All right, kids, if you've made it this far, you've invested some interest into the story, and I'd like to request some sort of review. I've only gotten one, and while that's fine, I'm desperately wondering what the world thinks of this one. So, if you could take the time, please review. Thanks! ...............

Chapter V:

The morning passed quickly. Harry was amazed at some of the books they found. The busy silence was broken every few minutes as someone, usually Hermione, exclaimed over a title they came across. Blights for Brothers: Cursing your Family, Dirty Dueling for Profit, Looking Innocent: A Professional's Guide to Lying, and Brewing Glory & Bottling Fame were just a few. Harry and Ron snickered at the last title, which Hermione had pulled from the very bottom, but before she placed it on the shelf, Professor Calabrone, had glanced at it and started chuckling.
They all looked up, and Remus started chuckling as well. Ron wasn't having any luck understanding what was going on, "What are you both laughing at?"
"This book, Mr. Weasley, "said Calabrone, taking the book from Hermione, "was our potions text our seventh year at Hogwarts. Our professor quoted out of it constantly. Go ahead, look, there are hardly any recipes in there. By our N.E.W.T. year, we were expected to have all required recipes memorized, only the new ones were in this book, of which there weren't many." She and Remus seemed to smiling at the memory.
Ron took the book from her and start flipping through the pages, "Blimey, I've heard of some of these, their right tough, hey, this one's been outlawed, I heard Tonks talking about it. What's this?" he was looking at the inside cover of the book, Harry glanced over Ron's shoulder to take a look. There, in sprawling writing, were the words "This book is the property of Severus Snape" but the first name had been crossed out and replaced with "Snivellus".
"Snivellus, what's that? Is this Professor Snape's book?" Remus's hand closed quickly over the book, grabbing it from Ron. He opened it and glanced over to Calabrone, before raising his eyes guiltily to Ron.
"This was indeed Professor Snape's book, Ron. I remember Sirius nicking it off him after our Potions N.E.W.T. He carried it around with him everywhere the weeks leading up to it. Snape's father was a brewer. Had his own shop for while, if I remember correctly, before the Ministry lessened the restrictions on ingredients and safety and quality of potions. Snape was determined to show his father he was good at the family trade; I daresay he surpassed his father in the end." Remus's face had taken of the look of reminiscing Harry had seen on his father's friend's face so often over the past two days."
"But why did Sirius nick it?" Ron asked. Harry looked down; he still had not betrayed Snape's trust by telling anyone about the memory he had seen in the pensieve. Well, no one besides Remus and Sirius, and they had already known about it. He wondered if Remus would tell.
"Because Severus Snape and the Marauders got along worse than the three of you get along with Draco Malfoy." Broke in Calabrone, who was resting herself on the remaining pile of books in the middle of the floor.
Remus nodded. "You already know that though, didn't you, Ron?"
Ron shook his head in agreement, but looked at Calabrone "How did you know about us and Draco?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore saw fit to fill me in on a few of the goings on at Hogwarts before I came. I was sent a letter a week ago giving me a overview of everything." Professor Calabrone explained.
Harry still didn't feel like making eye contact with anyone in the room, but Hermione had moved over next to him, while everyone else turned their attention back to the remaining books. Harry noticed Remus place the book on a side table.
When they had finally finished organizing the library, in the end using magic to place the books back on the shelf, Mrs. Weasley came up with a tray of pumpkin juice and loaded high with sandwiches. After they had finished Professor Calabrone asked for volunteers to help her with fixing her bedroom. Hermione and Ron immediately offered to help. Harry remained back with Remus. As the other shuffled out of the room Harry noticed Remus was eyeing him oddly.
"Remus could, could I maybe have that book to give to Professor Snape?" he asked finally.
Remus looked very surprised, "Of course, Harry, though I don't know if it's the best gift for Severus. You know he can hold a grudge. I'm not sure giving him a book Sirius stole over twenty years ago would be a good thing."
Harry shrugged "It can't really hurt to try, can it?"
Remus smiled and rubbed Harry's head in affection, "No, it can't, Harry. Good luck."
With this, Harry grabbed the book and the tray and headed down to the basement, leaving Remus to join the crew upstairs. As he walked down the stairs, balancing the tray carefully, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs towards him. Pausing just in time he saw Professor Calabrone coming towards him.
"Hello, Harry, cleaning up, are you? Nicely done." Harry nodded and continued down the steps. As Professor Calabrone was walking across the main hallway she tripped and Harry winced as he heard the portrait of Mrs. Black awake for the first time in days. But instead of yelling, Mrs. Black instead started talking.
"Sofia Calabrone? her voice cackled, "I remember you. I knew your parents well. The last I heard of you, you were engaged to Altimus and Lucia Snape's youngest son. Yes, I remember Sirius was quite upset at the announcement. I remember..."
"Yes, Mother Black," Calabrone said, interrupting, "it is indeed good to see you, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a hurry." With this, Harry could hear the curtains being pulled shut. Harry couldn't make sense of it. Had Mrs. Black been talking about his potions professor? She couldn't possibly. Snape must have a younger brother, or cousin, or SOMETHING.
He continued up the stairs, anxious to find Hermione and Ron. He found them in the first floor hallway, Hermione laden with the books she had asked to borrow, Ron looking at her, apparently convinced she was going to tip them over at any moment.
"Hey, uh, what are you two up to?" Harry asked. They both looked up, startled.
"Nothing." Ron answered, "Calabrone decided she and Remus could handle her bedroom, so she said unless Mum had something else for us to do, we were done for the day."
"I'd like to start looking through these books, I think there are some things we'll probably start learning for N.E.W.T.s in some of these." Hermione said from behind the pile. "Why don't we meet up for dinner, I'll be in my room, reading."
Ron looked gratefully at Hermione, and smiled at Harry.
"That sounds great, Hermione. Come find us if you get bored." Harry offered. With this, Hermione headed off to her room and Harry followed Ron upstairs to theirs.
Once settled, each on their own bed, Ron looked about, as though trying to get the courage up to start a conversation. Harry, however, saved him from it, and launched in to retelling what had just happened in the hall.
"What?!" Ron exclaimed, "Engaged to Snape? Harry, you, must have heard wrong. That can't be. It just can't."
"I know Ron, but I've never heard Dumbledore or Remus or any of the others talk about Snape's family, I mean, who else could it be? Do you think there'd be a book about pure blood families in the library upstairs? Maybe we could look it up." Harry thought out loud. He stopped when he noticed Ron fidgeting nervously with the trim of his blanket. Thinking he knew what Ron wanted to talk about, he asked.

"So, what exactly happened at the Burrow last week?"
Ron immediately turned red and mumbled a few words. Harry smiled and urged him on again. Clearing his throat, Ron looked ready to begin.
"Well, Hermione came to about a week ago. She'd already gone on a trip somewhere with her parents. She hadn't told me where. It turns out, she went to Bulgaria!" he finished a little hotly.
"She went this summer, because last she got busy with all of us here setting up headquarters. So, she comes home, fresh from seeing Krum, and she's kinda shy and about it, and she and Ginny were always whispering. It was driving me mad."
Harry pictured Hermione whispering like Ginny did, and found himself laughing at the image. Giggling and keeping secrets was definitely not a Hermione trait.
"Go on. If she went to see Krum, how did the two of you figure it out?"
"On the third day there, Mum sent Ginny, Hermione and me out back to de-gnome the yard, before we packed and came here for the summer. So, we did, only after awhile, Ginny had a gnome that got really angry with her and bit a good chuck of her thumb, so she went inside to have Mum take a look at it. Well, we were talking about the summer, and she said something about going out to lunch with Krum and I guess I said something rather mean and then she blew it out of proportion and got mad at me."
"What did you say, Ron?" Harry interrupted.
"I may have mentioned that she should be satisfied with good old English-bred boys, rather than be being attracted to foreigners. Oh, and I may have mentioned her crush on Lockhart, too." Ron's ears had gone red again.
"Well, what'd she say?"
"Nothing at first. Just put her hands on her hips and started walking around the yard trying to find a gnome, but I think they all saw she was angry and they were running away. Finally, she threw her hands up in the air and said 'If any, English-bred boys fancied me, maybe I wouldn't have to go to Bulgaria to get a boyfriend!', and then I blurted out before I could stop myself that I fancied her."
Harry's smiled widened. Ron had never admitted that to him, though it had been pretty obvious for a long time.
"Well, then she just stopped walking and stared at me. 'You're not joking, Ron Weasley?' she asked. I swallowed hard and said no. And then, Harry," Ron said, getting rather excited, "she walked right up to me and said if I truly fancied her, I wouldn't mind giving her a first kiss."
Harry stared at Ron. "Well," he prompted, "did you?"
"Uhh, no. Ginny came back from the house right then. But I nodded to her, to let her know I wanted to. I think she caught it. But since then, we've been around Mum, Dad, or Charlie the whole time, or else someone here at headquarters."
"So, it's been almost a week since you told her you fancied her, and you still haven't kissed her?"
"Don't remind me, mate, ok?" Ron asked, suddenly embarrassed.
"No worries, Ron. Tonight, when supper's ended I'll stay down in the kitchen, and the two of you can go off to the library or somewhere. That way you can give her a proper snogging!"
Ron lunged at Harry for that last comment, and the two of them continued to wrestle until they heard a loud knock on the door.
"Dinner!" Hermione's voice called to them. She opened the door a crack, and gasped when she saw them, "What are you doing!" she asked, causing them to pause, Harry's right hand grasped firmly around Ron's ear and hair, and Ron's hands with a good grip on Harry's neck.
"Nothing, Hermione, just, ah, just practicing." Harry said, lessening his grip on Ron, as Ron did the same to him.
"Practicing? What for?" Hermione asked, clearly not believing him.
"Well, Ron asked for a bit of help in kissing, and I was just showing him what not to do." Harry said quickly, squirming free of Ron and scooting out the door before either of them had a chance to react.
He was already down the second flight of stairs before he heard them follow. Upon entering the kitchen, he noticed that many members of the Order were again present. Mrs. and Mr. Weasley were both there; Tonks and Remus were helping Mrs. Weasley get dinner on the table. Kingsley Shacklebolt was there, as was Mundungus Fletcher. Off to the side, Harry didn't register the shadow as being Snape until Remus addressed his, asking what he wanted to drink with dinner. Snape mumbled something Harry didn't catch, and went back to brooding in his corner.
Deciding now was a good a time as any, Harry grabbed the old potions text from the sideboard where'd he left it at lunch and walked directly up to his Potions professor.
Harry gulped back the immediate fear he felt. Snape couldn't do anything with everyone was here. He noticed Remus watching him out of the corner of his eye, but continued on my mission. Coming to rest directly in front of his professor, Harry immediately held the book out. Snape looked at him questioningly, apparently not understanding.
"This is yours, Professor," Harry began, "we found it today in the library. Remus said Sirius nicked it off you at Hogwarts, and I thought, I mean, I just think that it's time for you to uh, have it back. It was only collecting dust up there, and that's not right, because it's yours." Harry felt himself rambling, but couldn't stop soon enough. He finally had to pause for breath, and felt that was enough said.
Snape looked at him oddly, not saying a word, before extending one long fingered hand to take the book from Harry. Flipping the front cover open, Harry saw his eyes flick over the name inscribed there. Snapping it shut, he nodded curtly to Harry, and left the room immediately, leaving Remus holding a glass of wine in his outstretched hand. Harry looked around, bewildered. There hadn't even been a thank you. Not that he's exactly expected one, but to just walk out of the room without saying anything was a bit odd. Harry felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Well, that went better than I'd expected." Turning, Harry found himself facing Professor Calabrone, her dark hair shining in the firelight. Bringing his courage up, Harry decided to ask about Mrs. Black's words.
"Professor," he began slowly, knowing what he was about to ask wasn't any of his business, "earlier, when the portrait of Sirius's mum didn't yell when it saw you, in fact, it even said, almost politely, that the last time she'd heard, you were engaged to Alti...well, to the Snape's youngest son....was she talking about Professor Snape?" Harry eyed Professor Calabrone carefully, not sure if he was going to get a reply.
Calabrone closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, they looked a little over bright. Harry couldn't imagine why. "No, Harry, Professor Snape and I were never engaged, though Severus's younger brother Orman and I were. We were engaged by the time he sat his N.E.W.T.s at Hogwarts, though I'm afraid we were never married, as he was killed shortly after by Aurors." Calabrone paused before continuing on, "I must ask you not to pursue this line of questioning any further, as I do not feel it is your place to delve into the personal lives of your professors."
Harry nodded as Professor Calabrone swept towards the far end of the table, her deep blue robes swishing behind her. Harry watched as she seated herself between Remus and Shacklebolt. Remus introduced her and the three of them fell deep into conversation immediately.
Harry took a seat at the end, across from Ron and Hermione, who were both looking very embarrassed. Finally, Hermione broke the ice.
"Harry, I suppose we do deserve our fair share of teasing, it's just, well, neither of us have any clue how to go about this, so I think I speak for the both of us," she eyed Ron, who nodded, "when I ask if you could not tease us too much."
Harry felt another smile on his face, "Because I have all the answers on dating girls?"
"Well, you had a girlfriend last year, Harry, and tons of girls at Hogwarts have always fancied you." Ron pointed out. Harry felt his face grow red.
"Cho wasn't really my girlfriend, I mean, we never even had one date where she didn't end it by yelling or crying."
Ron smiled, "Yeah, that's just the romantic in you, you old charmer."
Harry shook his head, "Nah, she was just intimidated by my devastating good looks."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the both of them. All three of them started in on dinner, a delicious beef potpie made by Mrs. Weasley had them all asking for seconds. The table grew quiet as people set about the business of eating seriously.
Finally, the last of the food had disappeared, and everyone seated around the table appeared to have eaten too much, as there was much loosening of belts and ties on robes.
The rest of the evening passed quietly, until Mrs. Weasley said something about getting everyone to bed. Harry took this as his cue, and asked Remus if he could stay around for a little while and talk.
Ron nodded gratefully at Harry, and nudged Hermione out the door before anyone could ask them to stay.
Harry settled himself down next to Remus. A few of the others muttered their goodbyes and left. Mrs. Weasley was still bustling around the pantry, making sure everything was put away. Professor Calabrone was seated across the table from Remus, apparently very invested in the book she was reading. Squinting so he could see the title, he read A Beginner's Guide to Defense. A little surprised, and little worried, that she would be reading such a basic book, Harry looked up at her. She was staring at him, a small smile playing in her lips.
"No worries, Harry, I'm attempting to find text for the first years." She explained, "I've already got the rest of my school texts decided upon, but where to start a little vexing."
Harry nodded, understanding. He looked up at Remus, whose eyes were currently looking across the room where Mrs. Weasley was again attempting to avoid the offer of help from Tonks. "No, dear, honestly, I've got everything under control. Thank you, but no, I'm quite fine. Why don't you go and join everyone at the table?" Tonks walked over to the empty seat beside Harry.
"Wotcher, Harry, haven't had much of a chance to talk to you. How're you dealing with being here? I mean, this being your house now, and all."
Harry's eyes opened in amazement. He looked to Remus, who looked to be signaling something to Tonks. He caught Harry eyeing him and apologized.
"Sorry, Harry. It was, ah, it was in Sirius's will that everything he had goes to you. It's been rather difficult to get the will moved through, though, seeing as he's still considered to be wanted by the Ministry. They want to seize all Black family properties. But, Kingsley is having a pretty good time of getting things cleared up."
"But, how did you know what's in Sirius's will, if he can't be officially declared..." Harry didn't want to finish the sentence.
Remus broke in, "There was a copy of it among his personal affects up in his bedroom. There was a letter with it, saying he'd left it, so that even if it was years before the Ministry allowed the official reading of the will, at least the Order wouldn't be up in arms about what was supposed to happen.
In it, he left Grimmauld Place to you, as well as the remainder of the Black fortune."
"Oh," was all Harry could say. But, a though surfaced, "he didn't leave anything to you, or Tonks?"
Remus smiled, "He did, Harry. Tonks got a fair chunk of money, and I got the owner's papers to a small cottage up north. There are a few other things, family heirlooms that he left to Dumbledore to destroy, etc. He did leave a few things to Draco Malfoy."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. Why would his godfather leave anything to Malfoy?
"Because, Black family law dictates certain things to be left to certain family members, especially the youngest generation. He gave as much as he could to Tonks, but as Draco is Tonk's first cousin, some of it has to go to him. Don't worry, Harry, until the Ministry accepts that Sirius is gone, nothing will be going anywhere."
Harry glanced over at Tonks. He'd never though of Draco being her first cousin. Odd. She didn't look overly thrilled about it either. After a few more questions about the will, Harry decided it was time to head upstairs for bed. Remus gave him a slight pat on the back, and Mrs. Weasley gave him a kiss and hug on his way up the stairs.
By the time he reached his bedroom door, he listened close, but could only hear Ron's light snores, so he opened the door and climbed into bed, his head whirling with thoughts about wills and estates and descendants.