Things are Looking up

by emikae

Complete, Severitus, First story, not very good, and not reccomended for reading. Run away from this story.

11. A Load of Things Happen

Harry woke in a dimly lit room. It took a second for him to realize that he had fallen asleep watching Quigley Down Under. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a pale hand resting loosely on his shoulder. Who did he know that had such pale hands? Suddenly he realized that he had been sitting by Professor Snape. The hand looked like it belonged to Snape, but it could always be someone else's. If it were Snape, why hadn't he moved Harry off of him? He then saw a note on the table. Moving slowly as not to disturb the Professor, he got up and went to get the note.

Harry carried the note up two flights of stairs to his room. He decided to sit in the window seat in his room to read it.

Harry-

We saw that you were sleeping, so we decided to go back to the burrow. Ginny took a few photos, and we are going to develop them. Owl us if is it okay to come over tomorrow.

Hermione, Ginny and Ron

Harry-

I'm going to town for a bit. As you were asleep, I decided that you needed your sleep, so I left you at the house. My god-father's not that bad. I will not be back for dinner time, as I have discovered an exquisite café, and I want to see how their dinner tastes.

Draco

Lovely. I am stuck here alone with Snape. It couldn't get worse. Harry pondered what to do until tea time. After much thought Harry decided to read until dinner. He wandered into his library and looked around. It was very nice. Over in the corner by the window there was a desk. Another desk was located in-between two of the bookshelves. Most of the room's walls were taken up by floor to ceiling bookshelves. Harry wandered over and pulled a book out at random. He opened it to the front cover saw something that gave him quite a shock. It said: This book is the property of James Potter. And Lily Evans-Potter.

The last few words were written in a different ink than the first words.

Spying a set of Hogwarts books on a different shelf, he ambled over and pulled a seventh year charms book off the shelf. Inside the cover it said: Property of Lily Evans-Potter. Harry took it over to one of the three armchairs next to the hearth and lit a fire in it. He began flipping through the book. One page was marked by a photograph. It was of his mom and dad, that much he could tell. There were three other people in the photo who he couldn't identify. It looked like it had been taken by the lake at Hogwarts. One of the people was probably Sirius, and the other resembled Lupin. The third man seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place him. Harry sat and looked at the photo for a few minutes. A thought occurred to him. Maybe the third man was in the photo album that Hagrid had given him! He ran to his room and began looking through his trunk for it.

Once he had found it, he decided to put his things away. While he was doing that, Severus was looking for Harry. He was slowly walking through the house poking his head into each room. When he go to the library, he saw that Harry had lit a fire in the hearth. He walked over to it, for the house was a bit chilly, despite the warm weather outside. Severus caught sight of a photo on the chair. He cringed as he recognized it. That was the last day that Sirius ever talked to me as a friend, he remembered. Severus blamed that fact that Sirius had quit talking to him on the fact that Wormtail had told them that he was a Death Eater. It was true, but he was only there because Dumbledore needed a spy. At the time he had been going out with Lily and James and him had been friends. They had finally quit harassing Severus at the end of their sixth year when they were forced to make a truce. They should have known better than to get in a fight outside Dumbledore's office, but they were young and stupid.

Of course James didn't know that Peter was the Death Eater then,. No body knew it except for the Dark Lord. It could have been worse. Severus was broken out of thought by the library door closing softly. Unbeknownst to him Harry had snuck into the library and grabbed a book and left, shutting the door quietly behind him. Severus realized that the boy was probably avoiding him. Oh well. He would be forced to attend dinner. I could tell him over dinner... No. Best to wait until after dinner, so Harry would have some food in his stomach. Looking at the clock Severus realized that he should go downstairs and see what there was to eat. He assumed that Dumbledore had taken the house elves back to Hogwarts.

"Harry. Dinner is ready." Severus told Harry, who was reading on his bed.

"Okay, I'll be down in a moment." Harry replied absently.

"Preferably now. I've read that book before, and it is quite intriguing. I recommend that you take a break from it as, if I recall correctly, the print is quite small." Severus told Harry.

Snape did have a point, the size of the print was starting to make his eyes hurt. "Okay sir." Harry said meekly as he marked his place and got up and followed Severus to the dining room.

"Harry, could you please not call me sir?" Severs asked, a bit exasperated with the boy as he was sure that Harry was comparing him to his uncle.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Because I'm sure that it reminds you of your uncle. You may even may be comparing me to your uncle, which I wouldn't like." Severus said to Harry.

Snape was right, he had been comparing him to his uncle. "I'll stop calling you sir. Is Professor okay?" Harry asked.

"Professor is fine." Severus answered dryly. "Do you know where Draco is?" He asked, noting the other boy's absence.

"He went to the village. He said that he was going to eat at a café there." Harry said.

"Okay. How is he coping?" Severus asked; he was genuinely concerned about the boy's welfare.

"I think he's doing good. He's quiet most of the time. I think that he actually wants to be friends." Harry said, a bit surprised by the last statement.

"So you didn't think that he is just trying to get you to the Dark Lord?" Severus asked as he opened the door to the dining room and showed Harry which place was his. There was a third plate, but Severus made it disappear with a wave of his wand.

"I don't think that he is trying to do that, but he may be. I haven't completely let my guard down. Why did Dumbledore let you stay?" Harry asked.

"Because..." Snape paused for a moment. I don't want to tell him yet. I should wait until he eats. "I'll tell you after you eat." Snape mentioned towards Harry's plate. On it was some mashed potatoes and some smoked ham. (A/N: That's what I had for dinner last night. It was yummy.) Harry began to eat. Severus followed his example and began to eat. It was actually quite good. It wasn't up to house-elf standards, but for a wizard who hadn't cooked for a few years, it was fair.

Harry ate quickly. After a few bites he was full, but he tried to eat more. He didn't want Snape to know that the Dursley's had been starving him and he could barely eat more than four or five bites. After the ninth bite he felt like he was going to vomit. He was debating if he should take another bite when Snape asked him a question.

"What did you say professor?" Harry asked.

"I said, Shouldn't you be eating more than that? You are a growing teen. You need your food." Severus said.

Harry mumbled something into his potatoes.

"What did you say?" He asked sharply.

Harry quietly said, "They had been starving me."

"Who is they?" Severus said quietly.

"The Dursley's." Harry said, wishing that the floor would swallow him up.

"I suppose that you've eaten enough then, but I am going to see if I can stay with you to make sure that you eat like you are supposed to." Severus said.

"May I be excused?" Harry asked.

"Yes you may. I wish to talk with you in the library at six-thirty." Severus said.

"Okay Professor. Is it okay if I go for a walk?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Severus said, picking up the dishes.

After cleaning the dishes, Severus went to the library and got a sheet of parchment to owl Dumbledore.

Albus-

I just found out that the muggles starved Harry. If all goes well, and he accepts me as his father, I am requesting permission to stay at Harry's for a while until he is eating properly. I'll owl you again later to tell you how it all goes.

Severus

As Harry was walking he reflected on what had happened today in his life. He suppoused that it was good. He had a home and he was rid of the Dursleys. He lived near Ron, and he had his Firebolt back.

OoOoO Flashback OoOoO

It had been quite a shock for his Aunt Petunia to open the door and find a cat on the doorstep. She looked suspiciously up and down the street, trying to see who had left the cat. She couldn't see anyone. Harry was in the other room so he could hear his aunt muttering about the people who left cats on people's doorsteps.

"Harry, come here." She snapped.

"Yes aunt." Harry said, coming out of the ssitting room where he was dusting. His aunt was still looking out the door trying to see who had left the cat.

"I found this poor cat on the doorstep. Why don't you take her up to your room to feed her? Just be careful not to let Vernon find out about her." Petunia said, finally turning from the door.

"Yes, aunt." Harry said, trying to hide his shock at what, , or more precisely who, the cat was.

"Here then." Petunia said and held out the cat to Harry.

Harry hesitated for a moment before taking the cat. It was awfully strange to be carrying your head of house up the stairs. Harry awkwardly scratched behind Professor McGonagall's ears. To his surprise, she began to purr. "My day just keeps getting weirder and weirder." Harry muttered.

When Harry got to his room and securely shut his door. Professor McGonagall who had gone to Harry's shoulder, jumped to Harry's bed and with a small pop, resumed her human form.

Harry was thankful that there weren't any bruises on his face and hands and that he had chosen to wear a long-sleeved shirt. "Hello Professor, may I ask what are you doing here?"

"Unless you want to wait until the start of next term to retrieve your Firebolt, I will leave now." She replied tartly.

"You have my broom?" Harry said with a nervous glance towards the door.

"Yes I do. Would you like it?" She asked.

"That would be nice. It's one of the only things that I have of him." Harry said, his heart giving a wrench when he thought of Sirius.

"I am sorry for your loss. You must miss him."

"I do. It's almost unbearable, how much I miss him." Harry said. "I can't even stand to say his name."

"If it helps, it lessens in time." Professor McGonagall said sympathetically. Then she pulled a small case out of her robes. "The case is a gift from the staff for general things."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Saving the stone, saving Ginny, and bringing Cedric's body back, and alerting the world to he-who-must-not-be-named return." She said, rolling her eyes. They had been trying to tell them for over a year, but they didn't believe Dumbledore. "Back to the case. You tap it with your wand or hand and say 'amplifico' and it will enlarge." As she was explaining, she showed him how it worked. "To make it small again, you say 'deminutio'."

Harry did so and made it big then small and big again. When it was big again, he took the broom out and stroked the handle lovingly. "If I make it big and small here without an older wizard in my presence, will I be getting an owl from a certain Mafalda Hopkirk?"

"No. It doesn't count as magic, as it has already been enchanted." Professor McGonagall told him.

For the first time since before Sirius' death Harry smiled. The smile quickly vanished when Harry heard his uncle's car pull in. "You should leave. He doesn't like cats."

Minerva nodded a goodbye and vanished with a slight pop.

OoOoO End Flashback OoOoO

He had some more friends and it appeared that he would be in the loop with the Order. Harry stopped. There was an old looking wroght iron fence in his path. As it was only waist high, he could see over the fence.

It seemed to surround a cemetery. Harry shrugged and decided to find a gate and look at the graves. He followed the fence until he came to a gate. Harry paused before entering. He jumped when the gate gave a loud squeak. He smiled because it seemed fitting that the gate squeaked for some reason. Harry kneeled at the first grave and squinted at the weathered engravings on it.

Floresco Prudens Malfoy.

Solus Multum Potter.

1523-1624

She was a lovely person and a beautiful wife.

It occurred to Harry that he was most likely in his family's graveyard. Harry thought of something and walked quickly through the graves, just glancing at them until he came to the one he was looking for. It was slightly hidden behind some weeds, and the stone wasn't as weathered. Obviously it had been a while since someone had visited. Harry began to pull the weeds from his mother's grave.

Lily Evans

m. James Potter

1956-1981

Her death shall be avenged.

Harry sat and stared at the words until they began to blur before his eyes. He didn't realize that they were blurring from tears until the first one ran down his cheeks. Harry just lay in his stomach on the ground, crying into a mound of grass. He failed to notice the silver mist rising from the headstone until it spoke.

"Harry."

He didn't dare lookup. There was no way that that voice could be real. He hadn't heard that voice since he had dueled with Voldemort at the third task.

"Harry." The voice said again.

Harry dared a glance up. "Mum?" He said, daring to hope.

"Yes." Lily said, a silly grin on her face.

"How— Why are you here?" Harry asked not daring to blink, for fear that the ghost of his mother would disappear.

"I am here because the Potter family summer home is in existence."

"What's that?" Harry asked bewildered.

"Well, it's been in the Potter family for generations, and it is spelled to appear when summoned either unknowingly or knowingly. It changes to the needs of who is living in it."

"Oh. Today we were going to build a house for me from magic. So instead of a house just appearing, the summer home popped up?" Harry asked, the books in the library beginning to make sense.

"I believe so. How are you doing? I haven't seen you since you battled Voldemort, and it's a little obvious that you won." Lily said proudly.

"I'm fine. I really hate to tell you this, but Sirius fell through a veil in the department of ministry and they think that he's dead."

Lily's face instead of saddening, looked thoughtful for a moment. "A tattered black veil? Hanging in an archway? It sounds like there are voices coming from it?"

"Yes. Why?"

"He's not dead Harry! He just fell through. You can bring him back. It's in my erm... blue journal that is concealed in the copy of Hogwarts, a History." Lily shuddered as she mentioned that book.

"What's wrong with Hogwarts, a History? My friend Hermione loves that book." Harry said, trying desperately not to laugh.

"It has bad memories attached to it. Lily said as an explanation.

"What sort of memories?" Harry asked. He really wanted to know.

"How badly do you want to know?" Lily asked, teasingly.

"Really bad. Tell!" Harry shouted at his mother's ghost.

"Okay. Well when I broke up with one of my boyfriends, I threw that book at him and well, let's just say that he was in the Hospital wing for a week. I did get back together with him, only to marry James and have you."

"I feel sorry for the poor guy. That book is huge." Harry said.

"I know. That's why I threw it at him." Lily said laughing.

"Oh well I suppose it could have been worse. You could have cursed a bludger to chase after him. I broke my arm in my second year because of that. That was the year that Ginny was possessed by Tom Riddle."

"Ginny Weasley? She was just a baby when we were attacked."

"Yeah, her. Everything turned out okay. Me and Ron, her brother, rescued her. The only mishap was that Ron's wand backfired and Professor Lockhart got hit with a memory charm. He was still in St. Mungo's last Christmas, but they think that he's getting better. I really hope he doesn't."

"Why?"
"Mainly because he's a fake, but he's really annoying and used me to get higher on the ladder of fame." Harry said.

"Fame?" Lily asked her son, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

"I'm the boy who lived. Only known survivor of the killing curse. All I have to show for it is this blasted scar." Harry said, lifting his fringe and showing his mother the trademark scar. "Thanks mum, Dumbledore said that I survived because you sacrificed yourself for me."

"You're welcome." Lily cleared her throat. "About that scar."

"Yes?"

"Well. I hate to break it to you, but you didn't get that when Voldemort cursed you. You got that right after you were born. It had a concealing charm on it."

"Mum? Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked.

"Because." Here Lily took a deep breath. "James isn't your father."

"Mum? I could have sworn that you just told me that James isn't my father." Harry said. Breathe in. Breathe out. Harry thought.

"Because I did. Technically he's not. He adopted you, but he's not your biological father." Lily said. Thinking that this was going well, that much she could gather from her son's expression.

"Okay then. So what does that have to do with my scar?" Harry asked.

"Well the scar is a visible sign of the fact that your appearance isn't what you think it is. Everything that looks like James on you is Sev's."

"Ummm. Who's Sev?" Harry asked.

"Your father. He was the fifth Marauder, until Peter got him successfully kicked out of the group. Since James and I were betrayed, Sirius wasn't the one to betray us, it was Peter." Lily said, with a touch of hate in her voice.

"I know. He's a Death Eater, you know." Harry said sadly.

"Who? Your father? Peter?" Lily asked sharply.

"Peter. Would you mind telling me who my father is?" Harry asked curiously.

"Why don't I tell you about him. I don't know how you'd react to who your father is." Lily told Harry.

"Um. I'm not sure about that. I have to meet Professor Snape to discuss something." Harry said. "I'm probably late. I'll tell him that I happened upon the ghost of my mother and we had a nice discussion. Do you think that he'd believe that?" Harry asked Lily.

"I'm sure he would. He'd probably want to see me, just to be sure that you're telling the truth." Lily said. "Let me tell you about your father. He's tall and smart. He has dark hair and darker eyes. He was very good at potions and even better at pranks. He and James would often have prank wars. During the prank wars, it was hard to tell if they were even friends or not. Once it went to far. I didn't speak to James for weeks. We had almost lost him to the Dark side then, he was so angry. Of course he did go to the Dark Side, but only to spy for the light." Lily paused to take a breath.

Something clicked in Harry's mind. 'spy for the light.' Hold on... "Severus Snape is my FATHER!?!?!" Harry shouted to his mother, birds bursting into flight at the volume of his voice.

"Oh good, you know who he is, then. That saves a bit of trouble." Lily said cheerfully.

"The greasy git! My father? If I inherited his hair I will kill him after I kill Voldemort." Harry muttered, hoping that his mother wouldn't catch what he was saying. Unfortunately she did.

"His hair isn't that greasy when he washes it daily, and nobody says that you have to kill Voldemort." Lily said, trying to cheer up her son.

"You don't know the prophecy do you?" Harry said bitterly, as it was an annoying thing have your life dictated for you.

"Prophecy?" Lily asked, just a bit confused.

"Yes. Prophecy. The one that Voldemort wanted so he used Sirius to lure me to the Department of Ministry to got it for him. Would you like to hear it?" Harry said, gritting his teeth as he thought of the prophecy.

"Of course I would!" Lily told her son forcefully.

"Okay Mum. It goes something like this. 'The one with the Power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark lord knows not... and either must die at the had of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies....'" Harry laughed bitterly. (A/N: The prophecy isn't mine, it's J. K. Rowlings. I sort of copyed it word for word. Harry has it memorized because, well, if you heard something dictating your life, wouldn't you remember the exact phrasing?)

"That means you?" Lily said sadly.

"It could be Neville Longbottom, but Voldemort chose me." Harry said.

"I'm so sorry Harry. My poor baby." Lily said and sniffled and rose from her tombstone that she was sitting on and hugged Harry. The effect was like Harry was being dunked in a bucket of ice. It being the first hug he had gotten in quite a long time from his mother, he tried to hug her back.

"Er, Mum? I should really get back. Would you like to come with? Give Professor Snape a shock?"

"He's a Professor?" Lily asked.

"Potions." Harry said as an answer. He got up and began to leave.

"Harry? You have to invite me out of here. I'm bound to the graveyard unless I'm invited out by someone outside the graveyard opens the gate and gives me an oral invitation." Lily said.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Did you ever pay attention to Professor Binns? Or does he still teach History of Magic? He was awfully old when I went to Hogwarts." Lily said.

"He still does teach History of Magic. Except for he's dead now. It gets quite boring. So I don't really pay attention." Harry said ruefully.

"Well, ghosts are bound to the graveyard that they are buried in so because too many ghosts were haunting people."

Moaning Myrtle came to Harry's mind. "Okay then." Harry left the graveyard and closed the gate after him. "Lily Evans-Potter, I invite you to leave your graveyard and come to my home." Harry said, grinning as he opened the gate. Lily smiled at Harry and floated out of the graveyard.

"Thank you Harry. You have no idea how boring it gets in there. Let's go shock Severus." Lily said, laughing vengefully.

"Okay mum." Harry replied as they walked and glided off towards Harry's home.

Severus looked out of the window. As usual Potter was late. What could he expect from him? He had better have a good excuse for being late. Severus shook his head. He could have sworn that that was Lily's laugh. Lily was dead, and would remain forever so. How he missed his precious flower! Severus sighed. There was a light tap at the door.

"Harry?" Severus asked. Hoping that it was the boy, not wanting to have to go and search for him.

"Yes. May I come in sir?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Severus said, not turning from the window. Hearing Potter, no Harry, come in, he said, "Why don't you have a seat. This may take a while."

Harry seeing that Severus' back was turned, grinned at his mother and motioned for her to follow him in.

Lily smiled softly at Severus' back. She had forgotten how he made her feel. She went over to the bookshelves and found the copy of Hogwarts a History. She grabbed it and gave Harry a thumbs up.

Severus began talking. Lily floated up near the ceiling and hovered over Severus.

"Harry. I have something to tell you. It is very difficult for me to tell you, but I must. You cannot tell anyone. It is a very important. Only two living people know this. Your mother and James knew this. Dumbledore and I also know this." Severus stopped for a moment to catch his breath.

"Er... Sir? Why did you say my mother and James?" Harry asked, making it easy for his father.

Severus turned around. "Well, because James isn't your father." Severus said.

Harry just sat there thinking for a moment. His eyes fell on his mother, who had floated down to the floor and was standing/floating just behind Severus.

Lily, seeing that her son was watching her, seized the opportunity. She began making faces.

Harry tried really hard not to laugh. It was worse than when Dudley had showed off his Smeltings' uniform.

Severus, concentrating on the wall behind Harry, didn't notice that Harry was trying very hard not to laugh. So he was completely shocked by Harry's outburst of laughter. "May I ask what is so funny about the situation?" He said dryly.

"Sir, I suggest taking a look behind you." Harry said in-between laughs.

Severus whirled around and was caught by surprise at the sight that met his eyes.

"Hello, Sev." Lily said.

"Lily." Severus said breathlessly, obviously a bit shocked, pausing for a few moments, not sure what to say. "I assume that you told him, as he wasn't as shocked as I thought he would be." Severus said.

"Yeah. I told him. I also told him that Sirus isn't dead." Lily said, just to see the expression on Sev's face.

"What? He's not dead?" Severus spluttered.

"Nope. Just trapped." Lily said gleefully. "And I, having been an unspeakable in my former life, and not being bound by the magical contract, being dead, I can tell you how to rescue him!"

"Lils, are you sure? He would surely kill me, knowing the truth about me and Harry." Severus said worriedly.

Harry looked on in amazement. Could Professor Snape actually be showing emotion? He decided to go to his room and think things over. When Harry got to his room he couldn't decided what to do. It wasn't early enough to go to bed, and Harry wasn't hungry for once. He then remembered the journal that Kevin had given him. He thought that that would help. Getting his feelings out on paper.

Harry's Journal Entry.

Monday. 25 July, 1996

Well, apparently, my father isn't dead. He's just a Death Eater and didn't know of my birth. Which wouldn't be so bad, except for the identity of my father. It's Snape! The greasy git! Wait until Ron finds out. It'll be worse than when he met Draco and realized that he was trying to be on the good side. I think that Hermione will take it all in stride and just tell me to get along with him and be a good boy. After Ron gets over his initial shock (and yelling), he'll probably offer his condolences.

Not only have I found my father, I have found the ghost of my mother. She's really nice, and I think that I like her. I wonder how she and Snape will get along. Even though she's a ghost, it will be nice to have a full time mother, is she stays around that is. Apparently she was an Unspeakable in the DoM, and she knows how to get Sirius out of the veil. I wonder how I'm going to get there. Maybe Ron and Hermione could accompany me. Snape, Dad, Father, WHATEVER, will come too.

I wonder what Sev. wants me to call him. Probably Professor during the school year, (duh) but when we're in private, maybe Father. That sounds too much like Draco. Probably Dad. That's not too bad. What if he doesn't accept me? I am his son, but he's done nothing but treat me badly during classes for the past five years. Why didn't he come and get me from the Dursley's? I wish that I could have gone to live with Sirius all those years ago. Wow. That was only two tears ago, but it seems so long ago.

It just occurred to me! Now that mum's ghost is here, she can testify and get Sirius's name cleared. That is if we can get him out of the veil. I think that I'll go and find that journal that she mentioned.

Harry put his quill down and shut the journal. He looked around the room. So it wasn't the product of their magic, it was just the Potter Family home that they had summoned. Wait. If James wasn't his father, how could this be his? He would have to talk to someone about that. Harry shrugged and finished putting his ink away.

He then padded softly to the library. He could hear voices inside, so he tapped lightly on the door. With Severus' 'Enter" Harry came in.

"Hello Harry." Lily said lovingly.

"Hi, Mum. Hello Professor."

"Hello Harry." Severus said back.

It was still a shock to hear Severus address him by his first name. "Er, Professor, If you are my father, how come this place came when we did the spell?"

"I'm not sure, why don't you ask Lily, she would probably know that." Severus said, looking at the ghost of his former lover fondly.

"Okay then. Mum?" When Lily looked over to him, Harry said, "Same question."

Lily laughed, her son was so much like Severus when he was that age, of course she would never tell him that. "It's all in James' will. He knew that you were Severus' son, but he decided to leave everything to you in case he and I both got killed. James, did that because he knew that Severus didn't know of your true parentage, and with the risks he took, he might get caught anytime. Harry, James loved you very much, he wanted to be sure that you were cared for all your days. I'm just curious, who have you been living with these past years? Moony? Padfoot?"

Harry swallowed. He didn't really want to tell his mother that he had been staying with his aunt. "Er. I. Dumbledore decided that it would be best for me to stay with the Dursley's." Harry said very quickly.

Lily's ghost looked puzzled for a moment. Then realization dawned on her. "He let you stay with my sister!" She shouted. She didn't notice Harry's wince at her outburst, but Severus did.

Severus, having an inkling of how Harry had been treated at his relatives watched Harry's reaction. He looked as if he was going to curl into a ball at any moment.

"My sister! Did he have any idea of their opinions? Her and that nasty man she married! I'm surprised that Harry's lived. I wouldn't be surprised if they had killed him! They feared magic so much. Petunia and I were great friends until I got my letter! She had a little, but she could never do anything. She was insanely jealous." Lily shouted.

"Lily." Severus said quietly. "Lily." He said a bit louder.

Lily's ghost rounded on Severus. "And you! How could you not notice how he was being treated! Surely you had to see something!"

"Lily! Look at him." Severus said fiercely to her. Harry had not only curled up in a ball, but was whimpering softly.

"Oh no. Did I do this?" She asked Severus, who was gently rubbing circles in Harry's back, and murmuring comforting words to Harry, without even realizing he was doing it. (A/N: Aww. How cute. Sev's turning parental.)

"I'm afraid so. Apparently he was abused. You can tell from his reaction to your yelling." Severus said softly.

"I am going to kill Albus when I see him." Lily said.

"Lils, I hate to break it to you, but you're a ghost. I don't know if you could kill Albus. It probably wouldn't be a good idea. Who else would lead us in the war against Voldemort?" Severus said logically.

"Fine then." Lily said, completely forgetting about Harry who was whimpering less. "I am going to the kitchen to gaze longingly at food."

"Okay. Try not to scare Draco when he comes back." Severus said, still rubbing Harry's back to calm him down. (A/N: HA! I bet you all forgot about Draco. I didn't!)

"Who's Draco? Nevermind. I don't want to know." Lily said as she glided through the wall.

Severus continued to murmur comforting nothings to Harry and decided that he would probably be a bit more comfortable over on one of the chairs instead of the floor. He gently picked Harry up and as he was straightening, he caught a glance of the clock over the mantle. It was very close to 9 o'clock. (A/N: Random Fact: O'clock is a contraction for of the clock.) He then thought that Harry might be better off in his own bed. So Severus went to the room that Harry had chosen. As he tucked his son into bed for the first time, Severus looked around the room. It was a nice room. It didn't look too much like Gryffindor tower.

The bed was a plain four poster with curtains that were a dark green. The dark green matched the curtains; only they wee a lighter green. Harry had a window seat also. Only the cushions on his were black and red. The red was almost Gryffindor scarlet, but it was a little less bold. Just as the dark green bed curtains could pass for Slytherin, but they were too dark. In the corner there was a dead branch propped up, and there was a greenish-yellow snake on it. In the other corner, the one that the bed wasn't in, a magnificent oak wardrobe stood. Next to the wardrobe, was a barely visible door. Severus wondered about it for a moment, then he remembered James' tower that he had hidden. There was a password but he couldn't quite remember it...

"Marauders' paid parade!" Severus nearly shouted in excitement. The door glowed for a second. "I'm sure there was more. Oh yeah! Three times fast." Severus went over to the door and said "Marauder's paid parade" three times. He had to try a second time because his tongue got tied. But It didn't work. Severus sighed. "I could have sworn the password was 'Marauder's paid parade three time fast'." To Severus' amazement the door opened. Severus chuckled. It was just like James to make a password like that. As Severus started to go up the stairs another whimper from Harry stopped him. Remembering where he was and the time, Severus decided to go up there tomorrow. He turned and went back to Harry. Harry was just having a bad dream. He hoped it wasn't one of the dreams from Voldemort. Severus absently brushed a lock of hair out of Harry's face. As he was drawing his hand back, Severus just realized what he had done. How could he, the greasy git, the most hated teacher at Hogwarts, be a suitable parent. Especially to Harry Potter? If Voldemort ever found out the truth, he and Harry would be doomed. This would have to remain a secret. Judging from the feelings that he felt for Harry already, it would be hard to keep from shouting to the world that this was his boy and how proud he was of him.

How many wizards could say that they had dueled with Lord Voldemort and come out of it alive? And at only fourteen... At twelve, he killed a basilisk. The year before that, at eleven, he had got the Sorcerer's Stone from Quirrel, who had Voldemort sticking out of his head. Which was all pretty good, considering that Harry had two more years of school left.

Severus then realized that he had been standing over his son with a silly grin in his face for over a minute. He shook his head and went back downstairs to the Library. He realized that it was now nine-thirty and Draco hadn't come back home. He decided to give him until ten, then he would go and look for him. Severus wandered into the kitchen and saw Lily gazing mournfully at the cupboards that surely held food. Severus looked at Lily and grinned at her. She hadn't noticed that he was there. He quietly grabbed two peaches that were on the wooden table in an old fashioned clay bowl.

He wandered out he took a plate from the counter and set one of the peaches on it. As he was eating the first one, he got an idea. It was obvious that Lily wanted something to eat. What would happen if he shot the killing curse at a peach? Severus shrugged and put a shield around him and the peach. 'Avada Kedavra' Severus whispered.

The peach itself exploded, but in it's place next to the stone of the first peach there was a silvery peach. He had done it! Now to give it to Lily. But first to deal with the bits of pulverized peach the covered him and his shield. 'Scourgify'. The mutilated peach chunks disappeared. Severus smiled. He picked up the plate with the shadow of the peach on it, and he carried it into the kitchen. Lily was still staring longingly at the cupboards. Severus set the plate down on the table.

"Lily." Severus said.

"What?" Lily replied, without turning.

"You've got the word!" Severus crowed, laughing like a three year old.

"What?" Lily said, turning around and looking at Severus like he had gone insane.

"The w-h-a-t word. You've got it!" Severus said, shouting gleefully.

"Excuse me sir, but what have you done with out Professor? Could you keep him there, as long as he isn't being tortured?" Draco said, sensing that his head of house was either in a rare good mood or high.

"Draco! So lovely to see you! Have a seat! Would you like something to drink?" Severus said. (A/N: The peach and the Killing Curse had a bad reaction. Sev was in a good mood already and the gas that the blown up peach gave off er... enhanced his mood. I thought it would be funny. Is it?)

"Er. Professor? You're scaring me." Draco said, edging towards the door.

"It's okay Draco, he's scaring me too." Lily said.

"Oh. Who are you?"

"OH. I'm the ghost of Lily Potter." Lily said.

"Harry's mum?" Draco said.

"Yes."

Severus had crept up behind Draco who had stepped forward when Lily had spoken. He now threw an arm around Draco's shoulder. "Have I ever told you about my son?" He asked Draco. (A/N: Think, Jack Sparrow, only not obsessed with rum.)

"Er. No." Draco said trying to wriggle out of Severus' grip.

"Well, just you sit down and listen." Severus shoved Draco into a chair. "Well he's got green eyes, just like his mum. I didn't know that he was mine, mind you. I just found that out a few days ago." Severus said, emphasizing his point by slamming his fist into the table. "He didn't know he's mine either, until only a few hours ago. his mum told him. A very pretty woman his mum was, green eyes, and red hair. Lily her name was."

"She married James though. I didn't spite her that, no siree. She had to. I mean, if she had married me, Lord Voldie would have killed her and me. I didn't want that for her. Nope. So she married James. But Harry was mine. My Lily told Jamesie that Harry was mine and Jamesie adopted Harry and I never found out. They even made Harry look like Jamesie. I wonder what my boy will look like. See over there." Severus pointed a shaky finger at Lily's ghost. "That's my Lily."

"Er. Sir, that's a truly touching story, but I think I've got to get up to bed. Like now."

"Be quiet. Now Lily, I had an idea. I noticed that you were looking like you wanted some food. Apparently if you throw the Killing Curse at a peach, you can make a ghosty-thing out of it. See Lils, looks at it." Sev said pointing. Then he put his head down on the table and began quietly singing the barney song. (A/N:OWned by the ovbiously insane people who own barney. C'mon. they've got to be insane? A big purple dinosaur with green spots? they just screams insane.) "I love you..."

"Sir? What color was the insides of the peach that you threw the killing curse at?" Draco asked suddenly.

'You love me..."

"A most beautiful shade of blue. Why?" Severus asked.

"We're a happy family..."

"Oh." Draco said, suddenly the Professor's behavior made sense. But how could he have picked that up? That prank was for Potter, and only Harry or one of his relations could have picked it up. Something suddenly clicked. "Sir? The story that you were telling me earlier, was it true?" Draco asked.

"With a great big hug..."

"Yep!" Severus said happily, tracing a finger along a scratch on the table.

"And a kiss from you to meeeee.."

Oh well, he should be going to go to sleep any moment now. Draco thought as he watched the Professor. There! Severus slumped over mid-song. (A/N: Thank GOD, I can't stand that song.)

Lily gasped. "What's wrong with him!" She asked Draco in the wild hopes that he might know.

"Oh. Well you see, we were sort of having a prank war, Harry and I, And I got that prank from Fred and George Weasley. The peach was enchanted that only Harry or one of his relations could pick it up. Upon ingesting the peach, it would enhance Harry's current mood. But if he had sliced the peach, it would have given off a gas that would do the same as ingesting, only worse and it would cause him to go to sleep after a while. And it had a small amount of veritaserum in it so it causes him to tell the truth."

"Ah. I hope you do realize that once he figures out what happened he will retaliate." Lily said.

"Yeah, I suppose that I do. Lovely. So if you're Harry's mum and he's Harry's dad." Draco said slowly.

"Yes. I'll admit it. I had sex with Severus Snape. I wasn't a virgin when I got married. I was in fact, pregnant with Severus Snape's child. James, my husband, was okay with that. He married me because Severus couldn't. At one point, Severus and I were engaged. Any other questions?" Lily said, hoping to shock Draco. She succeeded.

Draco's normally pale face was a vibrant shade of red. "Umm. NO." Draco said loudly after a small delay.

"So. Tell me about myself. I'd like to know who my son associates with." Lily said, grabbing the peach and looking at it warily. "Do you think that this is safe to eat?"

"After what it's former self did to Professor Snape? NO." Draco declared.

"Well all he did was shoot the killing curse at it, would you mind doing that to another peach?" Lily asked.

"No. Not at all." Draco said. He summoned another peach and put a small shield around it, one that would allow magic in, but nothing out. 'Avada Kedavra Peach' Draco said. He watched the peach explode and thought that he should have put a plate on it, then he could have ate the resulting mush. Draco banished the mess and looked at the silvery form of a peach that was there in the place of the original peach.

"Thanks." Lily said as she reached for the peach. She bit into it and grinned.

"How is it?" Draco asked her.

"Great. Tastes just like a peach." Lily said in-between bites.

"Would you like anything else?" Draco asked. "I don't know how it would work on liquid though."

"Why don't you try it?" Lily asked, tossing the stone up and catching it absently. "I wonder what would happen if I planted this." She said aloud.

"I don't know. Why don't you try?" Draco said absently. "Where's your wand?"

"In my headstone, why?" Lily asked.

"Well if the killing curse works on food, if we did it on your wand, maybe you could use your wand and do magic. It would be an invincible army of ghost fighting for the light. As long as Voldemort doesn't find out how we did it." Draco trailed off thinking.

"Summon it." Lily said.

"What?" Draco asked, looking around for something to write on.

"Summon my wand." Lily said. "Say 'revenio lilium salix virga'." (A/N: It's Latin, means something like 'come back Lily willow wand'. Most of my spells are Latin. The other ones are J.K. Rowling's.)

"Okay, are you sure that you want to do this?" Draco cautioned.

"What have I got to lose?" Lily asked Draco. "I'm dead. I have nothing to lose."

"Okay then. Remember, it was your idea to do this." Draco said.

"Just do it!" Lily told Draco. (A/N: I know that that's Nike's catch phrase. At least I think it's Nike's. Anyways, they said I could borrow it. NOT! But it's theirs and I am only borrowing it. OKAY? So Nike: Don't sue me!) Draco shrugged and whispered 'Revenio lilium salix virga' "So Lily, what type of spell is that?" Draco asked her, as they waited for her wand to come.

"It's like a summoning spell, but it will only work if the person saying it has the wand's owner's permission to do so. I think you should open the window." Lily said hearing a far off whistling.

"Okay." Draco said, rising and opening the window. After a few seconds Lily's wand came in the window. It flew around the room once, emitting an eerie whistle and came to a stop on the counter, by Lily who was sitting on there.

"Okay, it's here now, so do it!" Lily snapped at Draco.

"Okay, okay. I'll do it. Happy?" Draco snapped right back at her.

"Not until you do it!" Lily informed Draco.

"Fine!" Draco said and whispered, "Avada Kedavra."

A green flash of light was evident, and Lily's wand didn't explode like the peach, instead, laying next to the real wand was a silvery duplicate. Lily picked up the silvery duplicate and murmured 'avis.' A small bang sounded and a few birds came out of the tip of the wand. One was silvery, but the three others were very real and Draco smiled as one lit upon his finger. The silvery one looked around the room and spotted Lily, it flew over to her and landed one her finger. (A/N: that spell is J.K. Rowling's, but it's also Latin for 'bird'.)

"How do you feel about keeping pet birds?" Lily asked Draco.

"I think that sounds like a good idea." Draco said.

The third bird was perched on Severus' crossed arms and was looking up at his face. Since Severus was waking up, Lily and Draco decided to watch Severus and see how he reacted to falling asleep and if he remembered what he had told Draco.

"Why don't you wake him up Lily?" Draco whispered to Lily.

"How should I wake him up though?" Lily whispered back.

"I wonder if ghostly conjured water would make him wet?" Draco asked Lily.

"Hmmm. Let's find out. First get the bird off of him." Lily told Draco.

Draco nodded and whistled at the bird. It chirped in reply and flew over to his shoulder.

Lily grinned at Draco and incanted loudly 'aqua' What appeared to be a large bucket of water popped into existence directly over Serverus' head. Slowly it began to tilt.

"AUGH! That's cold! What is that!" Severus' eyes fell on Draco. "Do you think it a good idea to pour a bucket of ice cold water over me?"

"No sir. That's why I didn't do it?" Draco replied seriously "Lily did."

"How could Lily have done that?" Severus asked anxiously.

"Apparently, the Killing Curse works on my wand and it made it so I could use it, and it left my original wand intact. I think that it just took the power and shape from my original, leaving the wood and the core intact because when I looked it over, there was almost no power left in it." Lily said.

Severus looked for the wand and Lily pointed to the counter next to the sink. Severus got up and looked it over. He then picked it up and waved it around. A few green and gold sparks came out of the tip, but they faded almost instantly. "Yes, there is almost no power in it at all. Now that we have got the issue of who woke me up cleared, let's work on the issue of who put me to sleep."

"Sir? How much do you remember?" Draco asked timidly, stroking his bird.

It was obvious that Severus was thinking back because of how his expressions changed. Draco watched his face, and hoped that Severus wouldn't be too mad because he had inadvertently told Draco that Harry was his son. "Did I tell you—?" Severus asked in a choked voice.

"Tell me that Harry is your son? Yes. I am quite happy too. Let's celebrate." Draco said simply.

"Let's celebrate! I accidentally let you in on an important secret and all you say is 'Let's Celebrate'? Have you any idea what time it is?" Severus snapped.

Draco quickly shut his mouth mid-yawn and said, "Time for me to go to bed?"

Severus nodded. "Correct-a-mundo, now go to bed!" (A/N: after effects of the peach. Wouls Sve normally say correct-a-mundo???)

"I'm going!" Draco said as he left the kitchen and headed for the stairs.

Severus and Lily talked for the rest of the night, and were still up when Harry came down the next morning eat something for breakfast.

"Morning mum, Morning Dad."

"Morning Harry. Did you sleep well?" Lily asked.

"Yes I did. I had a few nightmares, but they weren't that bad." Harry replied honestly.

"Any nightmares from Lord Voldemort?" Severus asked calmly, completely forgetting that Lily didn't know about the dreams.

"What nightmares?" Lily said in a tone that would have froze fire.

"Oh. Well, Mum, apparently when Voldemort cursed me, I got some of his powers, and I can pick up some of his thoughts or moods." Harry said matter-of-factly.

"What sort of powers?" Lily asked.

Harry gulped audibly. Most wizards regarded being a Parselmouth as an evil trait. "Mum, well, all we know of is the fact that I am a Parselmouth. Which isn't so bad, as it saved the life of Ginny Weasley in my second year.

"What do you mean by 'save the life of'?" Lily asked suspiciously.

"Well apparently Tom Riddle wrote a diary when he was at Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy slipped it into one of Ginny's books, she wrote in it and he wrote back. Eventually he was controlling her and finally, at the end of the year he took her into the Chamber of Secrets, the hidden chamber Slythrein built."

"So there was a secret chamber. It was only a legend when I went to school. Where was the entrance?"

"Do you recall a ghost called Moaning Myrtle?"

"Yeah. She haunted a first floor girl's toilet."

"Apparently, the first time the chamber was opened, when Tom first went to school, he was the one who opened it, not Hagrid. But that's another story. Yeah, well, Myrtle, was the girl that was killed. Because the monster was a Basilisk, I had been hearing it going through the castle in the pipes. Hermione realized what the monster was, and she checked it out in the library and when she saw someone, she told them to look around corners with mirrors, so if the Basilisk was around the corner, you wouldn't be killed by it's gaze, only Petrified. So that year, Hermione aided in the saving of Ron's sister, she saved Percy's girlfriend as well. I don't know about you, but I am a tad on the hungry side and I need to eat before I have to leave for work. How'd you sleep, Professor?" Harry asked.

"I didn't. Me and your mum stayed up all night talking. You called me Dad earlier. I rather liked that." Severus admitted quietly. "It's okay. Draco found out. Apparently I blew up a prank meant for you." At Harry's questioning gaze, Severus replied in his best greasy git voice, "You do not want to know. I believe that you came down here for breakfast Mr. Potter."

"Yes, Professor," Harry said, playing along, "I believe I did, so I will make myself my own breakfast, especially since I don't trust you with my food." Harry replied, imitating Severus' voice.

"And why would that be Mr. Potter?" Severus asked.

"Something about 'you might just find that my hand slips right over your evening pumpkin juice.' So I shall make my own food." Harry said.

"Oh that. I never did that. Although I am aware that Umbridge tried to dose you with it." Severus said quietly, trying to get Harry to tell him what had happened.

"Yeah she did. But one of those horrible cats she had behind her desk had eyes just like Moody. Reminded me of his favorite saying. 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE' So I didn't drink anything she gave me." Harry said quietly.

"Good." Severus replied. "Now since you came down here for breakfast, why don't you do that."

"I shall." Harry said, rising from the table where he had sat down. He moved over to the cupboard and pulled out a box of one-minute oatmeal. "This looks good." Harry muttered. He began to prepare to make it and he got out a small saucepan. Harry made enough oatmeal for himself and Draco. Harry then got a small bowl out of the cupboard, he noticed that it had the Potter coat of arms on it. Harry then filled the bowl about ¾ full.

When Lily noticed it, she decided that it wasn't nearly enough for a growing boy. "Shouldn't you be eating more?" She asked suspiciously.

"This is all I need." Harry said around a mouthful of oatmeal.

"What do you mean 'this is all I need'?" Lily said, glaring at Harry.

"Up until a few weeks ago, I lived with the Dursley's during the summer holidays and before I went to Hogwarts. Vernon and Petunia didn't really like magic, so Vernon decided that I was barely worth the food it took to keep me alive. So, consequentially, they rarely fed me." Harry said, eating his oatmeal a it faster.

"They didn't feed you?" Lily said. Harry nodded. "I am going to curse Albus Dumbledore from here to Hell and back again. When I see him—" Lily said, still going on about what she was going to do to Dumbledore when she saw him. Harry looked at the clock and realized that he was late for work.

"I'm late. Gotta go, bye." Harry said quickly as he left the kitchen.

Harry ran out of the kitchen and realized that if he would have to run if he wanted to get to work in time. He spotted the bicycle that Mrs. Weasley had brought back, and he grinned. He could ride the bicycle there and he would be able to make it to work in time. Harry grinned, and got on to the bike and pedaled off furiously.

"Well at least they didn't hit him." Lily grumbled.

Severus remained silent. Unfortunately, Lily noticed Severus' silence.

"Did they hit him? She asked dangerously.

"I'm not so sure, Severus said slowly, calculating the best way to break the news to Lily.

"They did didn't they?" She said sadly.

"Well, about a week ago I came here, I was getting the pond weed for Remus' potion, and I found Harry bathing in a pond. He was floating on his back, and when I made my presence known, he tried to sit up, that didn't work. He tried to keep me from noticing his back, but the pile of bloody bandages and the fact the his back looked like it had been chewed up by a wolverine, it was pretty hard not to notice.

"The strangest thing was that the bandages were magical in origin. Can you explain that Lily?" Severus asked curiously.

"Oh, Apparently the Evans family was distantly related to the Malfoy family. Our mother inherited a wand and some other things when some distant relative died. I already had a wand at the time, Petunia got the wand and I got most of the other stuff. Petunia had a little magical ability, but not enough to go to Hogwarts. During the summer, when we were still friends, I taught her some spells, and let her looks at some books that I had got for her. I believe one of them was a healing book. She later returned them to me, but it seems that she remembered them and she used at least one on Harry." Lily said.

"Oh. That's interesting." Severus said through a yawn. "I think that I am going to try and get some sleep. Try and get Draco up before noon, if it's possible." The tired potions master said as he left the kitchen.

Lily decided to pass the time by conjuring things and seeing how they ended up. The birds from the night before had been three regular ones and one spirit one. Lily decided to conjure some dirt. It was ghosty in appearance. Lily smiled. Now to conjure a pot that would magically expand with the plant in it so it was never root-bound, but the pot stayed the same size. Lily waved her wand and a familiar looking clay pot appeared. The only difference, was that it was silver in color instead of the familiar clay color. Lily directed the dirt into the pot with her wand and put it in the pot. Then she reached over and put the peach stone in the pot. Then she dumped some ghostly water on top of it. "Now all I have to do is wait and see if it will grow."

"See if what will grow?" A sleepy voice queried from the doorway.

"The stone from the peach you 'killed' last night." Lily said, motioning to the clay pot the was filled with ghostly dirt.

"You have no idea how strange that is too see, especially the little bits of dirt that are left one the floor." Draco said.

"Good point, why don't you sweep them up" Lily said, grinning. "While you do that I'm going to write a letter to Albus."

"Um. How?"

"How am I going to write to Albus?" Lily said.

"Yeah." Draco said.

"Simple, I shall just conjure a few sheets of parchment and a quill with some ink." Lily said, and immediately did so. She smiled at Draco and dipped her quill into the inkwell. "Now you get to sweeping up that mess."

Albus-

Do you have any idea of how my sister and her good-for-naught husband treated my son? Why did you let him stay there? What was wrong with Sirius? Or even Remus? Not to mention Harry's father. Did you forget about the letter that James and I gave you to read in case of our deaths? Of course I wonder if you will even be able to read this letter. Get a ghost to help you. I would have sooner put Harry in care of Peter than my sister. Did you ever realize how they would treat him? Obviously not, I will be getting back to you, and you better watch your back.

Lily Evans-Potter

Lily looked the letter over and decided that it was nearly satisfactory, except for one thing.

PS- Please put the killing curse on some fruit for Albesco. Thanks. She likes peaches.

There, that should have Albus pleasantly confused. "Draco, how's the sweeping coming along?" Lily said happily.

"Not at all, the damn broom won't pick it up." Draco grunted.

"Did you ever think that you might need a ghostly broom?" Lily smirked at Draco.

He smirked right back. "No but now that you tell me, I shall do it that way. This would drive Filch crazy." Draco said, he was already thinking how he would do it.

"That it would. Draco, would you mind writing a letter to Dumbledore, that says, Nearly Headless Nick might be able to help?" Lily asked.

"Not at all. Why though?" Just because, well, you try and open my letter." Lily said, handing Draco the letter.

It floated through Draco's hand and landed on the floor. "I see your point. How will he be able to read it?"

"See if I open it for you and lay it on the table, you can read it, see?" Lily said as she did what she had told Draco.

"I see your point. By the gist of this letter, it coming from you, I would be scared. Is that what you meant for it to do?"

"Yep. I am particularly angry with Albus for putting my son where he could have been killed." Lily said.

"You do realize that he could have died any of his years at Hogwarts too?" Draco said.

"No. Please explain further."

"Well, first year there was Quirrel and the stone, second year there was the chamber of secrets. Third there was the whole out on the grounds with Professor Lupin who hadn't had his potion, fourth year there was the Tri-wizard Tournament, and fifth year was mainly looking out for Umbridge and getting visions from He-who-must not be named, and sneaking off to the Ministry of Magic to rescue Sirius Black. Not to mention forming and illegal Defense Against The Dark Arts Group. He called it Dumbledore's Army, which got Dumbledore in trouble with the ministry. That about sums it all up." Draco said.

"Ah. Now would you just write the letter?" Lily asked Draco.

"Sure. What are you going to send yours with?" Draco questioned Lily.
"I'm going to get Albesco to take it. I've also instructed him to put the killing curse on some fruit for her, but I neglected to tell him about the shield part, so he should have exploded peach all over his office." Lily said with an evil smirk on her face.

"Okay then, remind me to never get on your bad side." Draco said, in mock surrender.

"Good, I've put you in your proper place. Now write!" Lily snapped, she conjured a ghostly whip, and snapped it over Draco's head.

"I feel sorry for Potter. I'd hate to be stuck with you for he rest of my life." Draco muttered.

"You think I'm being mean?" She asked. "You haven't seen anything yet!" Lily said. Now are you going to get that letter done or not?"

Draco left the room and went to the library. From a desk he pulled a sheet of parchment and a ever-inked quill out of a drawer.

Professor Dumbledore-

Nearly Headless Nick might be able to help. Just a suggestion.

DM

Draco carried the note out to Lily. "How's this: Nearly Headless Nick might be able to help. Just a suggestion."

"Perfect. Now let's see if your bird will carry a message. Why don't you whistle for your bird." Lily said.

"You're very perceptive." Draco said before he whistled. His bird came on the kitchen and lighted on his shoulder. Draco whistled to her. She bird chirped back. "She says that they'd be more than happy to carry our messages."

"'Kay then." Lily picked up her letter and handed it to the bird, Albesco gripped it in one of her feet, and waited for Draco's bird to get his letter. Draco handed it to her and she and Albesco flew off.

"Lily, I don't know how you feel, but I am hungry." Draco said.

"Oh yeah, Harry made some oatmeal for you. He didn't do anything to it though, I watched him make it." Lily told him.

"Are you sure that he didn't do anything to it?" Draco said suspiciously.

"It's your turn to prank him, isn't it? Unless you take too long and he does it." Lily said matter-of-factly. "Now I am going to go and look and see if I can find the right spot in my notes."

"What for?" Draco asked.

"Nothing real important, just a rescue mission." Lily said as she floated out through the wall.

"Ugh! How did they put up with her?" Draco asked himself as he got some oatmeal and prepared it to his tastes.

At Hogwarts

Nearly Headless Nick was quietly floating on his belly studying the pattern of the floor when two birds whizzed under him. Which would have been perfectly normal if they had been owls, but they weren't. To top it all of, one of them appeared to be a ghost. Wondering where they were going, Nick flipped over and followed them. They appeared to be heading for Dumbledore's office. This was getting interesting.

By the time he caught up with the birds, the live one was sitting on a portrait frame looking perplexed. The other one was sitting next to it. It looked at the door at tried to fly through it again. The stone gargoyle caught it and placed it back on the frame.

Nick smiled inwardly, apparently Dumbledore had wards against ghosts on his door. Nick knew the password. "Acid Pops." The gargoyle then jumped out of the way and Nick motioned to the birds and they flew in ahead of him. He then got to Dumbledore's office and stick his head through the door. Good, Dumbledore was at his desk.

"Hello, Nick. Why don't you come in?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.

"Sure, but could you please open the door?" He asked.

"Why?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"You'll see." Nick said.

Dumbledore rose from his desk and Nick pulled his head from the door. After a few moments, the door opened. The two birds flew over to Dumbledore's desk and dropped the letters there. "I saw these two birds and they seemed to be heading for your office, so I followed them. What interested me the most was that one of them seems to be a ghost."

"Yes it does." Dumbledore prodded at Albesco and his finger went through her. Albesco shook her head and flew over to Nick and perched on his shoulder. "Oh look they brought a letter. Two letters. Let's see what they have to say." Dumbledore picked up Draco's letter first. "Hmm."

"What's it say, if you don't mind me asking?" Nick asked Dumbledore.

"It says you might be able to help. With what I don't know. Maybe it says in the second letter." Dumbledore tried to pick up the second letter and failed. "Oh I get it! Nick, would you mind opening the letter and setting it on the desk so I can read it?"

"Not at all sir." Nick said as he opened the letter and put it in front of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore read through the letter. "I'm doomed. Lily Potter is back from the grave and she's mad at me." Dumbledore informed Nick.

"Yes I can see how you'd look at it that way, Having Lily mad at you is a bad thing."

"There's a PS, but it doesn't make any sense." Dumbledore said, sounding thoughtful.

"What does it say?" Nick asked.

"It says, put the killing curse on some fruit for Albesco. Thanks. She likes peaches. It doesn't make any sense. Who is Albesco?" Dumbledore asked Nick.

"I have no idea. Just try it." Nick urged Professor Dumbledore.

"Fine." Dumbledore said. He conjured a peach and shrugged. "Here goes, 'Avada Kedavra'." To Dumbledore's surprise, the peach exploded. He got hit square in the eye with a chunk of peach. "I am not going to do that again." Dumbledore said firmly as he wiped peach off of his face. He failed to notice the ghost of the peach sitting on his desk.

Albesco did though. With a happy whistle she flew from Nick's shoulder to the peach on Dumbledore's desk. Nick had followed her line of flight and was shocked to see a silvery peach that the bird was eating. Nick went over to the bird and whistled at it. 'How does that taste?'

'Good.' Albesco replied.

'Can I have some? I haven't eaten in over 500 years?'

'Take half.' Albesco chirped back.

'Okay.' Nick said and grabbed the peach and twisted it in half. He took a big bite of it. "Yum. My first food in over 500 years. It's so good."

"So that's the effect that the killing curse has on food?" Albus asked Nick, trying not to laugh at the expression of pure ecstasy on Nicks face.

Nick swallowed. "Apparently. That was good. Would you mind doing that to some more food? I like to take something to Moaning Myrtle. It would cheer her up."

"Okay. Do you want the stone?" Dumbledore asked.

"Er, no not really. Why don't you figure out some way to plant it? It might make a tree." Nick said.

"Yes. I suppose that Professor Sprout would be glad to assist you with that." Dumbledore said.

"Assist?" Nick asked.

"How is she going to pick it up?" Dumbledore stated the obvious.

In Town

Draco was on his break from the café. It was a hot job, especially in the back, making the pastries. He had seen the help wanted sign and talked to the manager and had explained the he was a wizard and he didn't really know much about muggle appliances. She had counted that she was a witch and would be glad to show Draco how the stuff worked if Draco had wanted the job.

"'Ello, I'll have an iced mocha and one of those pastries, please." A woman said from in front of the counter. Her voice sounded strangely familiar.

"Yes ma'am, would that be all?" Draco said pleasantly, rising from getting a cup from under the counter.

"Yes that would be all. I'll be eating it here, so I'll need a plate."

"Madam Pomfrey?" Draco asked slowly.

"Yes, that'd be me." She said, finally looking up from her purse. "Draco Malfoy! What are you doing here?"

"Working ma'am." Draco said. I'd think that was obvious. He added in his head.

"It's ever so nice to see you out of the infirmary, I said the same to Harry Potter, he's working next door you know." Madam Pomfrey said. "Now don't be getting hurt, 'cause I'm not here to tend to you." The witch said with a smile.

"I'll be sure to be careful. Here's your iced mocha and your pastry. I hope you enjoy it!" Draco said brightly, and smiled at her, just like he had been told.

"I'll be sure to enjoy this." Pomfrey replied, taking her food over to a table.

Draco returned to deciding whose job was better, his or Harry's. Harry made thirty pounds and six galleons a week and got weekends off. (A/N: Kevin and Cat gave Harry a raise after the first week, the ten pounds and one galleon was just a trial rate.)

Draco made four pounds an hour, and worked five hours a day, four days a week. He had Wednesdays and weekends off and made about eighty pounds a week. Draco supposed that they were about even, but Draco preferred his job.

Still in Town, at The Grocer's

"See now, that wasn't so bad. I told you that after a while they'd just say hi and do their business." Cat told Harry. "Be glad they don't do this." Cat reached down to Harry, who was scrubbing a bottom shelf, and pinched his cheek and said, "You're such a cutie, and you're getting so big! Your mother must be proud."

"So glad they don't do that." Harry said, scrubbing the shelves even faster. "And Cat?" He called to her as she was walking back towards the front counter. "Don't you ever do that again!"

"Do what?" Cat said, trying to sound innocent.

"You know what." Harry told her.

"What'd she do?" Kevin asked from the back. "Did she do that thing where she pretends to flirt with you, and when you flirt back, gets all offended?"

"No but thanks for the heads up!" Harry said. "She did the 'be glad they don't do this' and pinches your cheek' thing."

"You have my deepest apologies Harry, I won't let her have any ice cream tonight for punishment. How's that sound?" Kevin asked Harry.

"Sounds a little harsh." Harry said thoughtfully.

"You bet that's harsh. Kevin, if you don't want to find out what it feels like to sleep on the couch for the rest of the month and put outside for the werewolves at full moon, I suggest you stop!" Cat snapped from the counter.

"Ouch. I think it would be a good idea to stop when we're ahead." Harry said.

"You two are not ahead!" Cat informed them.

"Really? I could have sworn we were." Kevin said.

"Yeah. I was sure that we were ahead." Harry chimed in.

"Nope. You two sorry excuses for men were never ahead." Cat said triumphantly.

"Ahem. Whether or not you were ahead, I was told that I could find a few things here that I will be needing for teaching next term." Yet another voice from yet another doorway made itself known.

"Oh. Hello, it's been a while since I've seen you." Cat said, emphasizing the you.

"Excuse me, Cat, I think I'll help the man, you can go and supervise the help." Kevin said sharply.

Cat laughed. "Oh Kevin, he's just an old flame from my school days. I'd never leave you. It's just fun to flirt." Cat said, sitting on the counter. She pulled Kevin over from where he was standing and kissed him passionately. Kevin pulled her closer, and picked Cat up. He then carried her towards the back room. "Harry, your customer." Cat said, just before the door slammed.

"Are they normally like that?" The customer asked.

"Yes." Harry replied, still hidden by the shelves. "They're not going to do anything, they're just going to laugh about how they made you think that they were going to do something, and do a little inventorying while they are back there. They like to do that to shock new customers. I'll help you as soon as I get through with this shelf. What are you here for anyways?" Harry asked.

"I'm taking the Defense position at Hogwarts again. I just need a few things then I'll be off to the woods to catch some creatures." The mystery person said. (A/N: I'll bet you already know who it is. Let's count off the Hogwarts professors. Quirrel- Dead. Lockhart-insane(wasn't he already insane, tho?) Lupin-still alive and working for the order Mad-Eye Moody- see lupin Umridge-ummm... hopefully dead and/or trapped in Azkaban.)

Harry though for a moment, that's why the voice sounded familiar. (A/N: Aftereffects of Vernon knocking Harry around. Harry has slight memory loss.) "Would you be Professor Lupin?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"Yep, that's me." Lupin replied.

"I don't mean to be rude, but how'd you get the job back after the accident that happened last time you taught?" Harry asked.

"I don't mean to be rude, but who are you that I should be telling you this sort of thing." Lupin said warily.

"Oh. How careless of me, Draco said that my voice had changed, bit I didn't realize that it had changed so much that you wouldn't recognize me." Harry said as he stood up. He winced from being crouched over for so long. Harry stretched and turned around. "Hello Professor. It's been a while since I've seen you."

"Harry! How are you? More to the point, what are you doing here? As it's not the school year, please call me Remus. Professor sounds old." Lupin asked.

"Okay. As to what I'm doing here, I'd thought that that would have been obvious. Working." Harry said.

"Ah, that makes sense. I need a few things. A tank for a Grindylow, some fish eggs preferably ones that will hatch, and some Jarvey food. That's all I need. Hagrid recommended me to here." Lupin said conversationally.

"Sounds good. Have you any idea of what Hagrid's got in store for us?" Harry asked while rummaging for Lupin's things. "Some forewarning would be useful."

"I know that he was trying to get a Lethifold, but Dumbledore, thankfully pointed out that only you were able to perform a decent Patronus."

"Actually, Hermione and Cho Chang, can both do a Patronus. That was what they were doing in the last ever DA meeting." Harry said.

"Well, we'll just keep that our little secret. Hagrid said something about a Hogwarts tab?" Lupin asked uncertainly.

"Yeah. If you're in Hogwarts employ, and if what you're buying is for teaching, you can charge it to the tab, and the bill is sent to Dumbledore and he pays it out of a fund or something like that." Harry told Lupin. "I'm off in a few minutes, would you like to come to my place and have dinner?"

"Sure. That would be lovely. But what about my purchases?" Lupin asked.

"Here, I'll get you an enchanted bag. You can put nearly an unlimited amount of things in here, you're only limited by how much you can purchase, and once it's full of what you're putting in it, all you do is say shrink, and it shrinks enough to fit in your pocket." Harry said.

"That's a very convincing offer. How much does it cost?" Lupin asked.

"With purchases over twenty-five galleons, it's free. I believe that your total comes in at just twenty-five galleons and three knuts." Harry said.

"I'll take the bag. Happy?" Lupin asked.

"Yep." Harry said happily. Harry looked at his new watch that he had got earlier, and said, "I'm off now, so I'll go and tell them that I am leaving and they are in charge of the shop."

"Okay." Lupin said.

Harry went to the back room and knocked on the door. "If you two don't mind me interrupting your making-out session, I am leaving. That means that you will have to separate yourselves from each other for just four more hours until closing time." Harry said. He looked at Lupin and put a finger over his lips, waiting for Cat's reply.

"We were NOT making out. We were inventorying. You know that Harry." Cat said indignantly.

"Yeah I do, but Remus didn't." Harry informed them. "Hurry, Let's leave before she gets really mad." Harry said.

"HARRY POTTER, DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE!" Cat shouted at Harry.

"Bye Cat! See you tomorrow." Harry said before shutting the door, and waving at Cat through the glass when she came out of the back room. Harry walked quickly down the street, urging Remus to hurry.

Cat stuck her head out of the door.

"I know what you're going to say, Cat so don't bother!" Harry shouted to her from a few shops down.

"Yeah right!" Cat shouted.

"Yes I do!" Harry shouted right back.

"Payback's a bitch!" Cat yelled at Harry and Harry yelled it right along with her.

"Told you!" Harry yelled. "She won't be able to say anything else that's we'll hear; the neighbors have just hit her with about five silencing charms." Harry said knowingly.

"Do you do this often?" Lupin asked.

"Every day." Harry said smugly. "Here let's go in here, they have the best smoothies. I'll buy you one."

"Okay then, if you don't mind." Lupin said.

"They don't take wizarding money, so unless you happen to have muggle money, you're stuck with me paying." Harry told Lupin.

"Fine." Lupin said.

"Hey Harry! I never thought that I'd see you here!" Draco said. "I'm just getting of work here, do you mind if I join you when I'm done?"

"Not at all, but you have to promise to be nice to Remus." Harry said.

"I can do that." Draco said. "What'll you two be having?"

"I'm thinking, maybe three medium smoothies. One strawberry banana, one—"

"Raspberry." Lupin filled in.

"And one for you." Harry said.

Okay then, three medium smoothies, one strawberry-banana, one raspberry, and one citrus smoothie. Would that be all?" Draco asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"Your total is," Draco paused while ringing their order up, "Ten pounds and thirty p."

Harry nodded and got the amount of money out of his wallet. "Here you go."

"Thank you, Harry, your order will be ready in a few moments, you will be able to pick it up at the end of the counter."

"Okay then. We'll just go and sit at a table and get them when they are ready. How does that sound?" Harry asked Draco.

"That sounds great. You are number one eighty five then." Draco said. As Harry and Remus walked over to an empty table, Draco turned and began preparing their smoothies.

"Harry, I thought that you and Draco hated each other." Lupin said quietly to Harry.

"We did. That was before his father kicked him out and he ended up living with me." Harry said quietly.

"But what about your family?" Lupin asked.

"Do you mean the people the abused me and left me in the woods to fend for myself?" Harry asked.

"I mean your aunt and uncle." Lupin asked.

"No you meant the Dursleys, or the people who abused me and left me in the woods. They are not my family."

Lupin was shocked by this revelation. "Okay then. So the Dursley's ditched you?" Lupin asked to confirm Harry's statement.

"Yep. I'm glad to be rid of them. You'll never guess where they ditched me."

"Okay, since I'll never guess why don't you tell me?"

"Marauder's' wood. Sound familiar?" Harry asked, betting that Lupin had took a portkey here and had no idea of where he was.

"Yeah. That's where we did our..." Lupin's voice trailed off as he realized where he must be. "You mean I'm in...?"

"If you think that you are in Godric's Hollow, then you are correct." Harry said. "You probably didn't recognize where you are because after Voldemort attacked here, he blew up half the town. So most of this is new." Harry said.

"Harry, are you okay living where your parents died?" Lupin asked Harry with genuine concern on his face.

"Yes, I'm fine." Harry said. "Oh, It looks like our drinks are done."

Draco was bringing the tray with their smoothies on it over, "The manager noticed that you guys knew me and that you had bought me a smoothie so she let me off early." Draco said as he set the tray down.

"Really?" Harry said, arching a brow.

Draco laughed. "You have no idea how much you look like—" Draco quit speaking because Harry had just kicked him under the table. "What? He can be trusted."

"Yeah, but now is not the time nor the place. Do you know if the people around us can be trusted?" Harry asked Draco, knowing that he had been about to say something like 'your father when you do that.'

"That I can be trusted with what?" Remus asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing really important. We just found out that I was related to someone, but I want to tell you away from prying ears." Harry said, looking pointedly at the manager who had been wiping down the table near them for the last minute. Harry said to her, "I'm sure that the poor table is clean by now."

"Oh! Sorry, but aren't you—"

"Harry Potter?" Harry filled in dryly.

"Yes." She said eagerly.

"That would be me, and I've been in here quite a bit for the past few days and I rather enjoy your smoothies, but I am trying to have a chat with my friends, so if you would like to talk, I'll be in here tomorrow at the same time, so I'm sure we can chat then if you must."

"Oh. Yes, that would be great. But, could I have your autograph? My sister will never believe—" She said eagerly, not at all put off by Harry's manner.

"Tomorrow." Harry said firmly.

"Okay." She said and hurried off to tend the counter.

"I really hate to rush you guys, but could you hurry with your drinks so we can get out of here? She really bugs me." Harry said.

"Of course Harry, she bugs me to. Try having to put up with her for five hours!" Draco said. "She kept flirting with me. Wouldn't take no for an answer."

"You have my sympathies, Draco. Remus, are you finished?" (A/N: I think it's quite clear who is speaking here, so must I put the name?) Harry said.

"Yep, I'm done too, she bothered me, with her frequent glances over towards out table." Remus agreed.

"Come on, Let's go back to my house. You'll never guess who's there." Harry said.

"Since I won't guess why don't you tell me?" Remus countered.

"Nope. Harry can't tell you. Neither will I, you either have to guess, or wait until we get there." Draco said.

"Well I suppose that I will just have to wait until we get there." Lupin said mournfully.

"I don't know if they will even be there. When I came down in the middle of the night to get something to eat, they were talking about going to the Ministry of Magic to reclaim something. When I opened the door they changed the subject and wouldn't tell me anything." Draco said.

"Oh. If they went they might be back by now. If they're no, Oh well. I invited Remus over for dinner, I hope you don't mind Draco." Harry said.

"No, not at all. I'd like to make amends for what I've done in the past and make new acquaintances. This is a good start." Draco said loftily.

"Harry, has Draco gone insane?" Lupin asked Harry quietly.

"I'm not sure, just a minute, I'll ask him. Hey Draco! Have you gone insane?" Harry asked Draco.

Draco appeared thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think so. But if I find out that I have, I'll let you know. How's that sound?" Draco asked.

"Thanks." Harry said to Draco. He then turned to Remus. "How's that?"

Remus shook his head and muttered something about 'today's kids', and 'back when we were kids'.

"Oh hush. We're almost there." Harry said.

"We are?" Lupin asked.

"Yes we are." Harry said as the ten-foot stone wall that surrounded the house came into view. "See, it's right over there." Harry said, pointing at the wall.

"Nice wall." Remus said, trying not to laugh.

"You laugh now, but when you see the magnificence of the house you will not laugh." Harry said grandly.

"Harry, could we hurry the pace up a bit, we're still five minutes from the house and it's starting to rain." Draco said. True to his word, fat drops began to fall.

"Okay. Just a second." Harry said, suppressing a shiver from the wards. "We've just passed the wards. Now I can do this." Harry waved his hand and a large umbrella appeared over them. "How's that?" He asked triumphantly.

"Lovely." Draco commented.

"Harry? How'd you do that?" Lupin asked nervously.

"Oh! Awhile ago, I discovered that I had an affinity for wandless magic. To get the umbrella effect, I just concentrated on something to keep up dry, and this is what happened." Harry explained

"I suppose that that makes some sort of sense. How much farther? I'm getting tired." Lupin said wearily.

"It's just around the next bend." Harry told Remus. "I'm sure that you'll love the place. It has quite a few things. All it lacks is a pool, but the pond is close by."

"So you are under the impression that you have heaven in your own home." Lupin said.

"Well, the whirlpool bathtub in my bathroom seems like heaven, but I'm not sure about that. It was certainly relaxing this morning when I woke from a bad dream." Harry said.

"What sort of dream?" Lupin asked sharply. "Was it one of the dreams from you-know-who?"

"Nope, just a regular nightmare. I'll be fine." Harry said.

"Wow. It is a lovely place, once you get past the foot and a half thick walls." Lupin said.

"Wait until you see the TV room downstairs!" Draco said eagerly. "Why don't I show it to you?"

Lupin had to oblige, and go downstairs with Draco.

"I'll be down in a moment, I've got a few things to take care of." Harry said.

"Okay then." Draco said. "C'mon, you've just got to see the size of the telly!"

Harry smiled, think how jealous Dudley would be of him right now. Harry had his own home, worked because he wanted to, had a father who was visiting, and Harry had a huge telly. Things were definitely looking up.

Putting the things he had got at the grocers away, Harry made himself a sandwich, and carried it up to his room with the toiletries that he had purchased on the sly the morning. Sitting at his desk, looking out the window, Harry slowly ate his sandwich. Feeling tired, as it had been a long day, Harry decided that it wouldn't hurt to lie down for a few moments. Unfortunately, Harry fell asleep.

Realizing that Harry hadn't come down and it had been more than a moment, Remus asked Draco f he had any idea what was taking Harry so long.

"He might be hiding in his room. Lately he's just been sitting there thinking, for hours and not noticing time going by. (A/N: I do that when I'm writing.) He's probably up in his room." Draco said.

"Okay." Remus replied.

Draco, seeing the Remus was worried about Harry asked him, "Would you feel better if we went up and checked on him?"

"As silly as it seems, yes." Remus said.

"I understand, when I was watching my cousins during the holidays, when they were taking naps or off by themselves, I was worried sick about them until I knew that they were fine. My mother said that it was parental instinct and I should be proud of it, not ashamed." Draco said quietly. "Come on, I'll show you the rest of the house while we check on Harry."

"Okay." Remus replied, one thing, the boy knew how to help you and not make you feel stupid in the process. Which was overall a good thing. The boy could be an asset for the light. Why did he refuse the mark? One would think, from The boy's actions at school, that he would be more than happy to join the Death Eaters. These were things to ponder before going to sleep. Little did he know, Remus Lupin wouldn't be getting much sleep that night.

A/N2: Dear god, this is long. I do believe that I said I'd have it up by Saturday, but my darling sister beat me to the computer and was on for around ten hours, and since school starts in a few weeks, I am trying to get back on a normal sleep-wake schedule, instead of my go to bed at 7 am, and wake up around five pm. That's my dad's idea. So next chapter not for a while ;cause it's nowhere hear finished and i have the whole get ready to go back to school, and why did i sign up for pe and marine biology and english in the same semester???? I'll try and make the next chapter long too if you guys like the legnth of this one. I'll quit rambling now.

Next Chapter: so far, just a visit from a cute little puppy-dog who resembles a grim. Any guesses?

A/N: There! I finally created a good stopping point. I don't know, should I go on? This chapter is 28 pages long in word. Especially since it's nearly four a.m., I think that I'll go to bed and sometime tomorrow afternoon, I'll see what I can do with this. Yes a long chapter. A sort of cliffy too. I'm so evil, to give you a cliffy after 28 pages. Well, it's not really a cliffy, it's more of a why-isn't-Remus-going-to-get-much-sleep ending. BTW- how'd you like the whole bringing Lily back as a ghost thingy?