Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. The only thing that is mine is the plot. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowlings.

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 Chapter 4: Revelations

Two uneventful weeks had passed on Privet Dr.  The new inhabitants were passing the hot summer days in each others company.  Harry and his guests had fallen into something of a daily routine.  They would start their day by waking up at dawn and going for a light run through Little Whinging.  Ron in particular did not like waking up at dawn to go running, but Harry was given no choice, as his Aunt had forbidden him to go any other time for fear of her horrid nephew being seen by too many people.  They would then return to an empty house most of the time, with Harry's Aunt making it a point to keep occupied outside of the house. 

The four of them would spend a couple of hours alone in the house.  It was usually spent with Ron beating Hermione at Wizard's Chess which would result in one of their lengthy arguments.  Harry passed most of the time, surprisingly, with Ginny.  He would show her many things throughout the Dursley house, as she apparently shared her father's fascination with muggles.  Finally around noon, the four would head over to Mrs. Figg's house. 

When they arrived there they were usually given some extra DADA (defense against the dark arts) lessons from Lupin and Tonks.  Because of the restriction of underage wizards doing magic outside of school, Dumbledore had somehow managed to make a deal with the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.  Through this deal, they were able to practice limited amounts of magic.

 Harry knew that Dumbledore must have thought it was extremely important for them to be practicing if he convinced Fudge to allow this.  Lupin had told Harry that Dumbledore thought it was a good idea so that if anything did happen over the summer, they would be ready.  Most of the lessons, however, were based on two spells that Harry had long since mastered. 

The first was the Patronus charm.  This was a charm that acted as a guardian against dementors.  It involved saying "expecto patronum" and thinking of happy memories.  Harry had perfected his stag patronus during his third year from the help of Lupin.  The stag form that it took was a replica of his father's animagus form.

The other lesson that Tonks was working on with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny was throwing off the Imperius Curse.  The Imperius Curse was one of the three "Unforgivable Curses", along with the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse.  Harry had also already learned to throw off the Imperius Curse during his fourth year at school.  He had not been able to do it completely, however, until the end of the fourth year when Voldemort attempted to use it on him. 

So, for the first couple of lessons, Harry had preformed each spell and sat in the arm chair beside the fireplace watching the others.  They unfortunately were not as successful as he had been.  They all seemed to be making headway with their Patronus charms.  Hermione had sat with Harry during these lessons because like Harry she had produced a full blown Patronus.  She had been able to during her fifth year during Harry's lessons with Dumbledore's army.  Her Patronus took the form of an otter*.  Ginny's and Ron's had yet to take a definite shape, but there was more going on then just mist.

The Imperius was an altogether different story.  Ginny had come closest to throwing off the curse.  Harry assumed that it came from her determination to not let anyone control her after being possessed by Voldemort her first year at Hogwarts through his diary.  She had ended up doing something similar to Harry's first attempt.  After being told to sit in a chair by Tonks she had attempted to fight it and ended up sitting on the floor next to the chair with a *thud*. 

Hermione and Ron had not managed to fight off the curse at all.  Tonks had Ron running around Mrs. Figg's living room singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."  Hermione on the other hand, was told to tell Ron that she thought he was much smarter than her.  She did, much to Ron's delight. 

Harry sat in his chair and watched them.  From the corner of his eye, he saw Mrs. Figg stick her head out from the kitchen.

"Harry, I would like to borrow you for a while."  Harry nodded in reply and got up from the armchair.

Harry walked into the kitchen to find Mrs. Figg seated at the table.  She motioned to the chair across from her and he sat down. 

Harry saw Mrs. Figg's eyes stare fixedly at him.  They sat for a moment in silence before she finally spoke.

"Harry, Dumbledore contacted me yesterday and inquired about how you were doing.  I told him that you have been sitting around while the others do the lessons.  Apparently this did not sit well with him."  She paused before continuing.  "You see Harry, Dumbledore feels that you will feel more at ease with yourself if you are actively helping in this war…" 

A million thoughts rushed through Harry's mind.  "So he wants me to fight… I know that I can do it… er… of course I will need some training…"

Mrs. Figg smiled sadly at him at put her hand out to silence him mid sentence.  "No dear, he does not wish for you to fight, physically, at least.  Professor Dumbledore had something else in mind."

Harry shot her an inquisitive look through his bewilderment, "How am I to help then?"

Mrs. Figg looked at him sternly and replied, "Harry, you are going to continue with your Occlumency lessons."

Harry's heart and hopes fell.  Surely this was not the only way that he could fight.  On the other hand he thought that he wouldn't mind spending some more time with Dumbledore, as he had sorely missed his guidance last year. 

Harry gathered his thoughts and spoke, "I understand their importance but I do not know how much good will come from them.  Last year they proved useless when I worked with Sn… Professor Snape."

He was startled by another presence in the room.  "I could not agree more Potter."

Harry turned his attention to the source of the very unwelcome voice.  Entering the kitchen from the door to the backyard was none other than his least favorite, hooked nose ex-death eater, who also happened to be his potions teacher at school.

Harry could already feel his anger start seething and building throughout his body.  His knuckles turned white as he gripped the end of the chair. 

Harry did not want to work with Snape again.  It could all be partially construed as Snape's fault.  If Snape hadn't stopped the lessons with Harry Sirius might not have died.  It was all because Snape had his dignity bruised by Harry.  After a lesson, Harry had looked into Snape's pensieve to see him being taunted by Harry's father.  Snape was so furious with him that he called off the lessons.  If he had not done this then Harry would never have been open to Voldemort's thoughts and he would not have gone to the Ministry. 

Harry did not care that Dumbledore trusted Snape.  Snape had not given him any reason to trust him.  This was apart from the time he saved his life in the first year which was more of a repayment of a debt to his father.  No, Harry could not think of a single reason to go along with the lessons. 

"In all honesty Arabella, I think that Dumbledore is out of his mind if he thinks this will work.  Potter made no progress at all with the lessons the first time.  And look what happened because of that."  Snape glared at Harry as he added quietly, "Luckily for Potter the headmaster looks past mistakes and believes in second chances."

Harry recognized the accusation and shot back rather loudly, "I guess I could say the same thing about you… Professor."

Snape lips curled up into a snarl and he looked as if he was about to respond when the silence in the room was broken by footsteps. 

Lupin appeared in the doorway, flanked on both sides by Tonks, Hermione, Ron and Ginny.  As his eyes met the presence of Snape he stepped forward, "Severus what are you doing here?"

Snape peeled his gaze off of Harry and met Lupin's eyes.  "Dumbledore is under the misapprehension that Potter here can learn the fine art of Occlumency."

Lupin looked toward Harry and something that looked like understanding registered in his eyes.  "Harry, come with me.  I would like a word with you."

Harry reluctantly got out of his seat and followed Lupin out the door. 

Lupin chose a bench closest to the back fence and motioned for Harry to sit beside him.  Lupin stared out across the yard as if deciding what to say.

He shifted slightly in his seat and started, "Harry I know you probably don't want to do this but…"

But Harry did not feel like he could hold his anger in anymore, "Of course I don't want to do this! I hate Snape and he hates me. Dumbledore knows this.  Why would he ask me to do this again?  Obviously it didn't work the first time!"  Harry stopped only because he feared asphyxiation.  He hadn't realized he had been shouting but he was rather out of breath. 

Lupin took his advantage of Harry's state and intervened, "I believe that Dumbledore knows what he is doing.  I am sure that something good came out of your lessons with Snape before…"

Harry cut in, "Tell that to Sirius."

Lupin snapped his head around and met Harry's eyes. He had not expected Harry to bring up the subject of his godfather as he had neglected to since his fall.  He put his arm around Harry and spoke gently, "Harry, Sirius would want you to do this."

Harry jumped up from the bench and faced his old professor who looked rather aged at the moment.  "How could you say that? You know as much as I do how much he hated Snape!  Why would he want me spending extra time with him?"

Lupin looked up and replied in a somewhat more subdued tone, "I know you miss him Harry.  I do too.  He was one of my best mates.  I still can't believe he is gone…"

He looked down and then once again at Harry, "What I do know is that Sirius would want you to be safe.  His love for you was greater than anything, including his hatred of Snape."

Harry continued to stand opposite where Lupin was seated on the bench.  He stared out passed Mrs. Figg's bushes for what seemed to be an eternity.  He could not make sense of anything. 

He knew that Sirius would want him to be safe over everything else.  But he could not see how he would be successful while working with Snape.  There was just too much history.  Being with him in Potions was one thing, but these lessons could affect the rest of his life, all of their lives. 

Harry covered his faces in his hands in frustration.  He removed them and spoke.

"I guess I can do the lessons… but I don't understand.  Why can't I do them with Dumbledore?"

Lupin looked at him but before he could answer Harry heard a voice behind him.

"Harry perhaps I can best answer that question for you."  Harry turned to find himself face to face with Professor Dumbledore. 

Lupin got up from where he was sitting and walked over to shake the headmasters hand.  He patted Harry on the back and gave him a reassuring smile. With that he turned and disappeared into the house.

Harry fixed his attention back on Dumbledore.

"Come, Harry let us sit."  Harry followed Dumbledore and sat on the bench once again. 

"Arabella asked me to come here today Harry.  She seems to think that there might been some slight problem with the Occlumency lessons."

Momentarily forgetting that he was sitting next to Dumbledore Harry replied, "That's an understatement."

When he realized what he had said he had the graciousness to blush but Dumbledore just chuckled.

"Alas Harry, do not worry about it.  I understand that you are wondering why I myself can not teach you."

Harry nodded and Dumbledore continued, "Harry what you need to understand is that we must sometimes do that which we hate most."

Harry sat quietly and listened while the headmaster continued to speak.  "I would love to be able to stay here and teach you but I find that I cannot.  People are looking to me to lead the battle against Voldemort and I find that is taking up most of my time."

"People have to make sacrifices for the greater good all of the time and you must be the next Harry to make that sacrifice."

Harry turned to Dumbledore, "Excuse me Professor, but if I may be frank I don't think anyone has had to work with someone they hate as much as I do Snape."

"I think, Harry, that if you look closer to home you will see differently."

Harry looked at Dumbledore questioningly.  He had no idea what he was talking about.  "I don't understand."

"Your Aunt Harry.  Haven't you ever wondered why your Aunt took you in even though she all too obviously does not care for your well being?"

Harry thought for a moment and then answered, "Isn't it because of the protection from my mother."

"Indeed Harry that is why you must stay there.  But that does not account for why your Aunt allowed you to stay there.  I am not certain as to if I will do you good by telling you this Harry, but I have learned from the past that it is not in our best interest to keep these secrets from you.  I must ask however that you do not let you Aunt know of the knowledge I am about to give you."

Harry nodded quickly, eager to hear whatever Dumbledore was about to say. 

Dumbledore looked at Harry and then turned and looked out toward the house.  After a few moments he started.  "I believe that I am correct in saying that you know Harry that some muggles have traces of magic.  They never really realize what they have as it is not powerful enough to trace.  The muggles with the most of this small magic often become what they call palm readers and psychics and such.  Well, many others never even realize that they can do certain things with their minds so it goes unnoticed."

"Harry your Aunt Petunia is one of them.  When she was a teenager she could do a miniscule amount of magic.  For example she would lose keys and they would appear somewhere in the open where she could have sworn she looked.  As the years went on her abilities broadened slightly, I have to admit that I did not think that muggles could have the abilities that she did.  At her most, your aunt was able to move things with her mind.  Again, she kept it to herself as she did not know about the wizarding world.  That is… until her younger sister, your mother, got her Hogwart's letter."

"Petunia thought at once that she had been overlooked.  When Lily left for Hogwart's she had her bring a letter to me explaining that she had not received her letter but she could in fact do magic.  She had explained in detail all of the magic that she had done.  I had the horrible duty of informing your aunt that despite her small ability, she was not a witch, but in fact a muggle.  We keep track of all of the young wizards and witches who will enter Hogwarts and your Aunt was not one of them.  But Lily was."

"Now as you can imagine, your Aunt felt horribly rejected as well as jealous.  Her younger sister who had always excelled was now doing something that she was not good enough to do.  So of course, when we cannot do something we rebel against it.  She swore to herself that she would never have anything else to do with magic.  She even stopped talking to your mother, which was a horrible blow to Lily, as they had been very close."

"I was not in contact again with Petunia until the night your parents died.  I knew that the only place you would be safe was at her home.  But I knew that she hated everything about her sister.  So I needed to use some… leverage."  Harry saw the wizard's eyes twinkle.

"Your uncle Vernon was of course not aware of your Aunt's abilities, limited as they are.  And she had no wish for him to find out, as you know what your Uncle's feelings are on the subject of magic."

"So I simply told her that if she did not take you in then I would be forced to inform Vernon of her magical abilities.  He would not understand of course that she is just a muggle but I think that he would not think twice about leaving."

Harry stared in astonishment at Dumbledore, "You are blackmailing my Aunt?"

Dumbledore laughed, "Well, I do not like to think of it as blackmail Harry, but yes I am.  You see, the point of all of this Harry is that your Aunt is being forced to do something she hates, but look how much good has come out of it.  You have been kept safe from Voldemort thus far.  This is why I must ask you Harry to do something that you hate. You must work with Professor Snape and keep hoping that like your Aunt, something good will come out of it."

Dumbledore got up off of the bench and started towards the house.  He stopped and looked at Harry, "I hope Harry, that you can do this for everyone.  By doing this you can learn to block Voldemort and it gives us a chance to defeat him.  And I can think of nothing better that will do your parents, Cedric, Sirius', and everyone else's memory justice.

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**Special Thanks to my beta "Bootstrap Jim" **

Jeff: Thanks for the info about Hermione's Patronus!