Harry was in thrall of Lana as she recounted her school days. Hed never heard anyone talk about his mum and dad like this. It was obvious to him that they were all very close and would have died for each other, as Sirius had told him 3 years ago in the Shrieking Shack. Harry almost died with laughter as Lana told him about the trick they pulled on Lucius Malfoy. He soon stopped laughing as Lana told him about Lucius using the Imperius curse to try and get her to tell the whole class that Lupin was/is a werewolf. He was impressed by his fathers Qudditch skills, and was determined to become a better Seeker for it. Harry felt a real bittersweet feeling. Here was Sirius girlfriend - something Harry was still getting his head around - his mothers best friend - his fathers close friend - telling him about his dead parents and dead Godparent. He thought maybe he should be angry at Lana for being alive, but he just couldnt help liking her. Even when he wasnt sure who she was, back in the clubs, he couldnt help but feel like they had a connection. Harrys head was swimming with all the information, but he was so happy. For the first time in months.

Lana was enjoying telling Harry about his parents; she hadnt spoken about them for a long time; hadnt thought about them - it was easier not to, after that awful night. She had to fight back the tears a few times at certain parts. Especially the Sirius parts. Of course, she skimmed over a few things. The Lucius part was funny, but Lana was not looking forward to remembering what he did to get her back. It still...Haunted her. But not in the way that awful night did...

However, their storytelling was broken up by the apperance of Bill Weasley and Lupin.

"Nay..We have to - " Lupin stopped, looking between Harry and Lana.

"Sorry Moony, but I was just telling Harry some stories from our school days." Lana said, stopping smiling and looking apologetic.

"Yeah, so can it wait? I wanna know what happened at the Christmas Ball. And you didnt exactly answer my question about Sirius and Snape. And about why my father pulled him back." Harry said eagerly, green eyes shining.

Lupin stared at Lana, a mixture of anger and delight.

Lana coughed. "Maybe another time, ay Harry?" she said, smiling at him. "Lets just say - It was partly my fault that Sirius told Snape."

"Partly?" Lupin said. "It was totally your fault." he corrected her.

"No it wasnt," she said, in an immature way. "Maybe...80% my fault. But Snape brought it on himself."

"Well if you and Lily hadnt thought it hilarious to blow that damned photo up" Lupin said, a little angry.

Lana frowned. "But it was funny. And you of all people cant lecture me on that."

Lupin smiled. "We could argue about this forever." He looked at Harry. "Are you okay?"

"Im fine. In fact...I feel great. Hearing about my parents - its - " Harry stopped, choking a little on his words.

Lana rose from her chair and walked over to Harry, bent down in front of him, and pulled a suprised Harry into a tight hug. "I love you Harry Potter. So you just behave yourself while Im gone. Ill be back soon. Tomorow night at the latest."

Harry didnt know what to think, and he was a little shocked by the hug and the fact that she said she loved him. Harry felt Lana slip something into his pocket as she broke away from him.

Bill Weasley spoke. "Dumbledore wants a word."

Lana nodded, looking at Harry, getting across that hes to look at what she put in his pocket later, alone. "Okay then. Bye Harry."

Lupin followed Lana back into the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbledore was sat in a booth on his own, with 2 Butterbeers. Bill Weasley sat outside with Harry.

"Ah, Lana." Dumbledore gestured for her to sit down, which she did.

"Dumbledore - " she began, but he put a hand up to silence her.

"I shall take my leave now," Lupin said, and turned, nodding at Lana and Dumbledore, walking across the pub and through the back door.

"You and your damned temper." Dumbledore said quietly.

"Im not going to apologise, if thats what your getting at. You know I dont say sorry unless I mean it. And I dont." Lana stressed the "dont."

"Youre going to have to learn to control yourself around Professor Snape. But Im not here to discuss that."

Lana furrowed her brow, curious yet confused. "What do you want to discuss? I have a few questions of my own."

"Im sure you do. The house you and Sirius lived in, it didnt get destroyed at the end of the First War." Dumbledore stated, matter-of-factly.

"Oh." Lana said, tapping her fingers on the table. "Forgive my impatience, but youre telling me this because?"

"There are somethings there that you might need. Also, neither did the Orders first Headquaters. You mothers house."

"Guess Death Eaters arent big on destroying property. Just lives." Sipping her Butterbeer, Lana looked around. "Where is the Orders new HQ?". The thought had only just occured to her.

"12, Grimmauld Place." Dumbledore said quietly.

Lana thought for a moment, then her expression became one that showed things were clicking into place. "Sirius' mothers house."

Dumbledore nodded, still looking at Lana.

Then something else clicked. "Why didnt you use the old HQ? Or Sirius' house?" she asked.

"I dont have to answer that question for you." Dumbledore told her.

"Right. Too many memories. Im not sure if the good ones even balance out the bad ones."

"Of course they do."

"Wait a - Sirius went to his MOTHERS?!" Lana burst out. "He was living there? Thats where to kept him locked away for all those months? Oh bloody hell." her voice was rising, and some witches turned to look.

"Keep your voice down."

"Oh God." Lana said, her head in her hands, "You KNEW how much he hated that place. That bloody portrait screaming all the time I bet." She shook her head. "I cant think of that right now. What I need to know is - is what I saw - the Ghost Roads - are they actually real or is it one of Voldemorts things?"

Something in Dumbledores usually calm and composed face flickered for a second. "Yes. They are real."

Lanas eyes widened and she took a huge swallow of her Butterbeer, and leant back on the chair. "Oh. Great." she said, not meaning it.

"Do you know what it means?" he asked seriously, too seriously, eyes locked onto Lanas.

She shrugged. "No idea."

Dumbledore took out a piece of parchment and wrote something on it. He pushed it across the table to Lana.

~*~*~*~*~*~ HARRY ~*~*~*~*~*~

Bill Weasley sat opposite Harry, and to lighten the mood, started talking about Quidditch. After 10 minutes, Harry found himself itching to read what Lana had put in his pocket.

"Um, Bill...Id like to be alone right now." Harry said, and Bill nodded and walked off.

Harry delved into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Inside it was a few pieces of parchment, different sizes and a Gringotts key. It read -

"Harry. I know you have James' Invisibility Cloak, and the Maurders Map, photos... plus a vault full of gold. You dont have anything of Lilys. Well now you do. The key is to a Gringotts vault. I probably dont need to tell you that you dont just store money in Gringotts.

Your mother left this in my care, in case anything should ever happen. Lily knew that you would go to Petunia, even though Sirius was your Godfather. She knew very well what Petunia was like, so Lily entrusted me with this.

Theres a few things in there. Just be careful with them.

I hate to dampen this moment, but with all thats happened - I fear you will never get to use it. And your parents wanted to see you happy."

Harry was moved almost to tears, and he looked at the other piece of parchment.

"Vault 000987"

He took the key in his hand and tapped the brick on the wall. He sprinted down Diagon Alley to Gringotts.

A goblin walked over to Harry.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

Harry handed him the parchment with the vault number on and the key. The goblin inspected it.

"Lana Madison is back with us I see, Mr Potter?"

Harry nodded, and frowned. "How do you - "

"Lily Potter told me that Lana would one day give you this."

~*~*~*~*~*~ THE LEAKY CAULDRON ~*~*~*~*~*~

Lana read the piece of parchment again. And again. Over and over in her head she turned this information. She couldnt deal with it. Almost 3 weeks ago, shes awoken to find that 15, nearly 16 years had passed. That she hadnt aged. That, even in Voldemorts abscence, terrible things had still happened. Lana couldnt bare to think of the strain on Harry. Hed never have a normal life. He barely had anything left to fight for. Ron, Hermione...If he lived past 17...Her heart ached too much and her soul was slowly being hollowed out and being filled with a darkness that left her empty.

And now...

"Are you sure?" she asked for the 5th time.

"Yes." Dumbledore replied, for the 5th time.

Something so small. Something her and Sirius had done when they were arrogant teenagers. Something that she had forgotten about. Something that could save him. Something that could save her. Something that could save Harry.

"Because we - me and Sirius - did this - we can - maybe - " she stuttered.

"No. Unfortunately not." Dumbledore said, bowing his head.

"What?" Lana said, disbelieving. "Youre telling me, that with all that you know, we cant?"

"Even I wouldnt know where to start." Dumbledore said, looking up at Lana.

"I refuse to believe that. There has to be a way. There just has to be."

"If there was, if we were meant to - wed know how."

"There has to be a way. And I'll find it." Lana said, folding the parchment up and placing it in her pocket.

"There is no way."

"Youre saying I have to just leave him there? No. I cant. I wont." she said, standing up. "I have to go to my mothers. There are some things there that I need. Ive been putting it off for almost 3 weeks."

"Lana...Promise me you wont try anything. Its dangerous and volatile."

"So theres an it now?" Lana said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not at all. Promise me."

"No. I dont owe you anything." Lana said, pulling her jacket on.

"Promise me."

"I cant. Because promises - I tend to break them. Look whats happened to Harry when I should have been there for him. When Sirius should have been there. Sirius was in prison - whats my excuse? And dont say a coma. You could have found a cure for that anytime. But you didnt. Not even when Sirius escaped." Lana fastened up her jacket. "And for that, I will never forgive you." she said, as she swept out of the front door of the Leaky Cauldron.

~*~*~*~*~*~ HARRY ~*~*~*~*~*~

They had spent longer hurtling around below Gringotts than Harry would have liked. But it was worth it. He thought.

The cart stopped outside a door, big enough for Harry to walk inside. The goblin got out, stroked the door with his finger, placed the key in the lock, and grabbed Harry, making him stand in front of the door.

The door made a humming noise, and then disappeared. Harry stepped through. There was a room, about 6 foot by 6 foot, with shelves on all 3 walls. Harry couldnt help but gasp as he looked on them. Magical instruments hed never seen. To his right was what he recognised as his mothers wedding dress, and his fathers suit. His eyes opened wide.

"When you want to come back, give us a buzz." said the goblin, thrusting a small silver instrument into Harrys hand.

Harry could only nod. He was dazed by the things that were around him. On the shelves next to the dress and the suit, was a big grey box. A white label on it said "videos". Harry pulled it out and sat on the floor, the box in front of him and opened it. Inside, neatly stacked, was 10 videos, Harry counted, each labelled. "Graduation." "The Engagement." "The Stag Night." "The Hen Night." "The Wedding." "Pregnant." "Harry : The Christening" "Harry : 6 months." "Harry : 1st Birthday Party."

Tears clouded his vision - there were actually video tapes of him and his parents! He never thought of it - but his mother was a Muggle, so it did make sense. Harry didnt think the Dursleys would let him watch them - But screw the Dursleys. He was ready to bet that Lana had a video player. He stood up, not bothering to put the box back on the shelf. Looking up at the shelf, Harry noticed a very thick envelope.

Trembling, Harry picked up the envelope that had been sealed with a stamp of red wax. He sat back down, and carefully peeled back the seal. He took out the parchment, being careful not to tear it and opened it.

In writing very much like his own, he read -

"Dearest Harry,

We love you. So much. And writing this pains us, because we know that, if youre reading it, we havent been around to see you grow up. We dont know where to begin. Mainly because we dont know what the outcome could or will be. If Voldemort has found us, if we have been betrayed, then we're sorry. Sorry that we arent there for you, sorry that we cant hold you, sorry that this terrible burden has been placed on your young shoulders. (And sorry if you have to go to the Dursleys :) ) "

Harry felt the tears fall because his parents were apologising for not being there. He wanted them; he needed them so much. That saying, how you cant miss what you never had? Not true. The Dursley part had been written in red, instead of blue, and in different writing, with a little smiley face. Harry smiled.

"There are many different things that could have happened; Many different ways the War could have ended. We can only hope that Sirius or Remus are still alive to help you through this time. We know that Lana is alive, because she is the Secret Keeper for this vault, nobody else knows about it. And she has the only key. By now you probably know about the Prophecy. Harry, we will never let Voldemort take you. We will die before He ever gets His hands on you, our darling son. If Voldemort does fall, he will be back. And when he is, it will fall to you. You can never know how sorry we are that this burden will fall on your young shoulders.

There are some things in this room and in this letter that you will find useful. Other things, like the videos, are just personal. For you to remember us by. Because we know we arent going to live to see the end of this War. Remus, Sirius and Lana, we get the feeling, (unless Lana starts losing her temper with Snape...or Sirius gets too cocky....or Remus...well he never does anything rash) will live to see the beginning of the Second War. Whether they'll live to see the end of it, with you, is another story."

Harry put the parchment down, took his glasses off and wiped at his eyes. He could barely see, his tears were making his vision worse. Folding the parchment up carefully, he slid them back into the envelope. He would finish it later. Looking around the small room, he noticed that some shelves were bare, or only had one item on them. Hed ask Lana later why they were bare. On one of the shelves that was level with his waist, Harry noticed a thick book. He picked it up, slid the letter inside the book, picked the book up, and pressed the silver thing the goblin had given him.

~*~*~*~*~*~THE LEAKY CAULDRON~*~*~*~*~*~

Dumbledore sighed, almost, but not quite, regretting that hed reminded Lana of the spell that she and Sirius had done when they were younger. It had been foolish of him, and he knew that Lana wouldnt give up. Once that girl put her mind to something...He frowned slightly, wondering where Harry was.

Lana stood outside the Leaky Cauldron, feeling the warm sun on her face. Her heart was pounding. All that had happened over the past few days..She was starting to wish that shed never re-entered the Wizarding World. All this time shed come across as strong, having the odd break down, like earlier. When really inside, she felt that she was suffocating. To use Dumbledores words, she felt like she was bleeding to death with the pain of it. Harry, she had to be strong for Harry. He cant see her break down. Too late for that, idiot, she reminded herself. And now this...For the first time in almost 3 weeks, a little ray of sunshine and shone, for a brief few minutes, on the darkness that was her decaying soul. No, not decaying..Deprived. Deprived of the love of Sirius, of the friendship of Lily, James and even Lupin. Hed been acting odd since the time in Dumbledores office. And when they kissed - Lana closed her eyes, blocking that out. It should never have happened. Forget it.

Speak of the devil, Lana thought, as Lupin walked outside.

"Guess Dumbledores told you." Lana said, not opening her eyes.

"Yes. Nay, we - "

"Dont call me that." Lanas voice shook. "Dont call me Nay like were still friends."

Lupin was confused. "What?"

"Youve been acting all weird around me since that time in Dumbledores office."

He rolled his eyes. This was Lanas 18 year old, immature side coming out. "Can you blame me? I thought you were dead. We all did."

"Dumbledore didnt. He knew where I was. Yet he didnt tell you, or Sirius, or anyone" Lana swallowed hard.

Lupin stepped close to her and looked at her. "Again, what?"

"Never mind." Lana said, stepping forward and opening her eyes. "My point, just dont call me Nay. That part of me is dead. Gone. Buried. Past."

"No, no its not." Lupin said, as Lana turned to face him. "Its still very much a part of you."

"Oh dont give me all that crap." shaking her head, she looked at him. "Just forget I said anything. Just me thinking random thoughts out loud."

"Care to tell me any other random thoughts? Like about what Dumbledores just told you? Or, hinted at?"

"He didnt hint at anything. He said it couldnt be done. But if theyre there, in that place..It must mean it can be done. He just wont do it. No, he cant. Its me. I have to do it. Thing is, I dont know where to start." Lana said, the words spilling out all in a rush.

Lupin didnt know what to do or say. "You know, Lana, we dont really know what it means."

Her features hardened. "Nobody seems willing to try."

He knew this was against his better judgement, but he had been at a loose end since Sirius had gone, and now he, Lupin, was the last of the Maurders. He wanted to see this war through, see the end of it - That was the only thing keeping him going. Destroying Voldemort, utterly and completely. And of course, Harry. But what then? What after that? It was unlikely that Harry would live through it, although he hated himself for thinking that. Neither would Ron or Hermione. They would sacrifice themselves for Harry, like James and Lily and Sirius before them. Harry would come to hate himself for it. A lot of people made a lot of sacrifices in the last war, and Lupin had the feeling, in the pit of his stomach, that losses would be greater this time. Sirius had made his.

"Greater and more terrible than ever before." Lupin repeated Trelawneys words.

"Trelawneys words." Lana commented. She looked at Lupins face, and, without either of them saying a word, Lana knew they had an agreement. What the agreement was, she wasnt sure. "Im going to try. If it kills me, Ill do it."

"Im here if you need me." Lupin said.

"I need you." Lana said, "I need to go to my mothers house. She worked in the Department of Mysteries - Maybe theres something in one of her journals about the Veil. Although, she could have worked on something totally different. I never knew what she did." Lana shrugged, shaking her head, trying to think of the little things her mother, Erica, had told her. But nothing made sense.