins. Two, sometimes even three times a day they were getting him. In retrospect I suppose we teachers should have stepped in, but we didn't. I suppose... we all ignored his needs because he didn't...he wasn't what we expected. Stupid of us to think we would know him, that he would be precisely what we all imagined he would be, stupid of us to believe the fiction created about him and sold to a hungry public.

"It was harmless stuff, the pranks, embarrassing but harmless. Stuff that Harry seemingly ignored until he got sick of it. Then one day the Weasley twins found themselves singing "Ten Green Bottles" every waking moment that they weren't eating for three days straight. We couldn't figure out how to dispel it and silencing spells on them didn't work. He sent them a note signed Son of Prongs. If it weren't for that, no one would have known who it was that got the twins. They have left him alone since then, something about having been threatened with something even worse. It was impressive, let me tell you.

"Albus has always had plans for Harry Potter ever since...but with Harry, this Harry not the one he hoped to create, he is going to have to change his ways or he'll get nowhere. Sometimes I think the old man has lost his edge, old age is succeeding where Dark Lords and political maneuvering hasn't. Last year he brought what we all thought was a philosopher's stone here. He claimed Nicholas Flamel wanted him to protect it for him. He confided in me that he thought the Dark Lord was after it. Anyway he had us create protections for the stone. He actually had each of us come up with several for him to choose from. Imagine our surprise when he didn't pick the strongest we came up with. Harry accused the Headmaster of designing it as a test for him. On reflection he was probably correct. Anyway he figured it out and despite Quirrell's substandard teaching, he successfully retrieved the stone when Quirrell forced him to by threatening Longbottom. What Harry somehow knew that the rest of us didn't, was the stone wasn't genuine. He used it to maneuver Quirrell, who apparently was being possessed by the Dark Lord, into freeing himself and Longbottom. They escaped and reported to us teachers. We reacted...poorly. Instead of commending the boys for their cleverness and resourcefulness we took points, two hundred of them each, for their risking themselves and their plain speaking about the whole misbegotten situation.

"Not one of my finer moments I assure you. It doesn't help that I have a hard time looking at him and not seeing James. Harry carries himself with an assurance that can easily be mistaken for James' arrogance, I sometimes forget and react to Harry as I would to James. It was only through a summer's reflection that I came to realize my...error. I've tried to do better, but this Harry is neither naïve nor trusting and I have yet to figure out what coin will buy his forgiveness. I would hope that Albus would also understand this, but he's so set in his ways, so sure he's the only one who can guide the wizarding world. He seems to see people Harry's age and he forgets that they have minds of their own and just because he sees things a certain way doesn't mean that they will see it the same way. I think my biggest fear right now is that he won't give up his manipulations and by continuing to try he'll turn Harry dark.

"Harry's not you know. He has the capacity for darkness, but he's not there yet. His relationships with the other students, especially Longbottom, is what allows me to hope. He will never be the shining hero Albus was hoping and manipulating for, but I believe he still could be the hero the wizarding world requires. I just hope Albus sees that before it's too late."

"I see. And Minerva, she doesn't seem to like Harry very much. Considering when he was a baby she treated him like a grandson..."

"I think Minerva doesn't ...isn't very comfortable with the person Harry is, and when she sees him as he is now she's reminded of her own failures. Last year she was merely uncomfortable but last summer's custody case has pushed her into active dislike."

"Last summer wasn't Harry's fault."

"Not directly perhaps. Don't make the mistake of underestimating the boy. There is a reason he is in my House. He definitely isn't the most ambitious member of my house, but he is certainly one of the craftiest and one of the most powerful if not the most powerful. He is my top second year for a reason, make no mistake. Lockhart made the mistake of underestimating him and now he's in Azkaban. Quirrell made that mistake and he's dead.

"Remus if you intend to pursue the relationship of a fond uncle with Harry, don't make the mistake of pushing him into doing things before he's ready and never ever be anything less than honest with him. My prefect who acts as Potter's mentor has passed that tidbit of advice to me after I asked. It's a bit late for me, but maybe it will be of use to you. Now that I have said all I will on the subject of Potter, I suggest you return to your den. I do not require the company of a wolf like yourself."

"Thank you, Severus." Remus headed back to his quarters contemplating everything he had just been told.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Three weeks later as DADA class for the second years came to an end, Remus gathered his Gryffindor courage and voiced the desire of his heart. "Mr. Potter, I would like to have a word if I may."

"Professor?"

"Don't worry you're not in trouble."

"Is this regarding the basilisk, sir?"

"No, this is about you and your parents."

Harry couldn't help it; he tensed. For weeks now he'd had a raging internal debate on speaking to Remus Lupin. Now it appeared that choice was being taken from him. Served him right for not making a decision. Harry sucked up his irrational desire to flee and stuffed it down. "Fine."

"You know you look amazingly like James, except you have Lily's eyes."

"So I've heard. "

"Okay, this is amazingly difficult."

Harry felt irritated, first the man ignored his existence then he expect Harry to carry the burden of conversation. "So, what shall we talk about: the state of things in the Wizengamot, or would you rather explain to me why if you were such a great friend of my father's this is the first time I've spoken with you since they died? Tell me Professor Lupin, do you have to be paid to be a part of my life?"

"Ouch, but I guess I deserved that. No Harry, I would like to be a part of your life."

"Why? You've ignored my existence this long. What has changed ? I think I'm still the same person I was a year ago. Heck,I think I'm still the same person I was when you first came to work here after Christmas. Given that we are approaching the Easter hols, I ask again: what has changed that you now are suddenly interested in knowing me?"

"I've always wanted to know you. I just ..." Remus tried to see it from Harry's perspective. It looked really bad . Was there anything he could say that could possibly make this situation better? "I think discussing the Wizengamot would be easier," he muttered. He cast a spell to close the classroom door and to silence and lock it. "Bloody hell, shag it all," he burst out, "I'm a werewolf. I regarded Sirius, your father and Peter as my pack. That night I lost my pack. I was devastated. In my angst I turned to someone that I trusted and he advised it would be better not to be in contact with you, that I should just leave it to your aunt to raise you. That it would be less confusing for you that way. I believed him."

"Let me guess, Albus Dumbledore was who you talked to."

"Yes." Remus was surprised.

"Figures, I hate that man. I hate him as much as I hate Voldemort." Mentally he added to himself 'and from where I sit there isn't much difference.' Harry wanted to relieve his fury through shouting or pacing, but to do so would give too much away to someone who was in Dumbledore's camp.

Remus was shocked by Harry's declaration. To his knowledge no one who was light would express such an opinion. That Harry placed both men in the same category was far from reassuring as to what had happened to Bambi while he was growing up. He continued, " As a werewolf I am not well accepted by magical society as a whole, in fact most magical society regards me as a pariah. Sometimes I look at myself that way too."

"So despite the fact that my parents found you acceptable company, you paint me with the same bigoted brush as the rest of the wizarding world . Thank you so much for your lofty opinion of me! I see how much you value a relationship with me. Was it really too hard to send a Christmas card or a letter?"

Remus winced at the sarcasm that dripped from Harry's voice. "Sirius and I have really messed up where you're concerned haven't we?"

"Well, at least you don't seem to hold my house against me."

Remus winced again. Part of him wanted to reach out and hug the upset pre-teen. It was what his wolf wanted him to do, but he was more aware than ever that this was not the same boy as he had dandled on his knees all those years ago. "I'm sorry. I realize those words probably are completely inadequate but they are the only ones I have. I will do better. I promise. I would have spoken to you before, but it has taken me this long to work up the courage, so much for my supposed Gryffindor bravery."

"Bravery is overrated. I'd choose survival over it every time."

It wasn't much of an opening from Remus' perspective but beggars couldn't be choosers and he sensed it was the only one he'd get. "Know a lot about survival?"

"A fair amount, my sensei has taught me quite a bit."

"Sensei?"

"Yes, sorry, sensei means teacher. It is a term of respect. Sensei taught me how to defend myself physically, he taught me about astronomy, code breaking, strategy and survival skills. Most importantly he taught me that I don't necessarily have to be what Aunt Petunia wants me to be, that I can choose my own path."

To Remus that last statement made clear the source of the acrimony between the Headmaster and Harry. Since his conversation with Severus, Remus had found himself analyzing the Headmaster over the years, and it had become obvious that the man had a manipulative streak. There were too many instances where he had guilt tripped, or told an incomplete truth so that he could get his own way. Remus couldn't classify those actions as dark, after all, they were generally for the public good, and it wasn't like Albus was forcing other people to do his will. But obviously despite all his years and wisdom, Albus didn't know everything and his machinations had turned Harry away from him.

"He sounds like a very wise person. I'm glad he is there for you. I hope in time I can earn your respect. I'm sorry I failed you so badly. Is there something I can do to make it up to you?"

Harry heard that and decided he would give the man a chance, he wouldn't trust him but maybe the older man could serve as a means of spying on the Headmaster. But if he were to do that, he'd have to be very careful. Especially if he eventually wanted the man's loyalty to him to be greater than that to Dumbledore. As far as the man being a werewolf that didn't bother Harry. He didn't know enough to be bothered; just that werewolves were brought out by the full moon and that meant the man before him was only dangerous in the sense of being a werewolf once a month. He resolved to look it up as soon as possible. "Maybe." He said. "Did my solicitors finally get you the bequest my parents left you?"

"Yes, it took me by surprise."

"I imagine it did. I was very unhappy when I returned to the magical world and discovered their last wishes hadn't been carried out. Professor Lupin, if we're going to make this work, I want it understood that praise of Headmaster Dumbledore is abhorrent to me. That man did things to me that hurt me and he left me feeling like I was the one to blame. I was a child and making a child feel the way I did is wrong. You can respect him, even though I don't, but don't ever praise him around me. Are we clear on that?"

"I suppose." Remus was left wondering what the heck Albus had done to Harry, that he so adamantly despised the Headmaster.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cassandra was perplexed. Most all the dossiers she had been asked to compile were proving to be straightforward, if you knew where to look and were willing to be patient and methodical but two were proving to be less so. One she had expected, that of Albus Dumbledore, the other was for Tom Marvolo Riddle. The man was easily traced right up until he vanished off the records around nineteen forty-eight. His file gave her the heebee-jeebees.

She glanced at the clock. She was supposed to have tea with Bathilda Bagshot in an hour. The ancient witch had been a neighbor to Albus Dumbledore as a child. Hopefully she would have some tales of Dumbledore as a child that would give Cassandra new lines of inquiry.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry frowned at his opponent across the chess board, as he said , "Checkmate."

Ron grimaced and said, "Sorry, my attention is elsewhere."

"On your sister perhaps?"

"Yeah."

"What's going on?"

"Well the healers are sure it is possession but they can't figure out how. Ginny's gonna have to stay in the secure ward at St. Mungo's until they figure it out. Dunno how Mum and Dad will afford that and school for us all next year."

"Hmm."

"Most of Gryffindor is... well, they aren't exactly feeling very understanding towards me and my brothers right now. Despite being a prefect Percy might as well not exist, and if Fred and George weren't on the quidditch team no one would be talking to them either.

"I don't know why I'm talking to you. You're in Slytherin and probably don't even care."

Ron Weasley's dejected tone touched a cord in Harry. He knew that all alone feeling very well. He had felt it most of last year. "I get what you're feeling. After last year, I empathize with the whole shunning business for something you can't help a bit too well."

Ron Weasley blushed as he realized that he had been one of the people shunning the boy across from him. Harry Potter was definitely not your average snake. He didn't hold his fame over anyone's head the way Draco Malfoy tried to hold his father's wealth and connections over everyone's heads. He worked as hard as most Hufflepuffs, and was as smart or smarter than most Ravenclaws. In fact it was disturbingly easy for the young lion to look across the table and just see a normal boy.

"Is Neville okay with you?"

"Yeah, actually he's one of the few who treats me decent. Why, after I was such a git to him last year, I dunno."

"Neville isn't one to harass another."

"Yeah, but...I was stupid. I gave him a hard time last year for doing the same thing we're doing right now. I gave him a hard time for talking to you. I guess it goes to show how wrong you can be when you judge other people without getting to know them."

"It does tend to limit your options."

"I guess it does. Thanks for listening anyway." Ron half smiled when the other boy answered him with a shrug.

That evening as Harry returned to the dorm from the library he turned everything he knew about the whole Weasley situation over in his mind. Possession via unknown means, the way Ron and his brothers were being treated, suddenly Luna's words came back to him. "Ginny isn't herself her only friend is that diary." Harry had a sudden sense of a-ha.

He needed to write a note. If he went to the teachers with this it would be brushed aside, but if he wrote an anomymous note and sent it to her healer...He opened the door to his room and was disgusted. Draco's crap was all over the room, again. He kicked what was on the floor on his side into a pile and he added the other things lying around his side of the room. He pulled the robe that Draco had draped across his desk off and thought of just discarding it to the floor. Just then Draco came in.

"What are you doing with my robe. Potter?"

"Moving it."

"How dare you?"

"Easily. it was on my desk. How many times do I have to tell you Malfoy keep your crap picked up?"

"What gives you the right to touch any of my things?"

That was it. Harry was fed up with the ferret faced twit. "Don't want me to touch your stuff then fine, I told you when you moved in here to keep your crap tidy. You haven't. This," He shook the robe in his hand. "was on MY desk. MY workspace! Which means obviously you have too much stuff. So how about I help you with that." Harry dropped the robe he was holding atop the large pile of mixed things that sat on the floor on his side of the room and pulling his wand said calmly, "Incendio."

Draco's shriek of "POTTER!" through the open door brought the prefects running.

Harry had cast the fire spell with a large, very hot, and almost smokeless blaze. By the time the prefects reached their room there was nothing of Draco's belongings to salvage.

Draco looked torn between fury and wanting to cry over the loss of his belongings. The fifth year prefect burst into the room. "What in the name of Merlin is going on in here?"

"I was just helping Malfoy get rid of a few things, is all. He has so much that he hasn't got room to keep it all tidy and on his side of the room." Harry smiled benignly at the older boy. The last bit of flame died in the pile of ash that had once been Malfoy's things.

The prefect looked around the room: Draco's side was messy, Harry's was neat as a pin. The pile of ash was on Harry's side.

"Next time Potter, use the fireplace in the common room, no incendio's in the dorm rooms."

"That's it that's all you're going to say? He destroyed my stuff!"

"No. Malfoy, clean this room up. You're setting a bad example."

Harry calmly said, "Evanesco." The ash vanished. "There, much better. I'll keep what you said in mind, Prefect Hollister."

Draco, still not allowed to carry a wand, burst into tears at this perceived unfairness. "You destroyed my favorite robe."

"Yes, well it should have been hanging in your wardrobe, not lying on my desk. I have been patient all term with you, Malfoy, but no more."

"My father will-"

Harry pushed the door to their room closed behind the departing prefect because he knew it had been silenced by Snape himself. The moment it latched, Harry exploded into action. He shoved Draco against the wall next to the door. "I don't give a rat's ass about your daddy, Malfoy. You go around talking big, but you haven't got what it takes to back it up. You are too bigoted to ask for the help you so obviously need; just because you would have to admit that muggles are as valid a life form as your own. You spout how the Malfoy motto is we bow to no one, yet both your father and grandfather bowed down to Voldemort. You brag about how you're so much better than everyone else but you're seated what fifth, or is it sixth in the class? It must really grate to be behind both me, a halfblood, and Granger, a muggleborn. All term you've been nothing but a pain in my arse, first, your slovenly habits, second, your nightmares because you won't suck it up and deal with what happened to you with Lockhart.. I despise you. You're a weak, whiney, spoiled, selfish brat who can't see reality. You have more in common with the Gryffindors than with Slytherin because you spout off and couldn't plan anything to save your life. You cunning? My ass.

"Your stated goal is to be just like your father. Your father, who had to bribe his way out of prison following the last war. Your father, who is clearly a bigot. Well congratulations, Malfoy, I think you're doing fine on your ambition to be like your old man. But if you talked to people on Diagon Alley would they say your father is a fabulous person? Or would they call him a dark, smarmy, pompous, bigot with delusions of grandeur? Because looking at you, I know which I would say you and he both are. Stay in your side of the room and shut up. If I have to deal with you again tonight, I will probably make you wish you were dead. Got it?"

Draco was smart enough to realize his roommate meant every word. So he nodded fearfully and -upon being released- shuffled quickly to retrieve his bath things and pajamas. Deciding that going to bed despite his nightmares would be safer that staying up and irritating his rather touchy roommate.

Harry sat down at his desk, pulled out a parchment and started writing.