Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Associates belong to J K Rowling.

Chapter 36: The Twisted Timeline

February 2nd 1994

Ignoring Hermione's horrified gasp, Remus continued. "I don't think he was very pleased by your performance when he was after the Philosopher's Stone."

"And if you don't comply?"

"Then I'll be the very special guest at my family's deaths," Remus told him.

"Then it looks as if I'll be supplying the Vivificus potion for you," Severus responded. He then turned to his wife. "How do you feel about a grumpy, furry husband once a month?"

"You can't do it, Severus."

"Virginie's right, Severus." Remus was adamant. "I'll refuse to do it. I'll send my family away first."

"You can't do that. As the children are registered to attend Hogwarts, you have little choice except to let them continue attending, and you know that you can't guarantee their safety here now that the Dark Lord's back." Severus moved to the cabinet to pour himself a drink, his hand shaking slightly.

The Ministry liked to keep tabs on the families of werewolves, and forcing their children to attend a specified school was one way of achieving this. All of Remus' children were therefore registered at Hogwarts.

"Severus, you can't expect me to bite you." Remus was appalled at the thought of forcing someone into the same life he had to lead. "I'd rather send my family away and face the consequences."

"You can and you will." Severus turned and passed large glasses of wine to both Virginie and Remus. Seeing Hermione's pale face, he also poured out a small amount for her. "Tell me, would you do it for my family?"

Remus knew he was defeated as he admitted, "You know I would."

Hermione took the glass of wine from her father but said nothing as she sat listening to the conversation.

"Then I will do the same for you." Severus sat down. "Besides, we need someone on the inside now that he's back, and you can't do that if you're locked up in Azkaban for failing to follow the rules. I'm sorry, Remus, but this is bigger than all of us, even our families."

Remus knew Severus was right but he was aware of how frightened Severus was of werewolves and what it meant for him to offer to do this. "We've still got a while. I can't do it if Pettigrew can't be found."

"How long have you got?" Severus wondered how much of a reprieve he had before Remus would need to carry out his mission.

"I need to find Pettigrew and turn you before the end of the school year," Remus told him. "There's something else. Pettigrew didn't voluntarily give the Potters up to the Dark Lord. I don't know how he did it, but the Dark Lord took great pleasure in the fact that it's his fault that Pettigrew is being hunted for something he didn't do."

"So Pettigrew is innocent?" Hermione felt as if her entire world had been tipped upside down within the space of a few minutes.

Remus nodded curtly. "Apparently so. Unfortunately that doesn't make any difference to the Dark Lord. He's ordered me to kill him and deliver his body to the Ministry."

"You're not really going to kill Pettigrew though, are you?" Hermione was dismayed that an innocent man would have to go to his death in order for Remus to complete his mission.

Remus' response didn't exactly answer her question. "I need to track him down before I can do anything."

Hermione guessed then that Remus would do whatever was necessary to protect his family, including killing someone who didn't deserve it, and a cold chill went down her spine. "Why is he so important, and why can't you carry out your assignment until he's found?"

"Pettigrew contacted me in the Shrieking Shack on the first night of school and I told Albus, who promptly removed me from there in order for us to avoid meeting again. I need to return to the Shack in order to be able to attack Severus. And I can't return to the Shack until Pettigrew is found." Remus didn't want to kill Pettigrew but he knew that he had little choice. "I don't want to have to kill him but I will if I have to. The Dark Lord also considers him unfinished business that he wants disposed of."

Hermione understood Remus' dilemma. She thought about her own family and what she would do if she had to protect them. "I understand, Professor."

Remus let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. "Thank you, Hermione."

Severus thought he might have the answer to Remus' dilemma. "I have an alternative to killing Pettigrew. I can brew a variant on the polyjuice potion, which will leave someone looking like Pettigrew even after their death, but first we're going to have to find someone who deserves to die in his place."

Remus looked grim as he said, "I'm sure I can find someone."

Hermione wondered who was going to end up taking the hapless Pettigrew's place. "Will you kill a Death Eater instead?"

"I have a few options I can explore." Remus knew that Dae could help him if necessary; he could easily access a prisoner from Azkaban if it came down to it. No-one would miss an insane Death Eater. Struggling to his feet, Remus checked the time. "I need to get back to Harry. I left him alone when I was summoned. I feel bad leaving him, especially after he had another…" Remus' voice trailed off as he realized something.

"He had another what?" Severus prompted Remus to finish his sentence.

"Harry had another nightmare not long before I was called. I told him it was just a bad dream as this time he said it felt different from his usual nightmares. I'm wondering if maybe I was wrong." Remus yawned. "I'll ask him to put the memory into a pensieve for me in the morning. I'm going to keep him away from classes as Filius suggested."

"Would you like me to cover your classes tomorrow?" Severus offered. "You can spend some time with him then."

Remus felt relieved that he would not have to try and make it down to classes. He had forgotten how vicious Amicus could be. "I'd appreciate it."

Severus noticed Remus was having difficulty staying upright. "I'll walk you back to your rooms."

"I want to come as well." Hermione wanted to be close to her father after the evening's events. She also wanted to have the opportunity to speak to him alone on their way back.

Virginie jumped in before he could refuse. "Let me transfigure your nightgown into something more suitable first."

Hermione smiled gratefully at her mother. "Thank you, Mama."

The three of them then slowly made their way to Remus' rooms, Severus supporting Remus. On opening the door, they found Harry waiting for Remus.

Harry was horror-struck at the stains that marred Remus' clothing. "Dad, you're covered in blood!"

Remus cursed himself for not cleaning it off before returning. "A little accident."

"What happened?" Harry knew that Remus had to have been attacked, but he was unable to understand who would do such a thing in the school.

Remus brushed off Harry's concerns. "It's nothing to worry about right now."

Severus decided to ask Harry about the nightmare Remus had mentioned straight away instead of waiting until the morning. "Harry, can you provide us with a copy of the last nightmare you had?"

"But Dad said it was just a dream."

"We're now not so sure," Severus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "If you're not too tired, we'd like you to do this now as it might be important."

Harry nodded. He was happier with the dulled versions of his nightmares anyway. "Shall I get the pensieve?"

"Please." Remus sat down and winced. He knew that he would feel worse tomorrow, if that was possible.

Hermione was interested to see if this pensieve was the same as her father's, and she watched attentively as Harry returned carefully carrying the pensieve that Filius had left in Remus' room. Harry set down the pensieve on the table and, thinking about the nightmare he had had, he pulled the memory out and placed it in the pensieve. Hermione gaped at the silvery stream that was being deposited in the bowl. Although she had seen Severus' pensieve, she had never seen anyone extract their memories before.

Remus stood wearily up and moved towards the pensieve with Severus. Harry stopped the two men. "Can I see?"

Remus shrugged, too exhausted to argue. "It's your memory."

Harry stepped forward and grabbed Hermione's hand. Together the four of them touched the liquid. Harry and Hermione had never been inside a pensieve before and they were fascinated by the three dimensional scenery. Harry remarked on it. "It reminds me of my visions."

"The only difference is that you can pause this," Severus informed him as the scene began to play out.

Harry turned away, as did Hermione, when one of the masked Death Eaters raised a knife and slashed the throat of the girl who was tied down to the stone slab. The same Death Eater then made a few further incisions before passing the girl's heart to another masked Death Eater, urging him to hurry. "Quickly, Amicus, we don't have much time."

"Don't presume to tell me what to do, Lamia," Amicus snapped back.

"You can look now." Severus told the two children, after pulling Hermione's hands away from her ears.

Hermione turned back to see the girl being dragged off the slab. Then the memory stopped and went fuzzy. "What happened?"

"I woke Harry up," Remus informed her. He turned to Severus. "Let's go back slightly."

Harry felt a little disorientated as the memory moved backwards. Harry walked closer to the Death Eaters who were now frozen in mid-action, although he avoided looking at the dead girl.

"What are they doing?" Harry asked.

"Resurrecting the Dark Lord," Remus told him.

Harry's legs suddenly felt wobbly. "He's back?"

Remus confirmed Harry's worst fears. "I'm afraid so."

Harry sat down. "He did this to you, didn't he?"

"No, someone else did."

Having seen Remus flinch at the sight of the man closest to the cauldron, Harry figured it out and pointed at Amicus. "It was Him, wasn't it?"

Remus nodded as Hermione walked up to the individual who had inflicted Remus' wounds upon him. "Exactly who is this man?" Hermione knew that he was Voldemort's most faithful servant from what her father had said but she didn't know who he really was.

"No-one knows his real identity but as you've just heard, his given name is Amicus," Severus spoke authoritatively.

"Isn't Amicus Latin for friend?" Harry got up and walked closer to the male Death Eater trying to figure out who he could be.

"Five points to Ravenclaw," Severus drawled and filled Harry in on what position Amicus held, as he hadn't been there during the earlier discussion. "From what little I know, I can safely surmise that Amicus here is the Dark Lord's confidante and a Lieutenant, and Lamia is also undoubtedly one of his Lieutenants. Their masks identify them as such."

Harry asked, "So the mask defines what rank you hold?" He noted the man's mask was more ornate than the woman's.

Remus confirmed Harry's guess. "It does."

Severus didn't think before asking Remus a question of his own. "So your mask would have an embossed snake on it then?"

Shocked, Harry swung around on his father. "You're one of his Lieutenants?"

Severus winced. He had no idea that Remus hadn't told Harry. "He is."

Remus sighed and suggested they all withdraw from the pensieve to talk. "Remember when I said that I'd been placed in a position where I could get access to Dae's cell after he was caught?"

"Dae, as in Felidae?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded in confirmation, and a dismayed Hermione put a shocked hand to her mouth. "He was caught by You-Know-Who?"

Harry answered her question. "He was a Death Eater, Hermione, not a prisoner. He betrayed You-Know-Who."

Hermione sat down by Harry's feet, feeling comforted to have him close to her. "I didn't think the evening could get much worse after I found out about Professor Lupin and Papa."

Remus turned to her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you stay."

"I'm glad you did. I'd rather know." Hermione hated the idea of not knowing what was going on. "How did Dae betray You-Know-Who?"

"He got caught helping Muggle prisoners to escape," Harry informed his friend as he sat down by her, his legs still feeling shaky. "I'm just lucky Dad didn't get caught as well as he was helping him." Harry turned a betrayed face u[ to Remus. "I still can't believe you became a Lieutenant, especially after everything you've told me."

Remus knelt down before Harry. "I didn't wish to, Harry. I was elevated into the position in order to provide the Dark Lord with a bodyguard after there had been several attacks on him. As a werewolf I'm better able to deal with spell damage than others, and my hearing and eyesight made me invaluable."

"But why didn't you just let people attack him?" Harry ignored the frozen montage behind him and turned his full focus on Remus.

"Because I've sworn to defend him with my life," Remus admitted.

"So really you're just like them?" Hiding his fear for his father in a display of abhorrence for what Remus had become, Harry sounded disgusted as he waved his hand towards the unmoving Death Eaters. "He calls and you go running."

Remus felt his heart sink at Harry's words. Wanting to hide his hurt, Remus pulled his mask out from beneath his cloak and put it on. "Exactly." Remus' voice sounded gruff as he tried to hold back his tears at Harry's obvious loathing for him.

Feeling more than a little scared by Remus' appearance, Hermione got up from the ground and shrank back against Harry, who slid an arm around her. Harry too was also a little uncomfortable with the change in Remus' voice and demeanor. He would never have recognized him if he had not already known who he was. All he could see were Remus' eyes staring back out at him from behind the mask.

"So how do you become a Lieutenant?" Harry almost barked out the question.

Remus felt too choked up to answer and Severus, quickly guessing what was wrong, answered instead. "Your father replaced Dae when he betrayed the Dark Lord."

Hermione said nothing about Dae. She was still reeling in shock about the fact that not only had her father almost become a Death Eater but that Professor Lupin had been one of You-Know-Who's highest ranking Death Eaters. Finding out that Dae had also held that position was a little too much for her.

Harry felt Hermione sag slightly against him and he squeezed her waist to try and comfort her before returning to the subject of Amicus. "So Amicus is the highest ranking Lieutenant. With Dad and Lamia that makes three Lieutenants." He ignored his Dad and turned to Severus. "Aren't there supposed to be four?"

Severus looked at Remus who just shrugged. "As far as I know there are actually seven. Four make up his personal entourage, of which your dad is a part; two rank somewhat higher, and finally, as far as I can work out, there's Amicus, who is at the top of the pile."

Harry was quiet as he absorbed the information. He then turned to Remus, his tone hard and unforgiving. "Can you please take that off? I think you've proved your point about what you are."

By now Remus had regained some control over his emotions, and he removed the mask. "If you ever come across any Death Eater who wears a silver mask like this one, don't attempt to fight them. Just get away if you can." Remus had tried to keep his voice steady to hide his response to Harry's harsh words, but grimaced as he realized how distant and cold he sounded when addressing Harry.

"What makes you think I'm going to come across them?" Harry asked incredulously. "It's not as if I'm going to go and look for them."

Remus' words shocked Harry. "I think you're the Boy Who Lived, not Jamie."

Harry could scarcely believe what he was hearing. "But why?"

"This nightmare, for one. I think somehow you're connected to the Dark Lord." Remus could see no other reason for Harry to have had the nightmare. "Unless you're the Boy Who Lived, I don't see how you could have seen the start of his resurrection."

"I half wish I'd stayed out of the pensieve."

Hermione put her arm around him.

Severus disagreed. "I think that it's best you know what you're up against." He left Harry sitting down. "It's a pity I can't just remove their masks in the pensieve."

"You couldn't even if they were standing in front of you. Only the Dark Lord or the wearer can do so," Remus informed him. "It's insurance against our identities being revealed."

Hermione looked up. "Why hide your identities anyway?"

"What's more frightening than not knowing who's behind a mask. You could be facing your neighbor, your friend, or your brother. You would never know if the person you spilled your deepest secrets to was also your own worst nightmare." Remus knew that Voldemort wanted to keep his men on edge and most of the time it had worked.

Harry wrinkled his forehead. "But why those names?"

"I think the Dark Lord wanted to distinguish each of his favored by giving them a name that had some meaning to their position," Severus conjectured.

Remus hated his own bestowed name. "You're correct. In my case, however, I believe my name was meant to be denigrating rather than complimentary. Lamia's name whilst sounding demeaning isn't. What you don't know is that Lamia and the Dark Lord were once rumored to have been lovers."

Both Hermione and Harry shuddered, with Harry giving a disgusted little "ugh" before asking another question. "What are you called?"

Remus pulled a face. "Praeses."

"So what does Praeses and Lamia mean?" Harry addressed himself to Severus.

Hermione answered him instead. "Guard and witch, I think."

Remus copied Severus' earlier award. "Five points to Slytherin. Lamia also means vampire, but to be honest I can't see the Dark Lord sleeping with one."

Hermione wondered who the woman could be. "Do you know who she really is?"

Remus shook his head. "Nobody does as far as I know. Amicus might but he's hardly going to tell me."

Harry's yawn interrupted them.

Severus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I think it's time you returned to bed. Take Hermione with you. I'm going to stay here for a while." He looked at Remus. "You should try and get some sleep as well."

Remus bid him goodnight. Walking to his cabinet, he pulled out two small tubes of Dreamless Sleep potion, something he often took after his transformations to try to sleep. "I want you both to take this."

Harry didn't need telling twice. After what he had just learnt, he just wanted to escape from reality for a time. Lying down on Remus' bed, he swallowed the contents of the tube and quickly slipped into a deep sleep. Hermione felt a little uncomfortable sitting next to Harry with a Death Eater standing over her.

"I won't hurt you, Hermione." Remus knew what was troubling her. "You can trust me."

"How can I trust you when you didn't tell Harry about what you were?" Hermione held the vial in her hand.

"I didn't intentionally avoid telling him. It just got missed out of the discussion when we talked about my being a Death Eater." Remus knew how pathetic his excuse sounded.

Hermione snorted, despite her fear of her professor. "I don't believe you."

Remus sighed and sat down. "You're right. I didn't tell Harry because I was afraid of his reaction to me. We'd only just made up when he learnt the truth. I couldn't bear for him to turn away from me again, so when he didn't ask about how I'd gained access to Dae's cell, I was glad and let it go."

Hermione slid up the bed a little. "But why did you put on your mask? I think it just made Harry feel worse."

"I was hurt at how Harry reacted. I couldn't bear for him to see me so I hid behind the mask," Remus admitted.

"Do you have any idea of how frightening you look when you put that thing on?" Hermione shuddered as she remembered how he had looked.

"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to frighten you or Harry." Remus tentatively placed his hand on top of Hermione's.

Hermione forced herself to keep her hand still, even though all of her instincts were screaming at her to pull away. "What would happen if you came face to face with Harry when you were in your position as a Death Eater? Would you defend You-Know-Who or would you defend your son?"

Remus smiled bitterly. "My oath would mean that I would have to defend the Dark Lord, but I'd die before I let anything happen to Harry."

Hermione gave Remus no quarter. "So if you disobey your oath to defend the Dark Lord, it would kill you?"

"It would, and I'd choose to do it every time if it came down to him or Harry," Remus declared.

"What about someone else?" Hermione knew that once Voldemort's re-emergence became public knowledge, Aurors would be called upon and would probably have to face the Dark Lord and his guards.

Remus knew Hermione was going to be unhappy with his response. "Then I'll do whatever is necessary to maintain my cover. You heard Severus earlier. This is bigger than the both of us."

"Would you kill me?" Hermione got to the crux of what was bothering her.

"No. It would destroy Harry and your parents, I couldn't do that to them," Remus reassured her. "Anyway, I think Harry would kill me before he'd let me hurt you."

Hermione looked across to where Harry was sleeping. "Harry really cares about me that much?"

"I'm certain that he'd die for you." Remus was fairly sure of his assertion.

Hermione was shocked and pleased. "I'd do the same for him."

"You know I think you're both too young for a serious relationship, don't you?" Remus wanted to be clear on his opinion.

"Dae told me as much." Hermione looked Remus in the eye. "I do eventually want to get together with Harry in the future if he still feels the same about me. However, after talking to Dae at Christmas, I've realized that I also need to concentrate on my schoolwork and myself. It was really difficult to focus when I was worrying about what I should do about Harry and a possible relationship."

Remus could not help but feel a little relieved. "And if he doesn't feel the same in the future?"

Hermione wondered how the conversation had managed to deviate from the discussion about Remus being a Death Eater to one about her and Harry. "If he just wants to be my friend, then I'll settle for that."

Remus knew from experience that Hermione would want more despite her declaration, but didn't press the issue. "I think you should really get some sleep now." In response, Hermione looked apprehensively at the potion she was holding, making Remus frown. "Please take that."

"I'd rather not."

Remus understood. "Okay. You can sleep here next to Harry if it makes you feel better. I'm sure Severus won't mind."

Hermione thought that her dad would mind but said nothing and just passed the vial back to Remus. "Goodnight, Professor."

Remus started to pull the door shut behind Hermione, before hesitating and turning back. "I know that finding out about me was a bit of a shock but please talk to Harry. Tell him he's got permission to tell you everything. Oh, and tell him to go to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and walk back and forth three times in front of it. If he thinks of the room he needs to talk to you in, it'll appear. You're both excused from lessons tomorrow."

Hermione slid back down the bed until she was fully stretched out and, despite her fears about Remus, was soon sleeping soundly.

Remus walked into the sitting room and transfigured the sofa into a bed. He thought it would be some time before he managed to get any sleep. However, within a few minutes, exhaustion overtook worry and he too fell to sleep. He didn't even hear Severus leaving the room a few hours later.

Harry groaned as he woke up. He was surprised to see Hermione asleep next to him, until his memories of the previous night came rushing back. Before he could say anything, Remus put his head around the door and beckoned to Harry. Carefully sliding off the bed, Harry left the room and closed the door behind him.

Remus turned to face Harry. "I'm sorry for not telling you about my position. It was cowardly of me but I couldn't face losing you again. Instead I've made you fear me."

"I'm not frightened of you. I'm frightened for you. I hate the idea of what you've had to become," Harry confessed as he ran a hand through his hair, which had come undone from his hair tie, and was now flopping around his face. "Do you really have to defend him with your life?"

Remus decided to take a chance. "Harry, I'm not avoiding your question but I think you should talk to Hermione. I had a chat with her last night about this."

Harry smiled slightly at his dad. "I will."

Remus went to hug Harry, who backed off. "I just need a little time."

Remus understood and kept his distance. "I'll see if Hermione is awake." Hermione sat up just as Remus entered the room.

"So you're awake. Severus has said that Salty will bring you and Harry breakfast and whatever other meals you and Harry want. You can go to the room I told you about after you've both washed up. There's a set of clothing for you in the bathroom," Remus said in a soft, non-threatening tone since he was not quite sure how Hermione would be around him after the previous night's revelations.

"Thanks, Professor." Hermione darted into the bathroom, which Remus pointed out to her.

Remus could sense, as well as see, that despite their talk, Hermione was still rather nervous around him. He turned back to Harry. "Harry, answer anything Hermione wants to know about me. I'm going to sleep in this morning. Severus is taking my classes for me. I should be fine by lunch." Remus let out a sigh of relief as he lay down on the bed that Hermione had just vacated. While conjured beds were all well and good, they never seemed quite as comfortable as the real thing. "If you need me, don't hesitate to wake me up."

Harry thought his dad looked awful and had no intention of waking him up unless the sky was falling in on him. "Okay. I'll see you later."

Harry watched his dad fall asleep as he waited for Hermione. He had a feeling that Hermione wasn't going to feel quite so kindly towards his dad now that she knew he was a Death Eater. He had to be honest with himself though. He too had mixed emotions about what his dad had become but at the end of the day, he was still his dad and he loved him, despite his repugnance for what he had been told. Harry knew that he would return to see Remus at the end of the day as he needed to tell him exactly how he felt.

Twenty minutes later, the two children were standing outside of the tapestry Remus had told Hermione about.

"Are you sure about this, Hermione?" Harry felt really silly walking back and forth.

"Of course," Hermione snapped; she was still feeling a little fraught after everything she had learnt.

"Oh my!" Harry was surprised to see the door appear exactly as Hermione had told him it would. "I'm sorry. I just felt like an idiot doing that."

"Let's go in." Hermione couldn't wait to see what was behind the door. She was a little disappointed to find a table and four chairs. "It's not exactly anything special is it?"

Harry turned to her. "Well, I thought about wanting a room where I could sit down and talk to you so this is obviously it. We can sit down and we can talk."

Hermione shivered. The room was not particularly warm. "I wish this place had a comfortable sofa and a fireplace instead of the table and chairs."

Both children gasped as the room shimmered and a sofa replaced the table and chairs in front of a roaring fire. "What is this place?"

Salty's voice made the two of them jump. "Miss Hermione, this is the room of requirement. We calls it the come and go room. You needs something, it comes. You goes, it goes."

Hermione's face split into a huge grin. "So if I wanted hundreds of books, they'd appear?"

Salty nodded. "Yes."

Harry shook his head as rows and rows of books suddenly appeared. "Hermione!"

"But think of the possibilities, Harry." Hermione could hardly contain herself.

"Breakfast, Miss Hermione." Salty waved his hand and a table laden with a wide range of various foods appeared in front of the sofa. "Salty will be back later."

"Thanks, Salty." Harry's stomach rumbled at the sight of the food. "I didn't even realize I was this hungry."

The two children tucked in as the house-elf vanished. After they had finished, Salty reappeared and removed the remains of the breakfast.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Harry watched as Hermione pushed her hair nervously back from her face.

"Your dad. He said that you've got his permission to tell me everything." Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, making Harry want to hug her and tell her that it was all going to be all right.

Harry proceeded to fill her in on everything he knew.

"So they tortured Pettigrew?" Hermione felt unsettled now that she knew the small man was innocent.

Harry nodded. "That's nothing. You should have seen what our look-a-likes did to him."

Hermione shivered. "I'm not sure I want to."

Harry was not surprised that Hermione did not want to see what her counterpart was capable of. "You don't have to. Anyway, the pensieve is in Dad's room."

Hermione then surprised herself with her next comment. "I don't want to see, but I think I need to."

Both children jumped when, with a small pop, Salty appeared holding the pensieve in question, which he placed on the table before disappearing.

Harry looked at it. "I'm not quite sure exactly how this works." A book suddenly appeared on the table next to the pensieve.

Hermione picked it up. "'The Beginner's Guide to Pensieves' by M. Emerys." She opened it up and read through the passages. "I think I've got it. We can stop and start the memories and jump through them just by thinking about what we want to do."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry asked.

"I'm curious to see this other Hermione," Hermione admitted.

"I'm not sure you're exactly going to like her. We can watch some of the less gruesome ones first." Harry grabbed her hand as he spoke. "Let's touch the surface together."

Hermione watched as memory after memory played out. Eventually, she found herself standing in a room where she observed a bespectacled version Harry with somewhat shorter hair, and an older version of herself, torturing Pettigrew. She stopped the memory before it finished. "I've seen enough. How could she be so callous?"

"I don't know. I feel the same about him." Harry nodded towards his counterpart. "They were both upset afterwards but I don't think I could've done it in the first place. Would you like to see the other dreams I've had?"

"Are they all as bad as this?" She wasn't convinced she could stomach too much more in the way of torture scenes.

Harry pulled her out of the pensieve. "One isn't particularly pleasant but the others aren't too bad. I know Dad gave me dreamless sleep potion last night, but it didn't work. I ended up dreaming about the other Harry."

Hermione could tell that Harry needed to discuss what happened with someone. "So these memories you want to show me are your dreams from last night?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, but last night was more like fractured scenes rather than whole dreams."

"Let's do it then." Hermione watched as Harry used his wand to pull memory after memory out of his mind and placed them into the pensieve. The two of them then plunged back in.

Hermione found herself standing in a depressingly cavernous kitchen. People were arguing about whether Harry should be admitted to something called 'the Order of the Phoenix'. Hermione recognized Ginny and Ron Prewett, Sirius Black, and herself amongst others. She watched as the argument raged as a woman both Harry and Hermione presumed to be Molly Prewett argued against Harry's counterpart's admittance to the Order of the Phoenix. The memory suddenly stopped.

"What's the Order of the Phoenix?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "I've got absolutely no idea. I'm more interested in knowing why I'd be dreaming about Ron Prewett's mother. I have no idea what she even looks like so how can I dream about her?"

"I don't know." Hermione felt odd standing in the misty pensieve. "Do you have some more dreams we can see?"

The mist wavered and Hermione found herself standing in a sitting room watching a very different looking Nia Lupin berating a young Harry, who was in tears. Hermione listened as the woman screamed at the small boy telling him he should be grateful that she and Vernon had taken him in after her sister and her useless husband had died.

The memory ended and the mist wavered once more, and Hermione watched as a young Harry bought his wand from Mr. Ollivander.

The memory didn't last long and soon changed to one of a graveyard. To Hermione's left lay the body of a boy she recognized as Cedric Diggory. In front of her stood a short individual who Hermione recognized from Harry's earlier vision as Peter Pettigrew. Hermione watched in dismay as Pettigrew cut off his own hand and dropped it into a cauldron while reciting a verse.

Completely unsettled, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand as Pettigrew approached the other Harry, who was bound to a headstone, slicing open his arm and taking blood from it. The blood was poured into the cauldron, which bubbled and hissed, until eventually a snake-like human arose from the cauldron. When Pettigrew addressed the newly risen figure, Hermione gasped and stopped the replay. "Let's get out of here."

Hermione was shaking so Harry pulled her on to the sofa. "Do you want a blanket?"

Hermione nodded and felt better as the room supplied a soft down blanket, which she gratefully wrapped around herself. "That was horrible. Why would you dream about You-Know-Who rising like that?"

"I don't know. I just can't figure out though why I'm having these nightmares." Harry leant back against the sofa.

Hermione sat quietly for a few minutes as she weighed up what she had seen. "I don't think you're having nightmares, Harry. I think they're actually memories. I think this other Harry is essentially you."

Harry thought she was wrong. "How can that be? He's obviously older than me."

Hermione hoped Harry wouldn't laugh at her. "This is going to sound silly but I think he's traveled through time or from another universe."

"I don't see how." Harry had never heard of any such thing. "Time-turners only go back twenty-four hours, and I've never read of anything to do with dimensional travel."

"I don't know how either but I think we need to speak to Papa." Hermione had finally stopped shivering. "There was something else about the other Harry. Did you see the scar on his forehead?"

Harry nodded. "I just thought I'd dreamt it there. I mean it's exactly in the same place as where Jamie's scar is."

"The other Harry has the same wand as you." Hermione had spotted it in the first nightmare Harry had shown her. "Do you think that means anything?"

"I doubt it. I wasn't even sure if that dream was one of my nightmares. I mean I bought my wand from Mr. Ollivander the same as I did in my dream, the only difference is that in real life Dad was there when I got it."

"We definitely need to speak to someone about this." Hermione wanted her father but knew he would be busy covering Remus' and his own classes that day. Not being able to pursue her theory any further at that time, she changed the subject. "Harry, did your dad tell you about our talk last night?"

Harry nodded. "He said to ask you about his having to defend You-Know-Who."

"He said that he'd die to defend you instead of You-Know-Who if it came down to a choice." Hermione squeezed Harry's arm comfortingly. "He also said that he'd do the same for me." Hermione swallowed hard. "He told me that it would destroy you if I died."

Harry felt himself redden. "He's right. You mean more to me than any of my other friends."

"I feel the same about you as well." Hermione had hoped for more, and to cover her disappointment, she changed the subject once more. "I think I'm going to wish for some books. Do you want to do some reading?"

Harry realized that he had somehow hurt Hermione and took her hand. "Hermione, have I upset you?"

Hermione lied. "I'm just tired. It's been a bit of a stressful time."

Harry knew that she was not going to open up to him and wished for a book. "Let's do some reading then." In response, Hermione wished for books on the first war against Voldemort. However, after a few minutes of reading, Harry watched as Hermione's eyelashes began to flutter, and moments later she was sound asleep. Harry picked up the book on becoming an Animagus and settled down to read until lunch.

5th February 1994

Harry looked up as Professor Flitwick came into the room. "How did you know we were here?"

Filius smiled. "My parents told me."

Harry's unasked question as to Filius' parents' identity was answered when a middle-aged couple stepped into the room and the woman rushed over to Filius. "Leo, sweetheart."

Harry and Hermione both gawked as Filius shimmered and changed into a tall blonde haired man. "Hello, Mum."

Hermione nudged Harry. "He's the man who dealt with annulling my engagement to Dae."

"What, no hug for your favorite son?" Dae's voice came from behind the couple.

Peri swung round. "Hush now. You're both my favorite sons."

Harry and Hermione were both now feeling confused. Nicolas saw their confused looks and moved over to them. Holding out his hand he introduced himself. "You must be Harry. I'm Nicolas Flamel. You look a lot like Remus did when Leo revealed he was Professor Flitwick, he couldn't believe his eyes either."

Harry was glad he was not the only one who had been shocked at the discovery. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Flamel." Harry then pulled Hermione forward. "This is Hermione Snape."

"Ah yes, the young woman who was momentarily engaged to Dae." Nic shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you, my dear."

Hermione was almost speechless at meeting Nicolas Flamel and just about managed to spit out a hello.

"Please both call me Nic." Nicolas smiled at the children. "This lovely lady is my wife, Peri. And you've already met Leo and Dae."

Dae grinned at Harry and Hermione. "It's a little confusing isn't it?"

Harry nodded. "Can you explain please?"

Dae sat down. "Mum and Dad adopted both me and Leo after we became disillusioned with our own families."

"But why is Leo pretending to be Professor Flitwick?" Harry asked.

Leo looked at his Dad who nodded. "In the Ministry I'm part of an undercover team that's trying to bring Dumbledore to justice for crimes we believe he committed during the Muggle Second World War. Unfortunately we don't have any solid proof yet but we're working on it."

"Where's the real Flitwick?" Harry thought it was all really rather exciting, and wondered whether Leo was an Unspeakable. He also wondered what it was that Dumbledore had done that had been so bad.

"I can't tell you that, just that he's safe," Leo told him. "I actually work with your mother at the Ministry."

Harry was surprised. "You mean Maman?" He knew Lily was good at charms but he could not see her being an Unspeakable.

Leo smiled a little as he thought of Lily. "Yes, she started in my department last year."

Harry looked at Dae. "And you also work for the Ministry?"

Dae nodded. "Guilty as charged."

Hermione already knew this and asked about his parents. "So do Nic and Peri work for them too?"

Nic confirmed Hermione's question. "We do. Peri's our head archivist."

Harry felt a little overwhelmed and was happy when Severus and Remus walked into the room.

Remus placed the pensieve with Harry's memories on the table that had appeared on his entrance. "Shall we get down to business?"

Before they could enter the pensieve, Hermione mentioned her theory about Harry's dreams. And then, everyone except for Harry and Hermione, stood up and moved across to the table where Remus had placed the pensieve.

Severus addressed the two children. "This may take some time. Please remain here until we return."

The two children watched as the adults all touched the pensieve and froze. Two hours later, the adults emerged.

"Sorry we took so long but we wanted to check a few things more than once before coming out." Peri smiled apologetically at Harry.

"So do you know what's wrong me?" Harry asked a little nervously.

"Harry, I don't think anything is wrong with you. On the contrary I think something has gone wrong with the timeline," Nic informed the surprised looking young man sitting in front of him. "It appears that Hermione was correct with her supposition that your nightmares are actually repressed memories, and that the other Harry has indeed traveled through time."

Hermione looked pleased that she had been right.

Harry didn't want to believe what he was being told. "But he can't have."

"Peri has some ideas on how things might have come to be." Nic patted Peri on the knee.

Harry looked expectantly at Peri, who smiled. "I also agree with Hermione's theory, but I need to check on a few things before I confirm it." She turned to Leo. "Do you mind if I use your pensieve?"

Leo shook his head. "Go ahead, there's still plenty of room in there."

Peri thought steadily as she withdrew memory after memory and placed them into the pensieve. "Excuse me for a while."

Everyone watched as the woman touched the bowl and immediately froze like a statue. Almost an hour later, she emerged to find everyone eating the snacks that French had somehow known to bring, despite not being told where Dae had been going to.

"I think I may have the answer," she told the assembled group. "I found a runic spell that allows a traveler to move through time."

"So this other Harry has definitely traveled through time then?" Hermione swallowed a chocolate dipped strawberry she had stolen from the pile that French had provided especially for Harry. Harry grinned and fed Hermione a second strawberry, making her color, and the adults, except for Remus and Severus, smile.

"Sort of. I don't think the other Harry has bodily traveled through time though," Peri told her.

Harry felt totally confused. "Sorry?"

"If I understood the ancient language of the runic spell correctly, the spell destroys a caster's body, leaving his soul and memories intact to move through time to a specified point." Peri sounded as if she was lecturing to her students.

Hermione was fascinated. "What happens when his soul and memories arrive at the selected point in time?"

"They merge with the younger version of themselves," Peri informed her. "As you might be aware, two people can only exist in the same space together for little more than twenty-eight hours, which is the reason why time-turners don't go back any further than twenty-four hours as a safety check." Peri paused to take a sip of the glass of white wine that had appeared at her elbow. "Because two people can't materially exist in the same space after twenty-eight hours, the runic spell destroys the body but leaves the soul and memories of the caster intact as they don't appear to be affected by the laws of time travel."

Harry tried to make sense of what he was hearing. "You mean to say that the other me used this spell to go further back than a time-turner would allow, and because of this, his body died but his soul and memories merged with my own?"

"That's what should have happened. However, for some reason I'm not aware of, I don't think you were able to cope with the influx of memories and your brain isolated them." Peri still was not entirely sure of why this had happened. "I believe the other Harry's memories were too much for you to handle, and your brain detached them from your own to save your sanity."

"What happened to the other Harry's soul?" Harry hated the thought of someone else being part of him. "Please don't tell me he's part of me."

"I'm afraid that's exactly what he is. I think his soul merged with your own to create one person," Peri guessed, still not entirely certain, though, that this was the case.

"When do you think this merger happened?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. Harry should eventually be able to find out. From the release of memories, it appears as if his brain is now slowly allowing them to trickle out, almost as if it feels he can cope with their emergence," Peri theorized.

Remus, who had been quiet up to this point, joined the conversation. "Harry would have to have been quite small when this happened then. He's been having nightmares like this since I married Nia. Lily would know if he had had them before then, and she hasn't said anything about it."

Nic cut in on the conversation. "In that case, I think we can safely assume that the merger took place on the night Voldemort attacked the Potters or thereabouts."

"Why do you think the other me did it?"

Hermione had an hypothesis. "Perhaps the war with You-Know-Who wasn't going well. He could have been desperate. If he arrived when You-Know-Who was attacking your parents, perhaps he was trying to stop it from happening."

Peri was impressed with Hermione's intelligence. "I agree with you again. Something must've gone wrong with the spell, or perhaps they hadn't known that Harry's counterpart's body would've been destroyed almost as soon as he arrived."

"What would have happened if the spell had gone completely wrong?" Harry had stopped eating and was focusing his full attention on the conversation.

"Then the caster would simply have died." Peri had been able to deduce that much from the writings. "It's not a spell I'd have wanted to try unless I'd been backed into a corner I really couldn't escape from."

"Why not?" Remus enquired. "If the caster was willing to sacrifice himself, then I don't see a problem."

"It's not because of the spell's failure, but because of its success. If I read the spell correctly, the backlash would have wiped out everything with a few miles. Imagine if you'd done the spell in a large city; thousands would've perished." Peri watched Harry whiten. "What's wrong?"

"I've had dreams of placing runic inscriptions in a circle around me," Harry revealed.

Severus immediately broke in. "In the vision I saw of myself you were doing that. If Peri is right, then you must have been reliving the other Harry doing the spell, and I imagine that everyone must have died."

Peri had more to say. "There's something else."

No-one said anything, so Peri continued. "This spell doesn't only take the caster back in time but it also sends out ripples from the point where the caster arrives."

Hermione easily grasped what Peri was saying. "So you mean to say that if Harry's double did really travel through time, then he not only changed future events, but past ones as well?"

Peri nodded. "I think so. I don't have any idea though of exactly how far back or forward the ripples extended."

Harry knew that he alone held the ability to discover what happened. "Is there any way I can find out what happened without having to wait for these memories to emerge gradually?"

Leo spoke up. "I have a way of breaking through forgotten memories but it's dangerous and extremely painful."

"What do you mean by dangerous?" Remus asked.

"Harry could lose a lot of memories in addition to those he's trying to access, if it doesn't work out," Leo explained.

Remus was not about to let Harry do something so dangerous. "There's no way you're going to subject Harry to that. I think we should try Legilimency instead."

"But my mind is protected. Professor Snape said so," Harry reminded his dad.

"I'm not so certain that's the case anymore," Severus interrupted. "If Madam Flamel's theory is right, I believe that the barriers between your memories and those of your counterpart are breaking down. I think that it was your mind trying to protect you from those memories that stopped me from gaining entrance through Legilimency previously. If you remember, I had no trouble accessing your mind in the cavern."

"Can we try it now?" Harry wanted to get to the bottom of things and as quickly as possible.

Remus looked at Severus who nodded. "It's probably a good idea. We need to try and see if Harry's mind is still safe, especially after everything we've discussed tonight."

Harry sat back and watched as Remus pulled out his wand. "Relax, Harry. Trust me. I won't hurt you." Remus knew that Harry had been unsettled by his discovery a few days earlier, even though things between them were now back on a relatively even keel.

Harry smiled encouragingly at Remus. "I know, Dad."

Remus shut out the rest of the room and focused solely on Harry. "Legilimens."

Remus easily entered Harry's mind and found himself in a shadowy version of the graveyard memory which he had seen in the pensieve earlier. Eventually, however, he accessed a new memory and found himself watching Harry and Hermione kissing beside a lake. Pulling out of this memory, Remus moved into another. He felt a little uncomfortable to come across a memory of the alternate Harry and Hermione in bed together. Not wanting to embarrass Harry, he quickly withdrew. "I can access both Harry's memories as well as those of his counterpart."

Harry smiled gratefully at his dad for not telling everyone what he had just seen. "So what does it all mean?"

"To be honest, we don't know," Peri answered him. "I think you need to access a few more memories before we can definitively explain what is happening or whether we can use your counterpart's memories to any advantage."

"Speaking of advantages, I'm almost certain that the other Harry is the Boy Who Lived in his timeline. He has the same scar that Jamie Potter has." Nic had watched the graveyard memory four times trying to take in everything that was happening. "Once Harry regains his memories, we may be able to use them to give us an upper hand in the fight against Voldemort, now that he's returned."

Remus agreed with Nic. "I believe you're right about the Boy Who Lived theory. It would certainly explain why the Dark Lord wanted the other Harry's blood for his resurrection as we saw in the memory. But the Dark Lord looks totally different in Harry's memory from what he looks like now. What we learn from the alternate timeline may have no bearing on this one."

Harry recalled his nightmare about the Dark Lord's return. "So if things are so different here, then why do you think I'm connected to Voldemort?" Harry decided he was fed up with calling Voldemort 'You-Know-Who' when the Flamels obviously weren't frightened to use his name. "I'm not the Boy Who Lived here, Jamie is."

"I think it might have something to do with the joining of your souls," Severus conjectured.

"That doesn't make me the Boy Who Lived as well though, does it?" Harry felt comforted as he felt Hermione squeeze his hand tighter than she already was doing.

"I don't honestly know, Harry," Severus informed him. "No-one's ever survived a Killing Curse before, so we have no idea how you've been affected by this joining. Your merger with the other Harry's soul certainly explains why you have the Snape heir mark."

This came as news to Remus. "Harry has the Snape heir mark?"

Harry pulled back his hair and showed his dad. "Professor Snape made sure that no link remains though apart from the symbol."

Remus knew that Harry's crush on Hermione had probably had a lot to do with his desire to make sure that he was in no way connected to Severus. "I can understand that."

Harry blushed and returned to the subject of the alternate Harry. "In my most recent memories of the other Harry, why was Mum being so mean to him?"

"I don't think she's the same person we know, Harry." Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "In fact, everyone seems to be different there."

Harry had more questions. "So why are the people so different in the alternate timeline? Why would they be different from the people we know now?"

"I think it's the effect from the ripples going back in time. People in the alternate timeline didn't turn out the same as they would have here, as events would have played out differently in that timeline than they have in our own. We need to discover when the other Harry merged with you for definite. It might give us some idea how far back the distortion extends," Peri decided.

Harry was worried. "Do we have to change everything back when we do?"

Peri shook her head. "We might end up making things worse if we were to attempt to do that. We can't do anything except let this timeline run its course."

Harry let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. I don't think I want the other Harry's life."

"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to change your life." Remus pulled Harry up from the sofa and hugged him before gently moving him so that he could look into his face. "Harry, whatever you do, you must not look Albus directly in the eye. After the ease with which I entered your mind tonight, I believe that Albus may now be able to access your memories if he tries."

Harry had no idea that Albus had no intention of all at trying to access his mind after his previous attempt, and was therefore concerned. "But what if I accidentally meet his gaze?"

Dae looked at Leo, who reached into his pocket and threw a ring across to Harry who slipped it on. "Harry, if you wear this ring, it'll protect your mind from an attack unless it's a fully fledged assault."

Leo then pulled out a necklace. "Hermione, this is for you. It will do the same as Harry's ring."

Severus watched gratefully as Hermione slipped the necklace around her neck. "Thanks, Leo. I wasn't very happy about her having to take the potion so often."

Leo shrugged off Severus' thanks. "It's not a problem, Severus. The potions you've been supplying us with have more than made up for it. Besides, I would have done it anyway. I wouldn't want any child exposed to Albus' meddling."

Hermione smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Mr. Simultas." Harry was surprised to hear this. He hadn't known that Leo had a different last name from Dae.

"You can both call me Leo." Leo smiled at them. "Just remember to call me Professor Flitwick in school."

Hermione yawned and Peri looked at the time. "Goodness, it's almost midnight."

Remus stood up. "I think I'd better be getting Harry and Hermione back to my rooms. I'll be back shortly."

The two children moved to join Remus. "Goodnight, everyone."

Everyone bid them goodnight as they disappeared out of the door.

Ten minutes later Remus arrived back. "Albus has just returned from whatever errand you sent him on."

Leo frowned at his father. "I thought he was supposed to be gone until tomorrow."

"He was. Obviously something has happened to bring him back early. No matter, he can't get in here at the moment anyway." Nic was annoyed that Albus appeared to have gotten out of his meeting with the French Ambassador for schools, which had been scheduled for the next morning.

"Speaking of Albus, I've got something I need to ask Severus and Leo." Remus turned to the two men in question. "Dae and I are part of a group sworn to bring justice to those betrayed by Albus. In view of your dislike of him, Severus, and your activities, Leo, I wondered if you would both like to join."

"I might." Even as he said it, Severus could tell that Remus had not yet finished.

"There's just one snag. Sirius Black is part of the group; in fact we usually meet at his house." Remus knew that Severus was not going to like that part.

Severus now declined outright. "I refuse to join anything of which he's a part." He knew he was being a little childish but his hatred of Black could not be pushed aside even for something as important as Albus' downfall.

Leo sided with Severus. "I also have no wish to join. I have enough to do as it is without further complications. Dae has already asked once and I've refused."

"Fair enough." Remus had hoped to get them on side but he was not surprised by their refusal.

"I have an idea." Peri took over the conversation. "Why don't we form our own group? The group you are currently part of can keep their focus on Albus, and we'll handle Harry and Voldemort."

Remus mulled it over, and decided it would be a good idea. "Do we just keep this to ourselves or do we bring others in?"

Nic couldn't risk blowing years of hard work. "Obviously we can fill Harry and Hermione in on what is happening. However, no-one else must know of our involvement. As Unspeakables we have access to more information than the Minister himself. I don't particularly want that kind of information leaking out. I trust everyone in this room implicitly but have no wish to expand that trust any further."

Severus wasn't surprised to learn that all of the members of the Flamel family were Unspeakables. It was rumored that entire families were usually drafted into the department; it made keeping secrets that much easier. "I presume that Remus is already aware of your status but why include me?"

"Because Leo and Dae have both agreed to stand surety for you. They trust you implicitly but you can't reveal this information to anyone else, not even your wife," Nic told him.

Severus hazarded a guess. "You're Ignotus, the head of the Unspeakables, aren't you?"

Nic informed Severus of the status quo. "I am, and as such I'm my sons' superior. Leo heads a department of his own but his main focus is trying to bring Albus in with something substantial. The same goes for Dae, except he's tracking Death Eaters. Leo is Dae's superior."

Leo stuck out his tongue at Dae, who flipped him the finger in response. "Don't forget, little brother, I hired you and I can fire you."

"Yeah, right." Dae smirked.

Both men shut up when their mother slapped both of them up the back of the head. "We're trying to have a serious discussion here, boys. Now behave."

Severus had to hide his smirk at the chastened look on the two men's faces. "So it's you who's been receiving the benefits of any potions that I've made for Albus?"

Nic nodded. "It is. I've been masquerading as Albus' friend for years trying to find a chink in his armor but so far I've been totally unsuccessful."

Severus decided to ask for Nic's aid. "Speaking of potions, I may have need of your help, Mr. Flamel."

Nic had already anticipated Severus' request. "Leo has already filled me in on Voldemort's return, and what he's requested Remus to do. And, Severus, please do call me Nic."

"Some of the ingredients necessary for the Vivificus potion are nigh on impossible to obtain..." Severus started to explain only for Nic to hold up his hand to stop him.

"I have everything you need in my lab at home. Perhaps you'd care to accompany me back now?" Nic offered.

Severus bent his head. "I'd appreciate that."

The group left the room and went their separate ways.

Up in Remus' rooms, Harry lay on the large bed in his father's room looking at Hermione. "I can't believe your parents let you sleep here again."

"Nor me," Hermione admitted. "I think your father has something to do with it."

"You're probably right." Harry munched on the chocolate digestive he had picked up from the plate that Salty had brought them.

"Do you think your father is worried I might tell someone about him?" Hermione was still a little afraid of Remus.

"And would you?" Harry asked, although he himself was far from worried about such a thing.

"How could I? He helped my mother escape from You-Know-Who. If anything I owe him a debt." Hermione took a large swallow of the creamy hot chocolate Salty had also brought. "Anyway, Papa isn't in a much better position."

"I know." Harry was just happy he could now share everything that was going on with Hermione. He smiled at her and thought how pretty she looked in her plaid pajamas. "I'm glad that things are back to normal between us. I hated it when everything felt strained."

Hermione put down her mug and hugged Harry. "I'm glad too."

Harry hugged her back briefly before letting her go. "I think I'm going to go to sleep."

Hermione realized she had embarrassed Harry by hugging him. "Me too. I want to go back to the room of requirement tomorrow and look up some more things."

Harry groaned. "Only you."

Hermione hit him over the head with her pillow before rolling over and closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, Hermione." Harry lay in the dim light and kept watch until he knew she had gone to sleep. Only then did he lean over and kiss her cheek, before rolling over himself and closing his eyes.