Who Are You To Me?

Chapter Two

Harry woke up at around 7, to find quite a few owls on his desk, jostling for space. He saw Hedwig in the middle of the group of owls, and a black owl beside her. He noticed Snape's meticulous handwriting on that letter. He sent Snape's owl back to its owner after thanking it and giving it a treat. He saw Hermione's owl, and Ron's owl, and another owl he didn't recognise. He opened the parcel that Hermione's owl was holding. It was a book called 'Spells Every Wizard Should Know'. Harry smiled. Hermione always seemed to know what he would like, as did Ron. He read Hermione's card.

Harry

Happy Birthday!! I hope you like the present; there are references to Occulumency in it, which I thought would help with your studies.

See you soon.

Hermione xxx

Harry wrote a short note back, asking about meeting up in Diagon Alley, and sent Hermione's owl back.

Ron had given him a set of items from Fred and George's shop, which Harry thought might come in handy some time. He wrote Ron a note and returned that owl.

Harry looked at the last owl. He didn't know who it was from, it wasn't an owl he knew. He opened the card, and read the contents, before looking at the present.

Harry

We hope you like this present, although it may upset you a little. Hope to come to see you today, so we will talk then. Hope they're treating you ok.

From Remus, Moody, Tonks, and the rest of the Order.

Harry opened his present. It was another photo album, he already had a couple. Some of the pictures were muggle style, some wizard style. Many were of Harry as a baby, and his godfather. Harry's eyes filled with tears again, it just wasn't fair. He flipped through the rest of the pictures, looking at each one to see who he knew. He was surprised when he came across a picture of himself being held by his aunt, he would have to ask her about that. There were other pictures of baby Harry with his parents and Sirius, and a rare one of himself and Remus. Harry smiled at his gift, and placed it carefully in his trunk with the other albums.

He slowly wandered downstairs to get breakfast. Opening the kitchen door, he noticed the three members of his family sat around the table. In the fourth place, there was a parcel. Harry stared at it, gobsmacked. Could it be a present from his aunt and uncle? He sat down at the table, aware that three pairs of eyes were watching him. Looking at the tag, he wanted to capture this moment forever. His aunt, uncle and cousin had actually got him a birthday present.

Harry looked at the card on top of the present.

Harry

These belonged to your mother, they were found the other day. We hope you like reading them.

The Dursley family.

Harry was in serious danger of a heart attack. He looked up to see three faces staring at him.

"Thank you." They knew it was not just for the present, it was for everything nice they'd done over the past few weeks.

Harry opened the box to find four books, each a different colour. His aunt saw his perplexed look, and explained.

"They were your mother's diaries, from the year she left school to the year she died."

Harry placed them carefully into the box again, and smiled at his family. "Thanks. I'll look after them carefully."

With that, he stood, and took the box back up to his room. He intended to sit and read some of his mother's books, but he then noticed the reply from Snape, still sitting on his desk. He picked it up, and sat at his desk.

To Mr Potter

Thank you for your letter, it was unexpected. I accept your apology; I think I may have over-reacted slightly when I discovered you that day, but I will put it behind me. I will expect you to keep the information to yourself however, as you said yourself, what you saw were my private memories.

I am glad you are practising; I am willing to tutor you again when you return after the summer.

See you in September

Professor Snape

Harry read the letter, and decided to write back, he felt compelled to; he had some things to get off his chest. Grabbing the nearest writing implements he had, which happened to be lined paper and a biro, he sat down to write.

To Professor Snape

Thanks for writing back. Again, I expect you are wondering why I am replying. I just had a couple of things I wanted to say.

The first is relating to my previous letter. I saw in your memories the things my father did to you in school, I must say I felt disgusted. I had always thought my father to be a kind man, obviously, I was mistaken. I had never heard about that side of him.

My godfather said something about it when I spoke to him, something about you all only being young, but embarrassing someone in that way is wrong no matter how much fun it might seem to the person who is causing the embarrassment.

I've always felt you hated me for the things my father did. Do I remind you of him? I can understand you hating my father, after all, the things he did to you (I imagine there are more events similar to the one I witnessed) were inexcusable, but I ask you to remember I am not my father, I am me.

That brings me to my second point. I would like to propose an idea- why don't we make a truce? I am willing to be more civil to you and pay more attention in classes if you will be civil to me, and not resent me for the things my father did.

Of course your memories will be kept private, only we will know about them. I'm not about to go telling people things like that.

See you in September. Oh, and please stop calling me Mr Potter, it sounds too grown up!

Harry Potter