A Need For Memories

by aviendha15

This story is shared with SailorMartin3 with express consent.

18. A Very Frosty Christmas

Part 18

"War causes inexplicable changes in people, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, breaking the gloomy silence, no trace of the almost forever present twinkle in his eyes. "It can even break the best of friendships, cause friends to turn against one another, and worse, at times compels you to befriend your enemy; mostly for the wrong purpose. The Marauders have always shown a strong bonding of friendship. A bond far stronger than one seen in any normal friendship. And something, that I do expect would not be broken just because of a petty war."

Sirius chuckled softly, breaking his espoused silence after a long time. "But, it did, Headmaster. Peter betrays us, we suspect Remus of being a Death Eater and I get chucked into Azkaban. And one of us is killed due to this confusion and betrayal in friendship. A nice ending that the Marauders will come to." Sirius's voice had turned more sarcastic with every word he uttered and none could help flinching at their delivery. Harry almost gasped aloud, as he looked into Sirius's eyes. They had the same walled, dead look which Harry always associated with Sirius's stay in Azkaban.

"It doesn't have to, Sirius. There was a spy in the order, someone close to James. Obviously, both of you thought that Peter couldn't be the one and suspected one another." Hermione was saying, in her most persuasive tone. "We are trying to change the future, Sirius, for the better. Hopefully. That is the main reason behind reading these books."

"But, it also proves that our friendship isn't strong enough," James remarked, placing an arm around a distraught looking Sirius. "I know, and agree that the war changes people. Make them more distant. But, some friendships do survive and flourish. Yours did." He indicated the Trio.

"It had had its faults and falls, Dad," Harry said. "We were just luckier."

Snape looked over at the group of Marauders and said, "They are right, Po…James. Everybody makes mistakes, but some are just luckier than the others." He raised his eyebrows significantly at Sirius, who gave a curt nod. "And if we are being given an opportunity, we should try to change the future, change ourselves. Moping about something that, most certainly won't change if we don't act, will not help things one bit."

"Well said, Mr. Snape," Dumbledore praised the boy, who blushed scarlet. "And do you agree with this, Marauders?"

"We do, Sir," James said. For the first time, Harry understood why he was considered to be the unofficial leader of the Marauders. None of the other boys raised an argument against this, on the contrary managed tentative grins.

"Continue with the story, Harry?" Frank asked.

Harry grinned, "Needless to say, I was furious at Sirius Black. It was all Ron and Hermione could do, to keep me from tracking and killing him."

"Like you could have. Imagine a Thirteen year old kid, trying to kill an Azkaban escapee, who incidentally happened to be a brilliant Wizard and an unregistered Animagus." Sirius mumbled, trying to lighten the still charged atmosphere. It worked, as many in the room broke out into chuckles and Remus muttered something that sounded like, "Such Modesty."

Ron continued, as Harry was busy glaring daggers at his Godfather. "Hermione and I fought a lot that year, especially because Crookshanks could not tolerate Scabbers. Harry had been gifted a Firebolt, an international standard broomstick, for Christmas. Hermione thought that it was sent by Sirius Black, and it was stripped for curses by McGonagall. Needless to say, we were angry. In the meanwhile, Harry was doing his Patronus lessons with Remus. The day he got back the Firebolt, I found a few hairs of Scabber's on the bed along with some blood and jumped to the conclusion that he had been killed and eaten by Crookshanks."

"Nothing surprising about that," Molly said. "Obviously not the first time he did that."

"Yup. Not the first time he did that," Harry agreed. "I can't seem to recall what happened next…hmmm…oh ya…Buckbeak was sentenced to be executed." He had to stop as Hermione cleared her throat significantly.

"Harry, I think you forgot to mention about a certain telling off you received from your professor, precisely Professor Lupin, for sneaking off to Hogsmeade," she said, smirking at the heavily blushing Harry. After a long time (or so it seemed to most), something akin to true laughter rang out in the room. The air of tension that was hovering since the little tiff seemed to have cleared up at last. Remus groaned and put his face in his hands; his friends were certain to use this against him as blackmail material, especially Prongs.

"Stop teasing, guys," Harry groaned. "We don't have that much time. Let us finish recounting the third year. We need to read the next chapter soon.

Anyways, that very day we received a letter from Hagrid, that Buckbeak has been convicted to be executed. The date was set for the last day of our examinations. We went down to Hagrid's after we were done with the exams. There we found out that Scabbers never died. He had simply run away from Ron and was found by Hagrid. But, in the case of Buckbeak, we weren't able to do anything and he was executed."

Snape frowned, "But didn't you say that Sirius had escaped on Buckbeak? Or was it just a namesake?"

"The very same," Hermione confirmed, grinning impishly. To say that the others looked shocked would be an understatement. And also the fact that Dumbledore was included in the same group.

"Don't confuse them so much, Mione," Ron said, chuckling. "They won't understand till we finish the story. Anyways, as we were on our way back to the castle, Scabbers bit me and disappeared. I made to follow him, but suddenly was attacked by a huge, Grim – like dog who dragged me into the Whomping Willow. Breaking my leg in the process."

"You ought to try and curb your enthusiasm a bit, Paddy," James reprimanded. "You ought to know that being dragged into the Whomping Willow and up the tunnel isn't the world's best feeling. With a werewolf around, it's ok. Not with another human being." Sirius growled softly at the dark haired boy before turning an apologetic glance at Ron who waved off the unspoken apology.

"Obviously, Hermione and I tried to follow him in," Harry said. "But, we couldn't have if it weren't for Crookshanks, who knew to freeze the tree by pawing the knot. We got to know later that Padfoot was the one who taught him that. Crookshanks was positively in love with you. Quite prepared to even die." Harry was chuckling loudly at the time he finished talking.

"Great to know that Padfoot finally finds a soul mate," Remus murmured, smirking at the beet-red looking boy. "Especially in a cat."

"OI!" Sirius yelled, and threw a pillow at Remus's head; though by his expression it was obvious that he was wishing it to be something harder.

"Stop fooling around, idiots, let us finish. And that goes for you too, Harry. Putting silly ideas in their heads." Hermione said, in a condescending tone. "To continue with our story; in our haste, we left the Invisibility Cloak by the tree. I will just shorten things a bit from here. We found Sirius and Ron. There was a fair bit of a shouting match. Harry was all for killing Sirius, as the idiotic mutt just went on saying that he was the one who killed Lily and James Potter."

"Guilt trip," Ron explained. "Sirius was the one who changed the Secret Keeper to Peter."

"Most certainly an Idiotic Mutt," James murmured, as he pulled a protesting Sirius into a hug. "Like any of us are ever going to blame him for that."

"He spent 12 years with the Dementors, James," Remus said, in a soft voice. "It is enough to turn anyone insane. That Sirius managed to retain his sanity is an achievement enough. At least as much sanity as he possessed in the first place, which isn't a lot." James tightened his hug till his friend yelled at him for cutting off his air supply.

"So what happened, then?" Snape queried, a little impatient. He liked being on friendship terms with the Marauders, but their closeness always brought back his own loneliness, which was aggravated all the more since he lost Lily as his friend. Though, thanks to this weird book reading they were at least on speaking terms again.

"Remus made an appearance and only then did things start to get clear," Harry continued. "And ya, Severus came in too, didn't want to hear a word about Sirius's innocence, we…well we managed to knock him out as all of us used the Disarming spell as one."

"Oh Hell!" Snape murmured from between his hands which were once more covering his face. "I must have been an angel about it. Three students knocking out a teacher who happened to be me."

Harry chuckled. "Ya. You were pretty mad, to put it lightly. Anyways, when Sirius and Remus wanted to kill Peter…"

"I would certainly think so," Sirius snarled, interrupting once again. "That scheming rat…Betraying his friends to that filthy, stupid, half-blood FREAK!"

"Cool down, Sirius," Hermione admonished, gently, as James put his arm around his friend again. "Harry, being the noble thing that he is, stopped the two of you from killing him and suggested taking him to the castle, back to the Dementors. But things went haywire from there on. As soon as we came out of the tunnel, we were reminded, with a huge jolt, that it was a full moon night, and obviously Remus transformed. That too with Ron and Wormtail being tied to him. "

Remus gasped. The others were looking equally frightened.

Harry frowned and seemed to be racking his brains for something. "Things are difficult to explain from this go…" He was interrupted again, this time from Remus.

"But, I didn't bite anybody, did I? Any of you? Anyone else? Ron was alright?" He was looking frantic with worry.

"I am okay," Ron mumbled. "I am sitting right here."

"No, no you didn't," Harry assured him. "Padfoot was sufficiently able to keep you off us. However, Wormtail escaped. But, we were surrounded by Dementors, about a hundred of them. I failed to cast a Patronus and fell unconscious. We came to, in the hospital. By us, I mean me and Hermione. Ron had broken his leg and was still out. Professor Dumbledore and the stupid, Minister of Magic, informed us that Sirius would receive the Dementor's Kiss."

"I would skin them alive, if they even dared to lay a hand on Padfoot," James snarled menacingly tightening his hold around the boy.

"I don't think that Dementors got me, Prongs," Sirius said, with a faint attempt at chuckling. "I struck around till Harry' fifth year." But almost everybody could see the blatant fear on his face.

Harry managed a weak chuckle in reply and continued, "One thing that Ron and I didn't know was that Hermione was using a time turner to go to her classes all year. She was provided one by Professor McGonagall. Though it drove us crazy all year long. We just couldn't think of a way that she was getting to all those classes. Especially with two or more being at the same time. Anyways, the Headmaster told us to use the time-turner. Ron wasn't able to accompany us on that little trip," he sent a sympathetic smirk in Ron's direction, who glared back. "Anyways all Dumbledore told us was that if things went okay we would be able to save two lives."

"Sirius and Buckbeak," Frank murmured. Hermione grinned and nodded.

"You actually stole that Buckbeak and rescued Sirius on that?" Lily asked, her eyes widening in surprise and amazement. "You two actually managed to pull that off without getting seen or caught?" Most of the people in the room had incredulous looks directed at the Trio.

Harry shrugged. "Sirius was there till my Fifth Year, wasn't he? We did manage to rescue him from the Tower where he was being kept. Obviously with Buckbeak's help. Though before that, I had to cast a Patronus to get rid of those Dementors that had attacked us in the first place. It was then that I came to know that my Patronus took the form of Prongs." James's face registered a look of muted shock; Lily had a lone tear running down her cheek. Everybody was looking at them in shocked amazement.

"But didn't you interfere with the past?" Minerva questioned her voice a couple of octaves lower than what she usually used. The Trio were surprised to see the tears brimming in the eyes of the old Transfiguration teacher.

"No, we didn't," Hermione replied, sneaking a glance at Harry, who shook his head slightly. "The first time around, when Harry was close to losing his consciousness, he thought he saw his father dispelling the Dementors. But, in reality he saw himself. As Harry looks extraordinarily like James, it was easy to get confused." Minerva nodded, her face relaxing a little, satisfied with the explanation. There was no reason for everyone to know how close Harry had come to receiving the Dementor's kiss himself. Sirius would probably blame himself for getting Harry into such danger.

Harry dealt a grateful smile at Hermione and continued, "Sirius later left from Hogwarts on Buckbeak. That's all, I guess. At least the important stuff." He finished a bit lamely. "We managed to save Sirius, but didn't get to prove him innocent. Not till he died. Sorry, Sirius."

Sirius had his head down for quite a while, but jerked up on hearing Harry's apology. "What in Merlin's name are you apologizing for?" he lashed out at his Godson. "You three were Thirteen year olds, and you managed to save me from the Dementor's kiss, faced a full fledged Werewolf…Sorry Moony…got rid of a hundred Dementors and also saved Buckbeak. What else were you hoping to do? You guys performed a feat that even full-grown wizards would have had problem pulling off." He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Harry grinned apologetically.

"An interesting turn of events," Dumbledore remarked. "I am guessing that Wormtail had a hand in Voldemort's reappearance?"

"A big one. He was the one who found him in a weakened state and sort of nursed him back to health." Ron confirmed. "And to think that I kept him as my Pet for so many years. Urgh! Crookshanks had seen through his façade and thus targeted him and tried to bring him to Sirius."

"How did Sirius escape Azkaban?" Arthur questioned. "It is supposed to be impossible."

"He escaped as Padfoot," Harry replied. "The Dementors could not take away his thoughts about getting revenge, as it wasn't a happy memory. That helped him keep his mind."

"Imagine being innocent and having to spend 12 years in Azkaban," Molly murmured, her face scrunched in grief. "Poor Sirius." This was said in a soft mumble.

Sirius shook himself up visibly. One of the things he hated was being pitied. "It's no use to dwell on that, guys," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I guess, they have relayed the story of their Third year and we should start with the next chapter. We can think about all the depressing stuff after we finish the book. And then again, I think it is hell of an achievement to actually escape from Azkaban. You guys should be proud of me." He let out a bark-like laugh as he said this.

The others could not help chuckling at him. Harry and Hermione were probably the only ones who saw the grief in his eyes though Harry noticed James discreetly putting an arm around his friend.

"So, can we start with the next chapter?" Alice said. "Who wants to have a go at reading?"

"May I?" Snape questioned. He was handed the book by Harry who leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. He was feeling mentally, if not physically, a little drained from reciting the events of the Third year. It brought to mind many memories of the Sirius he had known, none of them very pleasant. Hermione squeezed his hand lightly.

"The chapter is title 'A Very Frosty Christmas'", Snape read out.

"Frosty in terms of weather or situation?" Frank asked

"You guys are getting paranoid," Harry remarked, opening half an eye. "Just read the Chapter, you will get to know."

"Someone's sounding grumpy," Alice said in a sing-song voice. "Someone would think, you have toiled all day long."

Lily frowned at her. "Lay off him, Alice. He has not fallen asleep. And he is perfectly allowed to sound and feel tired. Nothing wrong with that." Sirius snickered at the motherly tone in Lily's voice, but did not dare to say anything as she turned her glare at him.

Snape turned his attention towards the book and groaned. "Why did I have to feature in the very first sentence?" he thought, and started reading the chapter.

"So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him?"

"If you ask that once more," said Harry, "I'm going to stick this sprout —"

"Harry!" Lily scolded lightly. Harry blushed a little, though he did not open his eyes. Hermione chuckled softly and ran a hand through his head, gently.

"You do it better than Ginny, Mione," Harry murmured, leaning into the touch.

Ron sniggered. "Just don't let my sister catch you saying that," he warned.

"Your sister is not like you, Ronnie," Harry teased. "Now shut up and let us concentrate on the chapter." Ron smacked his arm lightly, before turning his attention to Snape who had resumed reading.

"I'm only checking!" said Ron. They were standing alone at the Burrow's kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs. Weasley. Snow was drifting past the window in front of them.

"Yes, Snape was offering to help him!" said Harry. "He said he'd promised Malfoy's mother to protect him, that he'd made an Unbreakable Oath or something —"

"Unbreakable Vow…not Oath, though they mean pretty much the same," Remus corrected, more out of habit than anything else. And immediately blushed on seeing the stares he was being given by the people around.

Almost, all of them, with the obvious exceptions being the Professors and Hermione; who, it seemed from the smirks that Harry and Ron were giving her, had also and almost started to correct Harry.

"An Unbreakable Vow?" said Ron, looking stunned. "Nah, he can't have. . . . Are you sure?"

"How would he have known about the vow, Ron, if he didn't hear about it?" Hermione questioned, in an exasperated voice.

Harry quirked an eyebrow in Hermione's direction, "I might have read about it somewhere, Mione."

"And you want me…you want anyone to believe that?" Harry huffed and turned his back on her, while Lily's face fell by a few more degrees.

"Yes, I'm sure," said Harry. "Why, what does it mean?"

"Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow. . . ."

"Ron…!"

"Stop lecturing, Mione," Ron moaned. "It was just a conversation between two friends. A supposedly casual conversation. I had no idea that someone will put it in a book, or I might have revised my sayings."

"Very funny!" Hermione snapped back, tingeing red on seeing the exasperated looks that the others were giving them.

"I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?"

"You die," said Ron simply. "Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too; I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental," said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes.

"That's bad!" Molly said, looking worried." It might have had serious consequences in their future. What were they thinking about!" She was looking a little hysterical.

Alice put an arm around her trying to soothe her. "They were just kids themselves, Molly," she said. "Just about 7 years old. They didn't know any better. And Arthur did manage to stop them."

"And if you want, you can stop it from happening altogether, this time around. It is going to be okay," Lily added. "Please start reading, Severus."

"Only time I've ever seen Dad as angry as Mum, Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since."

"Poor guy," Sirius said, chuckling. "That must have taught him not to include younger brothers in their messes."

"If only," Ron said sighing. This set off quite a few laughs in the room.

"Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock —"

"I beg your pardon?" said Fred's voice as the twins entered the kitchen.

"Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them."

"I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time," said Ron grumpily, "and then I'll be able to do it by magic!"

"We can totally sympathize with you, Ron," James said dramatically. "The best thing that Hogwarts can do is cancel that stupid rule."

Minerva glared at them fiercely. "So that you all can create Havoc in the muggle world, and burst our secrets? It is bad enough without this, don't know what this will do."

"But isn't this a little unfair, Professor?" Snape questioned. "It really just affects the Muggle-borns and the ones who live in muggle households. The Ministry has no way to track if underage magic has been performed in a Wizard household. They usually count upon the adults to keep the kids in control."

"You are absolutely right, Mr. Snape," Dumbledore said. "But, at least it aids the Ministry to keep the areas inhabited by Muggles, clean of underage magic. It does have its benefits, though I will totally agree on it being a nuisance. It is a farce, Minerva," he added on noting the glares that the Transfiguration teacher was throwing in his direction. Snape grinned at the Headmaster, before resuming his reading.

"But meanwhile," said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it, "we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a — whoops-a-daisy!"

"Ouch!" Alice murmured. "Those cuts hurt!"

"You made me do that!" said Ron angrily, sucking his cut thumb. "You wait, when I'm seventeen —"

"I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills," yawned Fred.

"And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald," said George, "what is this we hear from Ginny about you and a young lady called — unless our information is faulty — Lavender Brown?"

"Bet you loved gloating about that," Hermione said grumpily. Ron made a face.

"Like the Twins would have let me! Especially Fred!" The last words had come out at a softer tone of voice. Hermione shot a look of understanding but gestured significantly towards the others. They are not supposed to know the things beforehand. Ron nodded back.

Ron turned a little pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts. "Mind your own business."

"What a snappy retort," said Fred. "I really don't know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was... how did it happen?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Did she have an accident or something?"

"What?"

"Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage?

"The very thing that was bugging me!" Sirius exclaimed, while the others burst out laughing, including Snape. Ron threw a pillow at the dark haired boy, who threw it right back at him. It was snatched back from his hands by a rather annoyed looking Hermione with a "Stop behaving like a kid, Ron!', as he showed every intention of throwing it back at Sirius.

"And to think that Sirius is the Godfather here, and Ron is almost in his twenties," Lily muttered rolling her eyes at their childish behavior. Both Ron and Sirius smirked at her.

Careful, now!"

Mrs. Weasley entered the room just in time to see Ron throw the sprout knife at Fred, who had turned it into a paper airplane with one lazy flick of his wand,

"You could have hurt him, you dolt!" Hermione snapped, hitting Ron on the arm, hard.

"Ouch! Sorry!" Ron exclaimed, rubbing his afflicted hand. "It didn't hurt him though, did it?"

Frank chuckled, "Anyways you won't be too happy that your mother saw it. They can get rather nasty about these things."

"I think you know that I am right here," Molly spoke up, sounding a little annoyed at Frank.

Frank grinned. "Of course, I do! But, I wasn't speaking about you; I was talking about a mother. Which you are not, yet." Molly rolled her eyes at him, and motioned for Snape to continue reading, which he did eagerly. He loved the fact that he was getting on with theses Gryffindors, but they were getting too childish at times. Or maybe, he was losing his sense of humor, he thought to himself.

"Ron!" she said furiously. "Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!"

"I won't," said Ron, "let you see," he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain.

"Fred, George, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two."

"We would get to read more about Moons!" Sirius exclaimed. "And we can find out why he is ignoring the Marauder Heir."

"Marauder's Heir?" Harry said, sounding indignant. "Since when am I being called this?"

"Since forever, I guess!" Sirius replied, shrugging casually. "You are the only Marauder Heir." Harry shared a smirk with his friends, thinking about Teddy and imagining Sirius's reaction when he reads about that.

"No problem," said George.

"Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Ginny —"

"— that'll make Ginny's Christmas —" muttered Fred.

"— everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

"Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?" asked Fred.

Mrs. Weasley turned away before she answered. "No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry."

"Or just being stupid," Remus put in. "The Ministry is no excuse for not being with your family."

"Especially during Christmas," Frank added.

"And especially being with a family that actually cares for you," Snape put in. "One shouldn't fling away such opportunities." His voice sounded a little strained as he said this. Lily flashed a reassuring smile in his direction, which he returned. Both James and Sirius were again looking a little uncomfortable at this subtle reminder of Snape's troubled home life, and also with the glare that Moony was directing at them, yet again.

"Or he's the world's biggest prat," said Fred, as Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen. "One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George."

"What are you two up to?" asked Ron. "Can't you help us with these sprouts? You could just use your wand and then we'll be free too!"

"You should have known better that to ask," Frank pointed out. "Elder brothers do not help younger ones with housework, especially the knife-throwing types."

"Very funny!" Ron said, sarcastically.

Sirius smirked, "It is, actually! At least from this end."

"No, I don't think we can do that," said Fred seriously. "It's very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for Muggles and Squibs —"

"— and if you want people to help you, Ron," added George, throwing the paper airplane at him, "I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvelous. . , almost like real magic. ..."

"Gits," said Ron darkly, watching Fred and George setting off across the snowy yard. "Would've only taken them ten seconds and then we could've gone too."

"I couldn't," said Harry. "I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't wander off while I'm staying here."

"Oh yeah," said Ron. He peeled a few more sprouts and then said, "Are you going to tell Dumbledore what you heard Snape and Malfoy saying to each other?"

"Obviously," Lily remarked. "He is too much like his father. Though I think James would have just burst through the door and tried to curse them or something. Without even knowing if either party is just acting up."

"I would not!" James said, an edge of sullenness to his voice, as he glared at the red-haired, now smirking girl.

"Obviously, he won't, Lily," Snape said. James whipped around to stare at him. Snape was the last person he would expect to side with him, in this context. "He would fetch Bl…Sirius and Remus and then burst in. If Remus is unable to talk him out of it." James huffed and turned his back at both of them, while most of the others broke out into chuckles. Though Sirius was glaring half-heartedly at Snape.

"Yep," said Harry. "I'm going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it, and Dumbledore's top of the list. I might have another word with your dad too."

"At least, he does the more logical thing," Lily murmured, with another glare at James.

Harry grinned. "I bet Dad would have done the same, if he had Professor Snape as his teacher. No offense, but you were a little too formidable." This last bit was directed at Snape, who visibly blanched.

"Pity you didn't hear what Malfoy's actually doing, though."

"I couldn't have done, could I? That was the whole point; he was refusing to tell Snape."

There was silence for a moment or two, then Ron said, "Course, you know what they'll all say? Dad and Dumbledore and all of them? They'll say Snape isn't really trying to help Malfoy, he was just trying to find out what Malfoy's up to."

"If you are working as a spy, that would be the most obvious explanation,"

Remus said, contemplatively. "But then…"

"Then why did I actually perform the Unbreakable vow?" Snape finished the question for Remus. "That's the thing that is irking me. Anyone would say that I am suicidal, or else have actually turned into a Death Eater."

"Don't form opinions this early, guys," Ron said wearily. "Read the whole stuff before thinking good or bad about yourselves or the other people."

"They didn't hear him," said Harry flatly. "No one's that good an actor, not even Snape."

"Never thought I would have to eat my own words," Harry murmured in an undertone to his friends. "He was an even better actor than that."

"Yeah . . . I'm just saying, though," said Ron.

Harry turned to face him, frowning. "You think I'm right, though?"

"Yeah, I do!" said Ron hastily. "Seriously, I do! But they're all convinced Snape's in the Order, aren't they?"

"Of course you believed me," Harry said sarcastically.

"But I did. At least about Malfoy," Ron protested.

Frank grinned, "I think he was asking about Severus's part, Ron. Not Draco's." Ron shrugged casually, ignoring the indignant looks that his best friend was throwing in his direction.

Harry said nothing. It had already occurred to him that this would be the most likely objection to his new evidence; he could hear Hermione now: Obviously, Harry, he was pretending to offer help sohe could trick Malfoy into telling him what he's doing. . . .

This was pure imagination, however, as he had had no opportunity to tell Hermione what he had overheard. She had disappeared from Slughorn's party before he returned to it, or so he had been informed by an irate McLaggen, and she had already gone to bed by the time he returned to the common room. As he and Ron had left for the Burrow early the next day, he had barely had time to wish her a happy Christmas and to tell her that he had some very important news when they got back from the holidays. He was not entirely sure that she had heard him, though; Ron and Lavender had been saying a thoroughly nonverbal good-bye just behind him at the time.

"Ugh!" Most of the teenagers grimaced, again.

"I have to say again that even Sirius is better than you," James muttered. "Even these Love birds are not so bad." He indicated Frank, Alice, Arthur and Molly.

Minerva was looking highly piqued. "I don't think I want to really know what goes on in my Gryffindor common room. And I thought that my Gryffindors were better behaved." Most of the students had the grace to look embarrassed, even if a bit, though Sirius was looking rather proud of himself.

Still, even Hermione would not be able to deny one thing: Malfoy was definitely up to something, and Snape knew it, so Harry felt fully justified in saying "I told you so," which he had done several times to Ron already.

"He irritated the hell out of me," Ron groaned.

"Did not," Harry huffed, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Did"

"Not"

"Did"

"Not"

"D…"

"Shut up, you two!" Molly snapped. "You both are sounding awfully like James and Sirius." The mentioned teens glared at Molly, while Harry and Ron smiled sheepishly.

Harry did not get the chance to speak to Mr. Weasley, who was working very long hours at the Ministry, until Christmas Eve night. The Weasleys and their guests were sitting in the living room, which Ginny had decorated so lavishly that it was rather like sitting in a paper-chain explosion. Fred, George, Harry, and Ron were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots for Christmas dinner. Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with a large bald head like a potato and rather hairy feet.

"You shouldn't have done that," Hermione said in a disapproving voice. "That's cruel."

"We didn't hurt it or anything," Ron said indignantly. "And he was the one who had bitten Fred. And anyways it was his idea." A flicker of sadness crossed his eyes but he masked it and glared at Hermione, who turned on the glare right back.

They were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by Mrs. Weasleys favorite singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless set. Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking so loudly in the corner that a scowling Mrs. Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder. Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love," Fred and George started a game of Exploding Snap with Ginny. Ron kept shooting Bill and Fleur covert looks, as though hoping to pick up tips.

"I was not!" Ron said, seeing the incredulous looks that he was being subjected to.

"Oh sure!" Harry said airily. "You are forgetting that I was there. At least this excuse is better than to admit that you were gawking at your then to-be Sister-in-Law." The last bit was only for Ron's ears as Harry lowered his voice significantly. Ron's ears turned red as he shot a dirty look at his friend.

Lily was looking interestedly at her son bantering with his friends but as she turned to share a laugh with James she was taken aback by the look on his face. It was one of intense longing and grief. Somehow, his expression perfectly matched Lily's feelings. The knowledge that they might never get to see their son through his growing years stabbed Lily every time she heard Harry joke around or teased by his friends. She took James's hand and squeezed it gently, silently providing comfort to the boy, who returned a grateful smile at her.

Meanwhile, Remus Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever, was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths as though he could not hear Celestinas voice.

Snape moved his eyes over the next few lines and said, "No way am I going to sing…I mean, read this song. I am skipping this." The shouts of protests were instant, especially from the female part.

"Do read it, Sev," Lily wheedled, snapping out of the depressing thoughts. "It can't be more that 2-3 lines. You can't leave out texts. It might be important…later." She tried to sound serious but the grin on her face gave her away.

Snape huffed. "Obviously, why not! The lyrics of 'A cauldron full of hot, strong love' would be so important in this story, absolutely essential in the Dark Lord's demise."

"Quit being so sarcastic, Severus," Molly said. "It won't hurt you to read those lines."

"Cummon Sevvie," Sirius said, smirking. "Just read them. I don't think that the girls would let you skip ahead." Snape sighed and resigned himself to read the lyrics.

Oh, come and stir my cauldron,

And if you do it right,

I'll boil you up some hot strong love

To keep you warm tonight.

"Happy?" Snape snapped, his face bright red. Even the professors could not help chuckling at his expression, while the others burst out into full fledged laughter.

"Almost…" Lily said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Now, tell us the name of the girl to whom you would like to dedicate this song to?"

Snape turned all the more red, if that were possible, and murmured, "Get lost!"

"Lay off him now!" said Harry, effectively cutting off his Lily's protests. He knew very well that Snape would not be able to answer Lily's question. There was no need to embarrass him further. "We have got almost half the chapter yet to finish, not to mention one and a half books. Do continue reading, Severus." Severus took up the offer gratefully, while Lily mouthed 'Traitor' at Harry, who grinned and waved away the insult.

"We danced to this when we were eighteen!" said Mrs. Weasley, wiping her eyes on her knitting. "Do you remember, Arthur?"

"Mphf?" said Mr. Weasley, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling. "Oh yes ... marvelous tune . . ."

"Really convincing," Alice said, sniggering at Arthur's reddened face.

With an effort, he sat up a little straighter and looked around at Harry, who was sitting next to him.

"Sorry about this," he said, jerking his head toward the wireless as Celestina broke into the chorus. "Be over soon."

"No problem," said Harry, grinning. "Has it been busy at the Ministry?"

"Very," said Mr. Weasley. "I wouldn't mind if we were getting anywhere, but of the three arrests we've made in the last couple of months, I doubt that one of them is a genuine Death Eater — only don't repeat that, Harry," he added quickly, looking much more awake all of a sudden.

"That wasn't too much of a secret," Hermione said, matter-of-factly. "Even though the Daily Prophet was doing its best to delude the people."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "All the students knew about it. And the professors too, I think."

"They're not still holding Stan Shunpike, are they?" asked Harry.

"I'm afraid so," said Mr. Weasley. "I know Dumbledore's tried appealing directly to Scrimgeour about Stan. ... I mean, anybody who has actually interviewed him agrees that he's about as much a Death Eater as this satsuma . . . but the top levels want to look as though they're making some progress, and 'three arrests' sounds better than 'three mistaken arrests and releases'. . . but again, this is all top secret. . . ."

"All that's right," Remus said. "But, that's no reason to put innocent people locked up in Azkaban."

"Nothing new for them!" Sirius said scathingly. The fact that he would have to suffer Azkaban for 12 years, despite being innocent, still rankled him.

Dumbledore nodded his head sadly. "It is sad to see that the Ministry does no better in the future, in fact it degrades from its standards even more."

"I won't say anything," said Harry. He hesitated for a moment, wondering how best to embark on what he wanted to say; as he marshaled his thoughts, Celestina Warbeck began a ballad called "You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me."

"Mr. Weasley, you know what I told you at the station when we were setting off for school?"

"I checked, Harry," said Mr. Weasley at once. "I went and searched the Malfoy's' house. There was nothing, either broken or whole, that shouldn't have been there."

"Yeah, I know, I saw in the Prophet that you'd looked . . . but this is something different. . . . Well, something more ..."

And he told Mr. Weasley everything he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape, As Harry spoke, he saw Lupin's head turn a little toward him, taking in every word. When he had finished, there was silence, except for Celestina's crooning. Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone? It's left me for a spell...

"Has it occurred to you, Harry," said Mr. Weasley, "that Snape was simply pretending —?"

"And proved right!" Ron said dramatically, flourishing his hand.

"That was expected," Frank said, chuckling at Ron's antics.

"Pretending to offer help, so that he could find out what Malfoy's up to?" said Harry quickly. "Yeah, I thought you'd say that. But how do we know?"

"It isn't our business to know," said Lupin unexpectedly. He had turned his back on the fire now and faced Harry across Mr. Weasley. "It's Dumbledore's business. Dumbledore trusts Severus and that ought to be good enough for all of us."

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin," Dumbledore said. Remus turned a little red and grinned.

"But obviously, you don't think so," Snape muttered, glancing at Harry, who nodded, his eyes portraying his regret. "And all these events are compelling me to agree, totally." The guilt and remorse in his eyes was making Harry feel all the worse for withholding the secret from him. A warning glance from Hermione brought a halt to his half formed ideas of telling the truth about Snape's role, forcibly reminding him of the fact that the proper events must come out at their proper time, not before.

"But," said Harry, "just say — just say Dumbledore's wrong about Snape —"

"People have said it, many times. It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgment. I do; therefore, I trust Severus."

"Thanks," Snape said, throwing a surprised look at Remus.

"No need for thanks," Remus said. "I was never exactly at loggerheads with you." He could not resist pointing out this little fact, and was awarded instantly as both James and Sirius blushed and looked faintly ashamed of themselves.

"Sorry, Rem," both Sirius and James murmured, grinning sheepishly at the Werewolf, who mock-glared at them for a moment before giving in to grinning back.

"But Dumbledore can make mistakes," argued Harry. "He says it himself. And you" — he looked Lupin straight in the eye — "do you honestly like Snape?"

"I neither like nor dislike Severus," said Lupin. "No, Harry, I am speaking the truth," he added, as Harry pulled a skeptical expression. "We shall never be bosom friends, perhaps; after all that happened between James and Sirius and Severus, there is too much bitterness there. But I do not forget that during the year I taught at Hogwarts, Severus made the Wolfsbane Potion for me every month, made it perfectly, so that I did not have to suffer as I usually do at the full moon."

"And we are thankful to you for that." Harry jerked up in surprise to hear these words from none other than his own father. From the expression on Snape's face even he was looking thunderstruck by the proclamation. "No need to look so surprised," James admonished. "We did bully you a lot, and that's a fact. I won't say that you were guiltless, but we did instigate you on too many occasions, and that is most certainly our own fault."

"Absolutely," Sirius agreed. "You are a git, no doubt, but we are more so."

"Umm…Thanks, I guess," Snape said, a little uneasily, still looking bewildered and continued reading.

"But he 'accidentally' let it slip that you're a werewolf, so you had to leave!" said Harry angrily.

Lupin shrugged. "The news would have leaked out anyway. We both know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much worse damage on me by tampering with the potion. He kept me healthy. I must be grateful."

"Maybe he didn't dare mess with the potion with Dumbledore watching him!" said Harry.

"You are determined to hate him, aren't you?" Molly asked.

Harry let out a chuckle. "I think I was. Funny that Remus asked me almost the same thing."

"It was a bit too Harry," Hermione said.

"You are determined to hate him, Harry," said Lupin with a faint smile. "And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore's orders that Severus questioned Draco."

"Most likely," Lily said firmly, not willing to believe that her friend could be a Death Eater.

. . and now you've torn it quite apart I'll thank you to give back my heart!

Celestina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note and loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs. Weasley joined in with enthusiastically.

"Eez eet over?" said Fleur loudly. "Thank goodness, what an 'orrible —"

"Uh oh!" Alice murmured, smirking at the annoyed look on Molly's face. "Someone save that poor girl from the 'famous red-headed temper."

"Shut up, Alice. And stop smirking," the 'red-headed girl' mumbled back.

"Shall we have a nightcap, then?" asked Mr. Weasley loudly, leaping to his feet. "Who wants eggnog?"

"And that someone turns out to be ARTHUR," Frank said dramatically, taking up on his girlfriend's words. Molly shot a glare at him.

"What have you been up to lately?" Harry asked Lupin, as Mr. Weasley bustled off to fetch the eggnog, and everybody else stretched and broke into conversation.

"Oh, I've been underground," said Lupin. "Almost literally. That's why I haven't been able to write, Harry; sending letters to you would have been something of a giveaway."

"With the Werewolves," Remus answered to the questioning glances of his friends.

"But won't that be dangerous," James said. "What if they deem you as an enemy or something?"

"Someone had to do it, Prongs," Remus placated. "And that obviously has to be another Werewolf. That's why, I guess." He finished a little lamely.

"But we are still not liking it," Sirius growled, with a somewhat annoyed look at the Headmaster.

"What do you mean?" '

"I've been living among my fellows, my equals," said Lupin. "Werewolves," he added, at Harry's look of incomprehension. "Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side. Dumbledore wanted a spy and here I was . . . ready-made."

"My apologies, Remus," Dumbledore said.

Remus shook his head fervently. "Not required, Headmaster. I guess it was needed."

"It was," Hermione said. "Though, it didn't help too much, I think." She added as an afterthought.

He sounded a little bitter, and perhaps realized it, for he smiled more warmly as he went on, "I am not complaining; it is necessary work and who can do it better than I? However, it has been difficult gaining their trust. I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing — and sometimes killing — to eat."

"And that's why people are afraid of and detest Werewolves," Remus said, letting out a soft sigh.

"Then that's stupid of them," Arthur spoke up, sounding annoyed. "It will be the same as labeling the entire Wizarding population as bad just because Voldemort and a few others turned out rotten."

"But not the majority, Arthur," Remus protested. "Voldemort is just one and even if you take the others into consideration it won't amount to much. To the contrary, most of 'our lots' are not much to speak of…"

"And that Mr. Lupin is directly or indirectly our fault," Minerva said, interrupting Remus's invective. "Due to our useless beliefs and rigid thinking, we tend to loath people who are different from us. This prejudice gives rise to unrest amongst them, which ultimately turn them towards the dark side." Remus hesitated a bit before nodding his acceptance.

"How come they like Voldemort?"

"They think that, under his rule, they will have a better life," said Lupin. "And it is hard to argue with Greyback out there. . . ."

"Who's Greyback?"

"You haven't heard of him?" Lupin's hands closed convulsively in his lap. "Fenrir Greyback is, perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it as his mission in life to bite and to contaminate as many people as possible; he wants to create enough were-wolves to overcome the wizards. Voldemort has promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback specializes in children. . . . Bite them young, he says, and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards. Voldemort has threatened to unleash him upon people's sons and daughters; it is a threat that usually produces good results."

"Not much has changed then," Dumbledore said, sadly, watching as a pale looking Remus was yet again surrounded by a 'Marauder hug'. "Even now Tom uses the Werewolf threat and very effectively too."

Hermione snorted derisively. "Makes sense too. He would use all such nefarious ways. He loves playing with human fears and weaknesses. I always thought that he won, more by using our weaknesses than utilizing his strengths. Though he wa…is powerful."

Lupin paused and then said, "It was Greyback who bit me."

"What?" said Harry, astonished. "When — when you were a kid, you mean?"

"Yes. My father had offended him. I did not know, for a very long time, the identity of the werewolf who had attacked me; I even felt pity for him, thinking that he had had no control, knowing by then how it felt to transform. But Greyback is not like that. At the full moon, he positions himself close to victims, ensuring that he is near enough to strike. He plans it all. And this is the man Voldemort is using to marshal the werewolves. I cannot pretend that my particular brand of reasoned argument is making much headway against Greyback's insistence that we werewolves deserve blood, that we ought to revenge ourselves on normal people."

"You are normal, Lupin, and better get that in your head," Sirius growled. "A stupid problem, over which you got no control, doesn't make you abnormal or anything."

"Your friends are right, Mr. Lupin," Minerva said. "It's high time that you start thinking yourself as a normal wizard, someone with an affliction, that's it."

"Totally, Remus," Lily added fiercely. "so, if you have even an ounce of sense and logic in you, you should snap out of these idiotic musings."

"Yes...Mum," Remus replied smirking at her.

"Idiot!" Lily snapped back and flung a pillow at the Werewolf, which he easily caught and threw back.

"But you are normal!" said Harry fiercely. "You've just got a — a problem —"

Lupin burst out laughing. "Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. He called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit."

"Not to mention that you were teased a lot for that too," Alice supplied. "Though the girls find it cute, I think." Remus flushed as laughter broke out in the room once again.

He accepted a glass of eggnog from Mr. Weasley with a word of thanks, looking slightly more cheerful, Harry, meanwhile, felt a rush of excitement: This last mention of his father had reminded him that there was something he had been looking forward to asking Lupin.

"Have you ever heard of someone called the Half-Blood Prince?"

"The Half-Blood what?"

"Prince," said Harry, watching him closely for signs of recognition.

"There are no Wizarding princes," said Lupin, now smiling. "Is this a title you're thinking of adopting? I should have thought being 'the Chosen One' would be enough."

"I told you," Harry moaned. "Even then you thought that I might have wanted to adopt that Title."

"Sorry, I guess," Remus said, grinning at the annoyed look on Harry's face.

"It's nothing to do with me!" said Harry indignantly. "The Half-Blood Prince is someone who used to go to Hogwarts; I've got his old Potions book. He wrote spells all over it, spells he invented. One of them was Levicorpus —"

"Oh, that one had a great vogue during my time at Hogwarts," said Lupin reminiscently. "There were a few months in my fifth year when you couldn't move for being hoisted into the air by your ankle."

"Especially by you guys," Snape was indignantly. "I invented the spell and also managed to become the victim the maximum number of times. Ridiculous."

"Sorry, Sevvie. But, I will take that as a complement," Sirius said, effectively dodging the pillow thrown by Snape, causing the others to once again break out into chuckles. .

"But if it causes you any peace of mind, even we were the victims of this spell many a time," James said grinning. "Though most of the times at the hands of our housemates and friends."

Snape frowned. "Serves you right," he mumbled, though the corners of his mouth twitched.

"My dad used it," said Harry. "I saw him in the Pensive, he used it on Snape."

He tried to sound casual, as though this was a throwaway comment of no real importance, but he was not sure he had achieved the right effect; Lupin's smile was a little too understanding.

"Yes," he said, "but he wasn't the only one. As I say, it was very popular. . . . You know how these spells come and go. , . ."

"But it sounds like it was invented while you were at school," Harry persisted.

"So, you didn't know that the spell was invented by me?" Snape questioned, throwing a curious look at Remus.

Remus shook his head. "Not really. I wasn't sure. Not about the fact that you had invented it. And then again, this spell is used by the whole of Hogwarts now. Many a students will have it written down in their books or somewhere. Obviously, that doesn't prove anything. And, I obviously did not know that you call yourself 'The Half Blood Prince'." The last was accompanied by an amused chuckle from Remus, which was taken up by the other Marauders.

"That is a rather fancy Nick Name," Ron said, joining the Marauders. Snape glared at him before returning to the book.

"Not necessarily," said Lupin. "Jinxes go in and out of fashion like everything else."

He looked into Harry's face and then said quietly, "James was a pureblood, Harry, and I promise you, he never asked us to call him 'Prince.'"

"Though he did try to get us to call him 'King James'," Sirius said smirking at the aghast looking Marauder.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Then I was completely right to call him a Big-Headed prat."

"Loves to rub it in…" James mumbled, but didn't dare to add on a lot, conscious of Lily's piercing look on him.

Abandoning pretense, Harry said, "And it wasn't Sirius? Or you?"

"Definitely not."

"Oh." Harry stared into the fire. "I just thought — well, he's helped me out a lot in Potions classes, the Prince has."

"How old is this book, Harry?"

"I dunno, I've never checked."

"Won't help a lot," Snape murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "That book is somewhat ancient."

"Well, perhaps that will give you some clue as to when the Prince was at Hogwarts," said Lupin.

Shortly after this, Fleur decided to imitate Celestina singing "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love," which was taken by everyone, once they had glimpsed Mrs. Weasley's expression, to be the cue to go to bed. Harry and Ron climbed all the way up to Ron's attic bedroom, where a camp bed had been added for Harry.

Ron fell asleep almost immediately, but Harry delved into his trunk and pulled out his copy of Advanced Potion-Making before getting into bed. There he turned its pages, searching, until he finally found, at the front of the book, the date that it had been published. It was nearly fifty years old.

"Wow!" Sirius exclaimed. "You were right about it being ancient."

"Positively!" Frank said. "That goes almost as far back as the time that Voldemort was in Hogwarts. Or rather Tom Riddle."

"It's not his book," Snape said, with a bit of a shudder. "'At least that much I can assure you. The book is pretty harmless, though not all the spells are."

Neither his father, nor his father's friends, had been at Hogwarts fifty years ago. Feeling disappointed, Harry threw the book back into his trunk, turned off the lamp, and rolled over, thinking of werewolves and Snape, Stan Shunpike and the Half-Blood Prince, and finally falling into an uneasy sleep full of creeping shadows and the cries of bitten children. . . .

"Now I have given him even more nightmares," Remus said, rolling his eyes…at the book in Snape's hand. Or so it seemed.

"It was rather mild ones compared to the ones I was used to having," Harry said, trying to reassure the stricken looking Werewolf. It worked, somehow, as now though Remus looked a little relieved; it was Harry's parent's turn to spot the stricken and agitated look.

"She's got to be joking. . . ."

Harry woke with a start to find a bulging stocking lying over the end of his bed. He put on his glasses and looked around; the tiny window was almost completely obscured with snow and, in front of it, Ron was sitting bolt upright in bed and examining what appeared to be a thick gold chain.

"What's that?" asked Harry. '

"It's from Lavender," said Ron, sounding revolted. "She honestly thinks I'd wear ..."

"No…No…No…" Ron moaned dramatically. "Not a mention of that idiotic thing."

Hermione furrowed her brows. "Now this seems to be something I don't know about. And I can't wait to find out. And stop with all the drama, Ron. It's getting boring." Ron stopped with his moaning, instead resorted to making faces – both at the book and an occasional one at Hermione.

Harry looked more closely and let out a shout of laughter, dangling from the chain in large gold letters were the words: "My sweetheart"

"You did not get that!" Alice exclaimed, giggling madly. The rest of the people in the room had also given full rein to their laughter. "What was Lavender even thinking? You should definitely wear it in school. Just think of the reactions you will be getting. Terrifically fantastic."

"You are even worse than Harry," Ron said, sporting the familiar 'full-fledged Weasley blush.'

"I think, it's sorta cute," Lily said, giggling even harder than Alice. James was looking at her, seeming faintly revolted; while Sirius was laughing his head off from beside him.

"You are in for a rough one, Prongsie" he commented, between laughs. "You can pretty well expect something like this from Lils, come Christmas."

"Don't be idiotic," Lily answered back. "I said, I though it to be cute. Not that I like it or would like to present something like that, to anyone. And James is not my sweetheart."

"Yet, Lily, yet. And maybe you will prefer something along the lines of 'My Possession. Hands off!"

"Shut up, Sirius/ Padfoot!" Lily and James shrieked as one, causing the others in the room to cover up their ears. Sirius opened his mouth to retort back, but fell silent at a sharp nudge in the ribs by Remus, who fixed him with a stare that clearly meant 'Lay off'. After all, an angry Lily is never a very good sight to encounter, especially if you are the one who is responsible for the anger.

The Trio sniggered, noting the amount of power Lily or rather Lily's anger held within the boys, while Snape resumed reading quickly to prevent the argument from gathering fuel.

"Nice," he said. "Classy. You should definitely wear it in front of Fred and George."

"If you tell them," said Ron, shoving the necklace out of sight under his pillow, "I — I — I'll —"

"Stutter at me?" said Harry, grinning. "Come on, would I?"

"Harry is a really, really good friend," Sirius muttered, sounding envious. "James would have announced it to the whole house and the whole school at the first opportunity."

"Would not!" James said looking hurt. Sirius smirked and raised his eyebrows at James. "Not…Not always…Maybe a few times, just for a laugh." the dark haired boy hastily amended.

"How could she think I'd like something like that, though?" Ron demanded of thin air, looking rather shocked.

"Well, think back," said Harry. "Have you ever let it slip that you'd like to go out in public with the words 'My Sweetheart' round your neck?"

"Well... we don't really talk much," said Ron. "It's mainly . . ."

"Snogging," Alice said with a laugh.

"Snogging," said Harry.

"Well, yeah," said Ron. He hesitated a moment, then said, "Is Hermione really going out with McLaggen?"

"I dunno," said Harry. "They were at Slughorn's party together, but I don't think it went that well."

"And who exactly gave you the permission to tell that," Hermione said, rounding on Harry. "I most certainly, don't remember giving it."

Harry rolled his eyes at her. "I didn't know that it was a heavily guarded secret. To be frank, I didn't even think much before telling this."

"Whatever!" Hermione huffed and retorted to maintaining an icy glare at the green eyed boy, who was now sharing a laugh with his other best friend.

Ron looked slightly more cheerful as he delved deeper into his stocking.

Harry's presents included a sweater with a large Golden Snitch worked onto the front, hand-knitted by Mrs. Weasley, a large box of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products from the twins, and a slightly damp, moldy-smelling package that came with a label reading To Master, From Kreacher,

"Do not open that!" Sirius cried out, vehemently. "That just can't contain anything good."

"Can't be anything dangerous," Molly said, reasonably. "The post is being checked, remember?"

"Yeah! Maybe," Sirius relented. "But it can be something yucky or nasty!"

Harry stared at it. "D'you reckon this is safe to open?" he asked.

"Can't be anything dangerous, all our mail's still being searched at the Ministry," replied Ron, though he was eyeing the parcel suspiciously.

"I didn't think of giving Kreacher anything. Do people usually give their house-elves Christmas presents?" asked Harry, prodding the parcel cautiously.

"Hermione would," said Ron. "But let's wait and see what it is before you start feeling guilty."

"Fair enough," Remus said. "Look before you get off to the guilty trip."

"Especially with Kreacher being the gift-giver," Sirius said ominously. Hermione glared at him, but he chose to ignore it, having no wish to listen to another extended lecture on Elves and their rights.

A moment later, Harry had given a loud yell and leapt out of his camp bed; the package contained a large number of maggots. "Nice," said Ron, roaring with laughter. "Very thoughtful."

"Ugh!" The girls were looking a little sickened, but the boys had burst out laughing, including Harry himself, who had not found the situation remotely hilarious when it had occurred.

"I kinda second that, Ron," Frank laughed. "The gift was very, very thoughtful. A perfect Christmas gift, Maggots. We can get some for you this Christmas, Harry, for old time's sakes." A renewed bout of laughter rang out in the room.

"I would absolutely love it!" Harry exclaimed, still chortling hard. "In return, I can certainly convince Alice to present you with a necklace same as the one Ron had received from Lavender."

"You won't do that!" Frank murmured worriedly, sneaking a look at his girlfriend, who was still giggling madly.

Harry smirked. "You never know, Frank. I just might. Especially if I get Maggots for Christmas." James and Sirius were throwing rather proud looks at Harry. It took some time for all the laughing to end and for Snape to resume the chapter.

"I'd rather have them than that necklace," said Harry, which sobered Ron up at once.

"No kidding!" Ron murmured, mimicking gagging. Hermione grinned and ruffled his hair playfully.

Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they all sat down for Christmas lunch, everyone except Fleur (on whom, it appeared, Mrs. Weasley had not wanted to waste one) and Mrs. Weasley herself, who was sporting a brand-new midnight blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny star like diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.

"Fred and George gave them to me! Aren't they beautiful?"

"Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now we're washing our own socks," said George, waving an airy hand. "Parsnips, Remus?"

"Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair," said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out; Harry felt goose bumps erupt up his neck that had nothing to do with the maggot.

There was a chorus of 'Awws', taken up by the female portion of the group; at least the teenaged ones. Minerva restricted herself to just smiling at the blushing boy.

"'Ow 'orrible," said Fleur, with an affected little shudder.

"Yes, isn't it?" said Ron. "Gravy, Fleur?" In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat.

"Smooth!" Alice said smirking at the affronted looking Ron, who murmured something along the lines of 'had to mention that' under his breath.

"I don't think the author could resist it," Harry murmured back to Ron. "You and your effects to Veelas…even Part Veelas are too much of a temptation to resist." Ron smacked his arm hard, glaring fiercely at him.

"You are as bad as zat Tonks," said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. "She is always knocking —"

"I invited dear Tonks to come along today," said Mrs. Weasley, setting down the carrots with unnecessary force and glaring at Fleur. "But she wouldn't come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?"

"No, I haven't been in contact with anybody very much," said Lupin. "But Tonks has got her own family to go to, hasn't she?"

"Hmmm," said Mrs. Weasley. "Maybe. I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually."

"Hell, that girl seems to have lost it, finally and totally," Sirius muttered, a little anger clouding his voice. "Nobody should spend their Christmas alone. Especially my cousin."

"But why on earth, is she behaving all gloomy and everything?" Lily questioned the Trio.

Harry shared a quick look with his friends. "Actually, we can't say. You will…"

"…get to know eventually," James finished for him, looking exasperated. The Trio grinned apologetically.

She gave Lupin an annoyed look, as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tonks, but Harry, glancing across at Fleur, who was now feeding Bill bits of turkey off her own fork, thought that Mrs. Weasley was fighting a long-lost battle. He was, however, reminded of a question he had with regard

to Tonks and who better to ask than Lupin, the man who knew all about Patronuses?

"Tonks's Patronus has changed its form," he told him. "Snape said so anyway. I didn't know that could happen. Why would your Patronus change?"

Lupin took his time chewing his turkey and swallowing before saying slowly, "Sometimes ... a great shock ... an emotional upheaval ..."

"That's unlike you, Moony," Sirius murmured, scowling. "You never take time to answer questions. In fact, you are too impatient at times to answer them."

"Maybe, I didn't know the answer," Remus protested, but even he was confused. He knew the answer to Harry's question, even now. There seemed no reason to take time in answering that, in future. The Trio exchanged grins amongst themselves, picturing the situation, when they finally get to know about Remus and Tonks.

"It looked big, and it had four legs," said Harry, struck by a sudden thought and lowering his voice. "Hey ... it couldn't be —?"

"Arthur!" said Mrs. Weasley suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthur — it's Percy!"

"That was…unexpected," Lily said, looking at Molly, whose expression was a mixture of delight and incredulity.

Minerva frowned. "Sorry, Ms Prewett. But somehow I don't think he has come to reunite with the family. The timing is a bit…unusual."

"What?"

Mr. Weasley looked around. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better look. There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight. He was not, however, alone.

"Arthur, he's — he's with the Minister!"

"Oh hell!" James snapped. "The ministry just can't leave my son at peace, can it? Have to disturb him even at Christmas."

"The minister may have come to meet someone else, James," Remus said reasonably. "It doesn't say that he wants to meet Harry. Though most probably he is!"

And sure enough, the man Harry had seen in the Daily Prophet was following along in Percy's wake, limping slightly, his mane of graying hair and his black cloak flecked with snow. Before any of them could say anything, before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy.

There was a moment's painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother."

"Oh, Percy!" said Mrs. Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms.

"After all he is my son!" Molly said indignantly, noting the disapproving looks that most of the boys seemed to be giving her. "I am allowed to miss him, even though he is behaving like a prat."

"Of course you are, dear." Lily laid a soothing arm on her shoulder, while glaring at the boys around her. "Do read ahead, Severus."

Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick and smiling as he observed this affecting scene.

"You must forgive this intrusion," he said, when Mrs. Weasley looked around at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "Percy and I were in the vicinity — working, you know — and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."

But Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family. He stood, poker-straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads. Mr. Weasley, Fred, and George were all observing him, stony-faced.

"Please, come in, sit down, Minister!" fluttered Mrs. Weasley, straightening her hat. "Have a little purkey, or some tooding. ... I mean —"

"Purkey and Tooding? Wow, Molly, you seem to have found out new dishes," Sirius said, laughing aloud.

Molly groaned and put her head in her hands. "I can't believe it. I am acting all nervous and fluttery around the Minister! It's so stupid."

"But a common enough happening," Minerva said, smiling slightly at her student. "And a little expected if the Minister actually barges in unannounced during Christmas lunch."

"No, no, my dear, Molly," said Scrimgeour. Harry guessed that he had checked her name with Percy before they entered the house. "I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all so badly. . . ."

"Oh, Perce!" said Mrs. Weasley tearfully, reaching up to kiss him.

". . . We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you I don't want to butt in! Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden . . . Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?"

"Harry, obviously," Sirius murmured. "Stupid idiotic Minister. Set out to get my Godson."

"Mr. Black!" Minerva said sharply. "You can't ridicule someone without knowing what he has come to say. Though probably it's nothing good. But still we have to give him a chance."

The atmosphere around the table changed perceptibly. Everybody looked from Scrimgeour to Harry. Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour's pretense that he did not know Harry's name convincing, or find it natural that he should be chosen to accompany the Minister around the garden when Ginny, Fleur, and George also had clean plates.

"Yeah, all right," said Harry into the silence.

He was not fooled; for all Scrimgeour's talk that they had just been in the area, that Percy wanted to look up his family, this must be the real reason that they had come, so that Scrimgeour could speak to Harry alone.

"It's fine," he said quietly, as he passed Lupin, who had half risen from his chair. "Fine," he added, as Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to speak.

"Wonderful!" said Scrimgeour, standing back to let Harry pass through the door ahead of him. "We'll just take a turn around the garden, and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!"

"You should have let us speak for you, Harry," Remus said, exasperatedly.

Harry shrugged casually. "It wasn't too big a deal. Just a talk. And the Minister didn't really bother me."

Hermione chuckled. "In more ways than one, it was Harry who bothered him more."

Harry walked across the yard toward the Weasleys' overgrown, snow-covered garden, Scrimgeour limping slightly at his side. He had, Harry knew, been Head of the Auror office; he looked tough and battle-scarred, very different from portly Fudge in his bowler hat.

"Charming," said Scrimgeour, stopping at the garden fence and looking out over the snowy lawn and the indistinguishable plants. "Charming."

Harry said nothing. He could tell that Scrimgeour was watching him.

"I've wanted to meet you for a very long time," said Scrimgeour, after a few moments. "Did you know that?"

"No," said Harry truthfully.

"Oh yes, for a very long time. But Dumbledore has been very protective of you," said Scrimgeour. "Natural, of course, natural, after what you've been through. . . . Especially what happened at the Ministry ..."

"Doesn't take time, getting to the point!" Lily said darkly. "As if Harry needed a remembrance of what happened at the Ministry."

"Well, that's a Ministry official for you," Snape said.

He waited for Harry to say something, but Harry did not oblige, so he went on, "I have been hoping for an occasion to talk to you ever since I gained office, but Dumbledore has — most understandably, as I say — prevented this."

Still, Harry said nothing, waiting.

"The rumors that have flown around!" said Scrimgeour. "Well, of course, we both know how these stories get distorted ... all these whispers of a prophecy . . . of you being 'the Chosen One'. . ."

They were getting near it now, Harry thought, the reason Scrimgeour was here.

"I assume that Dumbledore has discussed these matters with you?"

"Say no," both James and Sirius said as one.

Dumbledore shook his head gravely. "I don't think Harry should lie. Not at this stage. Lying too early in a meeting, gives rise to an unnecessary, defensive attitude. And I don't think that anybody would believe that I didn't discuss all these with Harry."

""Yeah maybe," James relented.

Harry deliberated, wondering whether he ought to lie or not. He looked at the little gnome prints all around the flowerbeds, amid the scuffed-up patch that marked the spot where Fred had caught the gnome now wearing the tutu at the top of the Christmas tree. Finally, he decided on the truth ... or a bit of it.

"Yeah, we've discussed it."

"Have you, have you . . .?" said Scrimgeour. Harry could see, out of the corner of his eye, Scrimgeour squinting at him, so he pretended to be very interested in a gnome that had just poked its head out from underneath a frozen rhododendron. "And what has Dumbledore told you, Harry?"

"Sorry, but that's between us," said Harry.

He kept his voice as pleasant as he could, and Scrimgeour's tone, too, was light and friendly as he said, "Oh, of course, if it's a question of confidences, I wouldn't want you to divulge . . . no, no ...

and in any case, does it really matter whether you are 'the Chosen One' or not?"

"What exactly does he mean?" Remus murmured, mostly to himself.

"It…it seems as if he wants to rope in Harry for something," Arthur said. "Something to do with the Ministry it seems." He turned to Harry for confirmation, who grinned and nodded.

Harry had to mull that one over for a few seconds before responding. "I don't really know what you mean, Minister."

"Well, of course, to you it will matter enormously," said Scrimgeour with a laugh. "But to the Wizarding community at large . . . it's all perception, isn't it? It's what people believe that's important."

Harry said nothing. He thought he saw, dimly, where they were heading, but he was not going to help Scrimgeour get there. The gnome under the rhododendron was now digging for worms at its roots, and Harry kept his eyes fixed upon it.

"People believe you are 'the Chosen One,' you see," said Scrimgeour. "They think you quite the hero — which, of course, you are, Harry, chosen or not! How many times have you faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named now? Well, anyway," he pressed on, without waiting for a reply, "the point is, you are a symbol of hope for many, Harry. The idea that there is somebody out there who might be able, who might even be destined, to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — well, naturally, it gives people a lift. And I can't help but feel that, once you realize this, you might consider it, well, almost a duty, to stand alongside the Ministry, and give everyone a boost."

"Duty, huh?" Hermione said scathingly. "Did he even realize what he was asking of you? A wizard who was not even of age?"

"And to top it all they expect this from a boy who they were adamant to disbelieve till the previous year," Ron added. "And went to all extents possible to prove him wrong."

"Literally all extents possible," Hermione murmured angrily.

The gnome had just managed to get hold of a worm. It was now tugging very hard on it, trying to get it out of the frozen ground. Harry was silent so long that Scrimgeour said, looking from Harry to the gnome, "Funny little chaps aren't they? But what say you, Harry?"

"I don't exactly understand what you want," said Harry slowly. '"Stand alongside the Ministry' . . . What does that mean?"

"Oh, well, nothing at all onerous, I assure you," said Scrimgeour. "If you were to be seen popping in and out of the Ministry from time to time, for instance, that would give the right impression. And of course, while you were there, you would have ample opportunity to speak to Gawain Robards, my successor as Head of the Auror office. Dolores Umbridge has told me that you cherish an ambition to become an Auror. Well, that could be arranged very easily..."

"That…that evil cow!" Hermione exclaimed, glaring fiercely at the book. The others, other than her friends, looked at her shocked.

"What did she do to you guys?" Sirius said, sounding awestruck. "I didn't think I would hear you bad mouthing anyone."

"Especially a teacher," Harry said with an impish grin at Hermione. "Umbridge was our DADA teacher in fifth year."

"What?" James exclaimed. "What was a ministry hag…sorry, Professors…Ministry official doing as your teacher?"

"Long story," Harry said. "Fifth year was a nightmare…Honestly."

Ron threw a sly grin in Harry's direction. "It wasn't all that bad. After all for the first time, Harry k…." He was unable to finish as Harry had targeted him with a Silencing charm.

"Nothing…Nothing happened," He murmured, ignoring the protests that have gone up. "And anyways we are not talking about our Fifth year here. We are supposed to be finishing the chapter." He took the Silencing charm off Ron, but not before he had pierced him with a warning look.

Harry felt anger bubbling in the pit of his stomach: So Dolores Umbridge was still at the Ministry, was she?

"So basically," he said, as though he just wanted to clarify a few points, "you'd like to give the impression that I'm working for the Ministry?"

"It would give everyone a lift to think you were more involved, Harry," said Scrimgeour, sounding relieved that Harry had cottoned on so quickly. "'The Chosen One,' you know. . . It's all about giving people hope, the feeling that exciting things are happening. ..."

"When they are actually doing nothing," Frank said, sounding furious. "The Ministry has certainly fallen even lower! Something I had not thought was possible."

"But if I keep running in and out of the Ministry," said Harry, still endeavoring to keep his voice friendly, "won't that seem as though I approve of what the Ministry's up to?"

"Well," said Scrimgeour, frowning slightly, "well, yes, that's partly why we'd like —"

"No, I don't think that'll work," said Harry pleasantly. "You see, I don't like some of the things the Ministry's doing. Locking up Stan Shunpike, for instance."

Scrimgeour did not speak for a moment but his expression hardened instantly. "I would not expect you to understand," he said, and he was not as successful at keeping anger out of his voice as Harry had been. "These are dangerous times, and certain measures need to be taken. You are sixteen years old —"

"Now he remembers his age!" Minerva scoffed. "He didn't care when he was asking a sixteen year old to keep up appearances for the Ministry's sake."

"Still Rufus Scrimgeour was alright," Hermione said fairly. "At least compared to some of the other ministry officials."

"Yeah, that's true," Harry seconded it.

"Dumbledore's a lot older than sixteen, and he doesn't think Stan should be in Azkaban either," said Harry. "You're making Stan a scapegoat, just like you want to make me a mascot."

They looked at each other, long and hard. Finally Scrimgeour said, with no pretense at warmth, "I see. You prefer — like your hero, Dumbledore — to disassociate yourself from the Ministry?"

"I don't want to be used," said Harry.

"You don't mince your words," Snape said, looking at Harry with a faintly surprised look. "You may look like James and have many of his traits, but you are rather more like Lily." He grinned at the smiling duo.

"Ya…Maybe," Harry stuttered. It was pleasantly surprising to hear that he was more like his mother, especially from Snape. Who had spent almost 7 years telling Harry just the opposite.

"Some would say it's your duty to be used by the Ministry!"

"Yeah, and others might say it's your duty to check that people really are Death Eaters before you chuck them in prison," said Harry, his temper rising now. "You're doing what Barty Crouch did. You never get it right, you people, do you? Either we've got Fudge, pretending everything's lovely while people get murdered right under his nose, or we've got you, chucking the wrong people into jail and trying to pretend you've got 'the Chosen One' working for you!"

"What do you mean 'doing what Barty Crouch did'? What did he do?" Molly questioned.

"He chucked off Sirius into Azkaban without a bloody trial," Ron responded vehemently. "No Veritaserum, nothing." Sirius's face once again lost quite a bit of its regained color. The professors looked distinctly uncomfortable knowing that they were present but had done nothing to spare an innocent man from having to spend 12 years in Azkaban.

"So you're not 'the Chosen One'?" said Scrimgeour. '

"I thought you said it didn't matter either way?" said Harry, with a bitter laugh. "Not to you anyway."

"I shouldn't have said that," said Scrimgeour quickly. "It was tactless —"

"No, it was honest," said Harry. "One of the only honest things you've said to me. You don't care whether I live or die, but you do care that I help you convince everyone you're winning the war against Voldemort. I haven't forgotten, Minister..."

He raised his right fist. There, shining white on the back of his cold hand, were the scars which Dolores Umbridge had forced him to carve into his own flesh: I must not tell lies.

"That…that sounds like a blood quill scar," Lily stammered. "How…I mean why did that…that woman get you to use a blood quill?"

"Detention," Harry responded. "The ministry didn't believe that Voldemort had returned and thought that I was lying. Trying to get attention and stuff. And the other Professors didn't know." He added on seeing the furious looks that both his parents were directing towards the professors.

"How can they not know?" James questioned, rounding on his son. "This means that you did not bother to inform them, that a teacher was causing the students physical injury."

"He couldn't have," Hermione spoke up in defense of her friend. "Umbridge also held the power to sack any teacher, even without any reason. Harry did not wish to endanger the posts of the other teachers…not even the Headmaster's. That year was a bad one, and I don't think we can actually explain it in full details. Only those who were at school during that year could really understand just how much power the ministry wielded that year."

"We should have been informed, Potter," Minerva said, letting out a soft sigh. "Using Blood Quills are illegal. The ministry couldn't have overlooked that."

Ron sniggered. "Wouldn't have put anything past them. They might have just said that the students were using the Blood Quills themselves to put blame on a Ministry official. Especially Harry Potter. It wouldn't have come to any good, and that's a fact." Lily wiped a stray tear that had escaped down her cheek, and motioned for Snape to continue reading.

"I don't remember you rushing to my defense when I was trying to tell everyone Voldemort was back. The Ministry wasn't so keen to be pals last year."

They stood in silence as icy as the ground beneath their feet. The gnome had finally managed to extricate his worm and was now sucking on it happily, leaning against the bottommost branches of the rhododendron bush.

"What is Dumbledore up to?" said Scrimgeour brusquely. "Where does he go when he is absent from Hogwarts?"

"Just imagine his audacity," Minerva said, her eyes sparkling dangerously. "He is actually questioning a student for his Headmaster's whereabouts. Even lacks the normal respect."

"Not really his fault," Dumbledore said calmly. "He is under too much pressure from the whole Wizarding world. After all, being Minister while Voldemort is wreaking havoc cannot be all that easy."

"No idea," said Harry.

"And you wouldn't tell me if you knew," said Scrimgeour, "would you?"

"No, I wouldn't," said Harry.

"Well, then, I shall have to see whether I can't find out by other means."

"You can try," said Harry indifferently. "But you seem cleverer than Fudge, so I'd have thought you'd have learned from his mistakes. He tried interfering at Hogwarts. You might have noticed he's not Minister anymore, but Dumbledore's still headmaster. I'd leave Dumbledore alone, if I were you."

There was a long pause.

"Well, it is clear to me that he has done a very good job on you," said Scrimgeour, his eyes cold and hard behind his wire-rimmed glasses, "Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?"

"That's rude of him," Dumbledore said mildly. "Harry is his own man."

Harry burst out laughing at this. "Not really, sir. I won't deny that more than once I have been annoyed at you, but maybe I was…am a Dumbledore's man through and through."

"I am not sure I deserve…" Dumbledore started but was interrupted by Harry.

"You do, sir. A few mistakes do not define a human being. Especially if those mistakes were made unknowingly." The others, except Ron and Hermione, looked puzzled at the cryptic reply, but did not question Harry or the Headmaster about this.

"Thank you, Harry," the Headmaster acknowledged, tilting his head slightly at the bespectacled boy.

"Yeah, I am," said Harry. "Glad we straightened that out."

And turning his back on the Minister of Magic, he strode back toward the house.

"That's the end," Snape said, putting down the book. "A comparatively pleasanter chapter, I guess."

"Yeah, it was," Lily agreed. "So, what do we do? We can read another chapter or two well before having lunch. And do we get to hear about your fourth year now?"

Harry thought for a while before answering. "I think we ought to read another chapter first. We need to finish the book. We can recount our fourth year before we stop for lunch. That will just make the process faster. Is that okay?"

"That should be all right, I think," Molly said, looking around for the other's reactions, all of whom nodded. "And, can I read the next chapter?"

"Sure," Hermione said, picking up the book and placing it in Molly's hand.