A/N: A little bit of angst, since who doesn't love angst?  A bit long, and nothing really happens (except for the angsty bits).  Just a warning, I switch POVs in the middle.  It shouldn't be confusing, but I decided to switch POVs rather than separate them into two short chapters.  At the rate I'm posting, the last chapter should be posted by the middle of next week, so almost done.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews!

Anyone catch that game last night?  Game one was a nail-biter (Argh! Stinkin' Zambrano!  Stinkin' bullpen!), and Game 2 was pretty…relaxing :).  The best news is that Sammy seems to be coming out of his slump.

Enjoy!

28. Memories and Friendship Strengthened

The instant Harry opened the door he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.  Something was wrong.  No sooner did the thought cross his mind then a blast of light sped towards him.  Instinctively, Harry dove out of the way and drew his wand, sending back a stunning spell.  A shielding spell was cast, sending the red light back at Harry.  Harry quickly conjured a golden shield that absorbed the spell. Winded slightly from the unexpected attack, Harry peered over the top of his shield at his attacker.  "Bloody hell! You almost gave me a heart attack!" he cried.

Dumbledore only chucked.  "Just wanted to keep you on your toes, Mr. Harrington.  Very well done.  Did you know what I had planned?  You seemed to evade my spell the second that it was cast," he added somewhat suspiciously.

Harry shook his head and vanished the shield.  "No, Sir.  I just…sensed something was amiss."

Dumbledore looked pleased.  "Your reactions are improving.  I daresay you would give even Moody a run for his money."  Harry smiled.

The two spent about twenty minutes covering endurance before Dumbledore brought their training to an early close.  "I'm afraid I'll have to cut this session short, Sean.  I have an appointment with an Order member shortly.  So that you may prepare yourself, I'll let you know that it is someone that you once knew in your other form."

Harry nodded and sheathed his wand.  He had yet to see an Order member since his return, having gotten all of his information directly from Dumbledore.  Harry missed many of the Order members: Remus, Tonks, the Weasleys, and even cantankerous old Moody.  But he knew they would be suspicious of Sean Harrington, and he wasn't ready to reveal himself to them.  That did remind him of something though.

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked.  "I forgot to tell you.  I told Ron and Hermione, er, rather they found out, who I really am."

"Really?" Dumbledore said, the look of surprised happiness evident on his face.  "That's wonderful news Sean.  I can't begin to tell you how happy that makes me.  You need your friends, Mr. Harrington."

"I know, Professor.  I really didn't have a choice, though.  They saw my Patronus during the Dementer attack on Hogsmeade, and it was only a matter of time before Hermione put two and two together."

"Ah, I suspected it was you who drove off the Dementers after they were last seen chasing the three of you."

Harry nodded, shivering slightly at the memory of eight Dementers chasing them.  "Your spell worked wonders too."

"I'm glad you had an opportunity to use it," Dumbledore said sincerely.  There was a knock at the door.  "Ah, my appointment is here.  One moment please."  As Dumbledore walked to the door to open it, Harry nodded and prepared himself to greet the Order member as if he didn't know them.  It was all for naught as the door opened and the Order member walked in.

"Mooney!" Harry cried happily when he saw Remus Lupin enter the door.  For the most part, he looked the same as when Harry last saw him; a little white around the temples and dressed in shabby clothes.  However, his face looked more haggard, and Harry immediately realized that if anyone felt Sirius' loss as much as Harry did, it would be Lupin.  Cursed from the bite of a werewolf, and with two of his best friends dead and the third a traitor, Remus did not have an easy life either.

Remus looked at Harry in confusion. "Hello," he said uncertainly.  "Have we met?"

Harry flustered, all of a sudden remembering who he was supposed to be.  He stammered, trying desperately to think of an explanation as to why he would be privy to such personal information as Lupin's nickname.

Dumbledore cleared his throat.  "Mr. Harrington.  As you have already, shall we say, opened the barn door, perhaps you would be willing to let one more horse out?" (A/N: an old saying about closing the barn door after the horses have already escaped.  Apologies if it's not a British saying as well, I couldn't think of another way to say it.)

Harry thought as Remus looked at the both of them in confusion.  He really wanted to tell Remus; not only would it probably lift Lupin's spirits, but also Remus was the last real connection he had to his parents.  Harry decided, knowing that he probably couldn't think of a good excuse for his slip-up anyways.  "Mooney," he said.  "I have something to show you."  Harry scrunched up his face, and Harry Potter was revealed once again.

Lupin looked him in shock, unable to move or speak for a few seconds.  Then he rushed over and gathered Harry in a great hug.  "Harry!" he exclaimed.  He released him, and Harry was surprised to see a tear on his former professor's face.  Lupin quickly brushed it away, years seeming to drop from his face along with the tear.  "Sweet Merlin Harry!  It's so good to see you!"  Harry couldn't speak, choked up by the surprising surge of emotion he felt.

Once again, Dumbledore cleared his throat.  "Ahem.  Harry, Remus and have some business to attend to.  Perhaps you can practice your accuracy?  It shouldn't take more then a few minutes, and then the two of you can catch-up.  I can fill him in with the details of your past months if you wish."  Harry nodded gratefully.

"I'll see you soon, Harry.  Ok?" Lupin asked. 

"I'll be right here."

Lupin nodded, and then he and Dumbledore left the Room of Requirements.  Harry stood still for a moment, at a loss for what to do.  Finally, Harry decided to take Dumbledore's suggestion and practice while he waited.  He had been shooting at moving targets for fifteen minutes before clapping interrupted his focus.

"Very impressive Harry!" Lupin said admiringly.  Harry blushed slightly and walked over to him.  Lupin looked undecided for a moment, and then said "What the hell," and drew Harry into another embrace.  After they parted, Lupin raised his wand conjured some comfortable armchairs, which they took.  "You look good Harry.  The months away have been good for you.  I was so worried about you."

Harry felt slightly ashamed at causing Lupin pain.  "Listen Mooney, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier.  I-"

Lupin raised his hand to interrupt.  "I understand completely, Harry.  Dumbledore already explained.  Plus, he cast a spell on me that would keep your identity a secret," he said with a smile.  "I know that James and Sirius would be proud of you, of what you've accomplished."

Harry noticed that Lupin's smile faltered slightly at the mention of the two former Maruaders.  "Listen Mooney.  I know Sirius was your best friend, and-"

"and he was your Godfather," Lupin interrupted again.  "He was a good man, and we'll both miss him very much."  Harry nodded, and they fell into a comfortable silence, each remembering Sirius Black in their own way.  Suddenly, Lupin looked at Harry.  "Oh Harry," he said.  "I just realized that you never knew Sirius at his best."

Harry felt confused.  "What do you mean?"

"Well, you only knew Sirius after he spent fourteen years in Azkaban and while on the run or cooped up at Grimmauld Place," Lupin said.  "Plus, the only thing you know of his school days is that he almost played a fatal joke on Snape and that memory you saw in Snape's pensieve.  You never knew Sirius when he was at his best.  Would you like to hear about Sirius?  How he and James eventually 'reformed' after the scene you saw?"  Harry nodded eagerly, and he listened intently as Remus began to talk.

******************************

An hour later, a knock sounded at the door.  Harry immediately changed his features just in time as the door opened.

"Hey Sean, we were wondering…Professor Lupin!"  Ron said as peer around the door.  Once he saw Lupin, Ron and Hermione quickly entered the room.  Lupin stood and greeted the two with a handshake for Ron and a quick hug for Hermione.

"C'mon in you two, have a seat.  We were just talking about old times," Lupin said, conjuring two more armchairs.

"What kind of old times?" Hermione asked with a smile for her old Defense teacher.

Lupin chuckled.  "I was just telling Sean here about the time Lilly publicly humiliated James.  We were afraid he would be so angry, but it ended up turning him from the arrogant show-off that Harry saw from the scene in Snape's pensieve to the James that we all knew and loved."

Ron chuckled, then looked thoughtful.  "erm, what scene in Snape's pensieve?" he asked Harry.

"Er, it was nothing Ron."

"Nothing?" Lupin said amused.  "Well, it's probably nothing now, but at the time, I could tell it bothered Harry a lot.  After all, why else would he risk contacting us using Umbridge's fire?  I'll tell you, it sure gave me a fright when I saw his head poking up through the fireplace."

Harry grew uncomfortable.  He had never told Ron or Hermione why he wanted to contact Sirius, only that he had to use Umbridge's fireplace.  He wasn't sure why he didn't, just that he felt Ron wouldn't understand how it really made Harry feel (he probably cheer his father and Sirius on after learning what they did to Snape), and he couldn't bear another lecture from Hermione.  He saw now from the looks his two best friends were giving him that it was a mistake not to tell them.  "Er, I think it's getting late," Harry said, desperate to get away from the piercing looks he was receiving.  "Will you be coming back later, Mooney?"

Lupin looked at his watch as well and started at the time.  "Goodness you're right.  You three should get to sleep!  I'll try and visit again next week and continue the story."

Harry smiled gratefully at Remus, and the four of them left the Room of Requirements and accompanied Remus to the Entrance Hall.  There, they exchanged hugs and Remus left the castle.  After watching Remus depart, Harry practically sprinted back to Gryffindor tower, hoping to avoid conversation that night.

"Sean, wait up!" he heard Hermione call out.  He had a lead on them, but they caught up at the portrait of the Fat Lady while Harry paused to remember the password. 

Once inside the common room, Hermione rounded on Harry.  "OK, Sean, what's going on?  What was the scene in Snape's pensieve that you didn't tell us about?"

As Harry looked at his two friends, he was sure the guilt was written on his face.  He sighed, and then sat at the couch by the fire with Ron and Hermione taking seats across from him.  The common room was empty except for the three of them.  Harry was quiet for a moment, before taking a deep breath and telling them the story of OWLs during his father's fifth year.  It took about ten minutes to tell the tale, and Ron seemed amused by the entire story.  Hermione's face, however, betrayed no emotion.

"That was brilliant, Harry," Ron said.  "I wish I could have seen that!  I would love to have seen Snape get what he deserves!"

Harry grinned at Ron, his reaction predictable.  He looked at Hermione and braced himself.

"Harry, listen," she began.  "I know how seeing that must've made you feel, but sneaking into Umbridge's office wasn't the right thing to do.  You could have been caught!  If you had told us, then we could have found another way that didn't involve you risking expulsion and-"

"And this is exactly why I didn't tell you," Harry said in an exasperated tone.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Hermione demanded.

"It means," Harry said, his voice rising, "that I don't need another lecture from you!"

"Lecture?  I don't lecture you!"

"That's all you ever do.  'Harry don't do this, Harry, don't do that'," he said in a poor imitation of Hermione's voice.  "You're as bad as Mrs. Weasley!"

Hermione looked shocked.  And angry.  "I am not like Mrs. Weasley at all!" she practically yelled.  "Maybe if you had a mother you'd realize that…" Hermione clasped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she said, her eyes wide.

Harry looked like he had just been slapped.  He glared at Hermione for a moment.  "Good night," he said curtly before heading up to his room.

"Harry, wait, I didn't mean..." Hermione began, but Harry ignored her as he moved out of view. 

Ron stood awkwardly.  "Well, that didn't go well," he said.  Hermione threw him a dirty look before disappearing into the girls' dormitory.

******************************

Hermione felt despondent when she entered the Great Hall the next morning.  She had only been able to sleep for a few, fitful hours, her mind spinning with what happened that night.  Why did she keep saying the wrong thing?  First last year, when Harry disappeared, and then at breakfast over the Sunday Daily.  And now this!  She knew that she was very upset after being compared to Mrs. Weasley and she simply said the first thing that popped into her head – that if Harry had a mother, he would know Hermione wasn't acting like one.  But Harry doesn't have a mother, and she wished she could take those words back.

She hoped to be able to apologize to Harry over breakfast.  He probably wouldn't speak to her all day, but in time, he would forgive her once he realized she wasn't intentionally trying to hurt him.  To her dismay, Harry wasn't at breakfast, and she felt a twinge of panic – not too long ago, she had gone looking for Harry at breakfast, and he wasn't there then either.  She found Ron at his usual spot, eating away.

"Morning Ron," she said tiredly.

"Morning Hermione.  You're late," he said between mouthfuls.

"I couldn't sleep much.  Have you seen Sean?" she asked, a sense of dread building inside her.

To her relief, Ron nodded.  "Yeah, he, well…he said he didn't feel like breakfast," Ron said, concern on his face.  "Listen Hermione, he's pretty upset about what you said-"

"I know Ron," Hermione said miserably.  "I feel horrible about it.  Do you know where he could be?"

"I know his first period is free, and he said he was going to go down by the lake for a bit."

Hermione nodded and looked at the clock.  She only had twenty minutes before her first class, and she knew that wouldn't be enough time to find and talk to Harry.  For a second she wavered between finding Harry or going to class, but it really wasn't much of a contest.  Hermione grabbed a plateful of toast and muffins and headed towards the lake.  She saw Harry sitting against a tree in their usual spot.  She hesitated, but then steeled her resolve and walked up to him.  She stood quietly, not knowing if he knew she was there, thinking of what to say.  Instead, it was Harry who spoke first.

"Shouldn't you be in class?" he asked, bitterness clear in his voice.

"I…I wanted to talk to you.  Please," she said.

Harry turned and looked up at her, his face hard as stone.  They locked eyes for a moment, Hermione refusing to look away.  Finally, Harry's face softened fractionally, and he gestured at the grass nearby.  "Talk then."

Hermione sat down beside him, unsure of where to begin.  "Sean, I never meant to hurt you.  It just slipped out," she began.  "I'm not trying to act like your mother; I just want you to be safe.  I-I just worry so much about you, about what you have to go through.  I wish I could take some of your burden away from you, and I want to help you so much.  Sometimes it comes out as a lecture, and it might sound-"

"Stop," Harry said.  He was silent for a moment, and Hermione was afraid that things weren't going well.  "I know, Hermione," he said finally, looking into her eyes.  "I know.  Sometimes, when I'm thinking of doing something stupid, I hear your voice in my head.  It's like you're always watching out for me, like you're my conscience, and a lot of times I don't want a conscience, I want to do something stupid."  Harry then sat up and grasped both of Hermione's hands in his own.  "I need you Hermione, always will, and sometimes I forget that.  If it weren't for you, who knows where I'd be right now - probably dead.  All I know is that I need you to be there for me, to keep me on the right track and to rein me in when I want to do something…rash."

Hermione felt tears forming, but not from sadness.  She hugged Harry tightly and whispered in his ear, "I'll always be there for you, Sean Harrington."  She felt Harry nod in response.  She released him and smiled.  "Oh, I almost forgot," she said suddenly.  "You missed breakfast," she said, offering her plate of toast and muffins to him.

Harry laughed, a sound Hermione missed.  He smiled brightly.  "Like I said, always looking out for me."

To Devonny Rose: I love that Tim Wakefield…I liked him since he was with the Pirates when they were good.  I figure if I ever have a son, I'll teach him to throw a knuckleball and he'll be good to go.  A Cubs-Sox series would be great, since either way a "lovable loser" gets to be a winner (though of course it's gonna be the Cubs)!  Oh, and thanks for comments about Hermione.  If I edit this story, I'll have to make a few changes.

To willspirateprincess: No H/Hr yet, but next two chapters are light and fluffy.

To fopalup: I'm sorry, but I simply can't write Malfoy.  Every time I try, he just comes off sounding like the stereotypical annoying bad guy and not the devious evil feller he is; I can't do him justice.