Chapter 2

Discovering Identity

"Alright, I believe you, so what do you want to say?" Harry asked, sitting down, giving the signal to Mark to sit down as well. The adults glanced at each other rather nervously, except for Snape. "And I believe that the old woman didn't introduce herself."

The adults gaped at him for using the descriptions of the aged woman. However, the woman stared at him sternly, seemingly to try and come up with something to reprimand him for it but dropped it.

"I'm Minerva McGonagall," she replied. "Now, down to business, I'm sure they told you that we have been searching for you for quite sometime. We wish to take you two back to the Headquarters."

"And where is this Headquarters at?" Harry asked.

"Somewhere in London, that's all I'm saying I'm afraid. We may have someone hearing us at this moment. You know, Death Eaters," McGonagall replied, Harry nodded.

"So, when do we go, and how are we getting there?"

"Soon as possible, and we'll be using a portkey," Remus spoke up for Minerva.

"Alright, just let us pack first," Harry said, getting up, and Mark followed suit. Once the two males were upstairs, Mark spoke up.

"Can we really trust them?"

"Yeah, Sirius answered my question without hesitation. I'm sure we can, looks like they're the answers to my memory. Maybe they can even fix my amnesia. Well, I hope so," said Harry, packing his stuff into the trunk. "It's been a long day."

"No kidding, with that Hogwarts mail, then finding your trunk, looking at your stuff and," Mark went on.

"I get the point, now just pack," Harry cut him off wearily.

"Fine, sheesh, don't take it out on me," Mark muttered putting his socks into a duffel bag.

"Sorry," then the two packed the rest of their stuff and dragged down the stairs back into the room. "We're ready."

"Good, I'm glad you didn't dandled," Severus Snape said coolly. Harry shrugged at him.

"What's the point anyhow?" Harry met with silence. "Can we go now?"

"Yes, yes, here's the portkey," Minerva McGonagall said, taking an old newspaper off the table. "Everyone gather around and touch this piece of paper."

Severus, Remus, Sirius, Minerva, Tonks, Harry, and Mark touched the piece of parchment along with their trunk and the bag.

"Three, two, one," McGonagall said, and then he felt something like a hook at his navel, pulling him forward. The colors around him swirled about, and wind blowing in his hair and whisperings of willows blowing in his ears. Suddenly as it began, his knees buckled forward and collided into Mark who didn't have a graceful landing.

"Urgh!" Harry grunted. "Why do I have a feeling this had happened before?"

"It did," spoke Remus, Sirius and Severus.

"Ah, no wonder," Harry said, standing up from the floor, brushing himself. "Well, is anyone going to help me with my memory?" The adults looked at each other.

"Actually, we don't know, there isn't something that solves amnesia cases like yours. If we did, then that Lockhart bloke would've been better ages ago," said Remus.

"I see," Harry said softly, not bothering to ask who Lockhart was. "Well, I'll be needing all the help I can get anyhow."

Remus nodded, but Sirius spoke next. "I'm hungry, can we bug Molly for some food?"

"Oi Sirius," Tonks laughed. "Now that you mentioned, I'm hungry too."

"Well, I am no longer of any use, I'll be going," Snape said, turning to leave with his cloak swishing behind him. Sirius shook his head.

"Typical, anyways, want something to eat Harry?"

"No thanks," Harry refused politely. Sure, he knew who Sirius was, but he was still cautious. Unsure of his actions and behaviors. He didn't even know how Sirius usually behaved and whatnot.

"Alright, so you want to get settled in? I'm sure Ron and Hermione will be very happy to see you."

"Ron and Hermione?" Harry repeated, remembering the pictures and the letters. Now those people he can actually trust. However, he was still cautious of how they acted as well.

"Yeah, they're, well, your best mates I guess," said Sirius cautiously.

"Yeah, I went through some of my letters and the pictures. So where are they?"

"Sirius, you go lead him to the rooms, I'll help Molly with the lunch," Remus said going into the kitchen. Sirius huffed for not being able to sneak in some food and shrugged.

"Fine, follow me, Locomotor trunk." Sirius moved the trunk up the stairs and lead Harry and Mark up the stairs for two floors and past several doors and Sirius stopped at a door. "Well, this'll be your rooms for the rest of the holidays."

Harry nodded his thanks and opened the door slowly and heard some soft murmuring and stopped talking when the door creaked halfway. He saw Ron, Hermione, and a red-haired girl. "Er-Hello.."

"HARRY!" shouted the three people in front of him and Harry winced at the volume of their voices.

"Oh Harry!" Hermione fell into Harry's embraced and hugged him tightly. "Oh I was so worried about you! We didn't know if you were alive or not!" sobbed Hermione.

"Uh-huh, air Hermione, air…" Harry gulped for air, and Hermione promptly let go of him.

"Harry mate, you're alive!" Ron grinned.

"Yeah, 'course I am… and who are you?" he asked, nodding towards the red-haired girl.

"You don't know who she is?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Well, you could say that I have this amnesia. It was only yesterday that I found my trunk and knew who you two are."

"Oh my god Harry!" Hermione gaped at him.

"Yeah well, who're you?"

"I'm Ginny, Ron's sister, can't you remember me?" she asked..

"No, not at all, not since before the, well, I'm sure you all know what happened that night… And at least your name was along my letters in the trunk."

The three looked at each other anxiously and nervously until Hermione spoke up. "What do you remember?"

"How my mum died, that boy being hit by that green light, the attacks, though it took me about two weeks to actually remember anything about that night. I also remembered how my relatives treated me when Mark," he pointed to the younger boy, who, everyone had finally noticed. "Found my trunk in the cupboard. Therefore, I guess all I need is something to ring some bell in my memory. But sometimes it seems that it won't work… like the letters and the photo albums."

"Lunch's ready!" hollered a woman's voice. The teenagers left the room, eagerly waiting to eat something.

"And how did you meet each other, Mark? Harry?" Hermione asked, curious.

"Well, I was out for two days after the attacks, and I went to explore the neighborhood. You can imagine that we found each other at one point," Harry replied, Mark nodded in confirmation.

"I thought he was one of those killers, but turns out he wasn't. Imagine, I'm a wizard myself too!" Mark exclaimed, Harry grinned

"You were out for two day!?" Hermione asked shocked.

"Well, seeing that he does have the tendency to be out for ages, it shouldn't be a surprise Hermione," Ron muttered.

"Oh yeah, well I suppose that's true, but still, I can't believe you have to go to the hearing again for the underage magic! I'm so glad we have a new Minister of Magic," said Hermione.

"New Minister?" Harry asked.

"Oh Harry, if you knew, everything's had changed ever since that night and even before. Like bailing you out of Azkaban."

"Yeah, horrible place that is, you couldn't even stay conscious for thirty seconds. Those damned dementors, even though most of them had already left to Voldemort," Ron shivered, but Hermione smiled at Ron.

"At least you're starting to use his name lately Ron," Hermione smiled softly but frowned again. "Is there anything else you remember?" Harry shook his head no. Then the group finally traipsed into the dining room and found Molly setting the table. Humming happily as she set the forks down next to the plates and looked up at the group.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, running to him and tried to enveloped him in a tight hug, but. Harry to pull away from her. Whom she had frowned at him. "I'm glad you're alive, but not in the condition I want you to be in!" she tutted. "Well, do eat Harry!"

"No thanks, I'll just-" Harry began.

"Oh no you don't, you've got to eat something!" she demanded.

"No thanks," Harry said more firmly this time. "I don't trust anyone here except Mark thank you very much," Harry said coolly. He saw the disappointment and shock on everyone's faces except Mark's.

"Oh fine, why don't you make your own food then?" she asked, pleading for him to at least eat something. Nevertheless, Harry shook his head no.

"I just need to get my memory back and I'll see who I can trust and whom I can't, in the meantime, I'll get the food for myself," with that, Harry left the dining room. He went upstairs and into a random room, which seems to be a Sitting room. He sat down in one of the sofas near the fireplace. He heard footsteps nearing him and looked who entered the room. He saw that Mark had also followed him.

"I agree with you Harry, on every point about the trust part. Funny, when I first met you, I didn't trust you at all, but, heh, I guess I do now," he paused. "For some reason, I look up to you as my brother."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head softly. "What day is it?"

"August 24 and its Saturday," Mark answered.

"Ah, four days before my stupid hearing then" Harry muttered. Mark sat down next to him, watching the fire emitting its warmth. "What do you think of the people here?"

"Well, they all seem good, but it could be an act," Mark offered his opinion, which Harry nodded in agreement.

"We'll have to watch out for any slips and see if they are truly good and on our side," said Harry, picking up a quill and doodled on a piece of parchment. They talked for few minutes about what happened for the past few weeks, what the people's intentions were and the talking fell into silence. Flames throwing around golden shadows about the room. Then he heard a knock at the door and Harry looked over to Mark who shrugged.

"Who's there?" Harry asked.

"It's me Ron and Hermione's here too," answered the voice.

"Oh, well, c'mon in then," Harry instinctively stuck his hand into his pocket where the wand is. The door opened and revealed the two people at the doorway and shakily walked into the room and sat opposite sofa from theirs. "What's up?"

"Oh, we just wanted to help you getting your memory back," Hermione began. Harry nodded, letting her continue. "I suppose we can start with the first train ride to Hogwarts you had."

"Yeah, when you came to the Platform nine and three-quarters, you came to my mum, asking for help on how to get through. So, she did and then later on the train, I came to your compart-"

"Wait a minute," Harry interrupted, "I think I remember that, yeah I do!" Then the memories on the train ride to Hogwarts came back to him. "I remember when Hermione came to our compartment looking for Neville's toad."

"That's right!" Hermione said excitedly, beaming at him and glad at the success happening already. "Okay, do you remember our first year at Hogwarts?" Harry shook his head no, and she frowned. Ron began to tell about Professor Quirrell, Professor Snape and all the teachers, and what Hogwarts looked like. Then he told about the broom flying lessons.

"Hold on, Draco Malfoy did that? Wait, hang on," Harry bit his bottom lip, remembering the flying lessons and how Malfoy had acted. "Didn't I get on Quidditch team because of him?"

"Yeah mate, I wonder why you won't remember any of the professors or about Hogwarts but the flying lessons?" Ron asked, wondering.

"I suppose I just need to remember the experiences I had," theorized Harry.

"Perhaps, I say we stick to what happened to him," Hermione said and talked of Fluffy, detentions with Snape, Norbert, working in the Library for Nicholas Flammel. All those memories, which Harry had remembered bits of it. "What we need, is something to trigger all of your memories back to normal, it's exhausting to tell you everything so far. It's taken us two hours already!"

"Well, better than no memories at all," Harry said coolly which caused a hurt look on Hermione's. "So, continue?"

"Oh yes, well, we found out about the Philosopher's stone-"

"Philosopher's stone?" Harry interrupted again, and again his memories came rushing forward. But this time, his entire first year was remembered. "Augh.." Harry lied down on the sofa, being exhausted from the memories rushing all at once especially at a greater magnitude this time.

"Harry, you okay?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Y-yuh, just tired, I remember my first year now. I just need to rest a bit, it's exhausting you know," Harry said. He closed his eyes, looking at each memory he had of his first year. The Hogwarts letter, Hagrid, Norbert, lessons in Potions, Malfoy. The stone, Mirror of Erised, Nicholas, the Forbidden Forest, Voldemort, the third floor chambers leading to Fluffy, devil snare, the flying keys, trolls, chess, potions and finally the mirror again. He remembered how shocked he was to see none other than Professor Quirrell. He slowly sat up from his so-called rest.

"I-I'll be right back," Harry muttered, standing up and left the room to the rooms he was staying at. He looked through the trunk for the photo album. Then a black book fell out of the trunk and Harry caught it before it hit the floor. Curious, he tried opening the book but wouldn't budge. He saw his name on the book, and that it was from Sirius. Standing up again and went downstairs to find Sirius.

"Sirius?" Harry asked, and he found him sitting at the sofa with Remus.

"Yes?" he replied curious.

"Uh, what's… this book?"

"Oh that! It's a journal I gave you few months ago, you said something about writing poems in there,"

"You mean I do poetry -" The book fell open and Sirius laughed.

"That was your password!?" Sirius laughed even harder and rolled on the floor. "I should have guessed!" Harry had to laugh at himself, coming up with that password. Now really, him, writing poems?

"Well, thanks Sirius, I'll be sure to change the password," with that, Harry went upstairs to read the contents. Once he sat down and read the contents. He was surprised with himself of what he wrote. He certainly seems to write some of the feelings down. He shrugged, and tried writing a poem for himself. He took out the quill and ink. Then he wrote on a new page of the journal.

August 24

So, I guess I'm the only one here
With no idea of who I really am
I have no clue
Sure, I remember some now
Still, it's not enough
Who is Sirius?
Oh what'll I do about the rest of people
Why do I sense a big change around here?
I sense sorrow in this house
You could say that it's driving me crazy
When will I remember
Remember everything about my life?
Why have I forgotten?
Is there something in the explosion that happened
Or something deeper than that
Trying to forget something dreadful?
If that's true, then I don't want to remember
I'm the only one here . . . alone
Unsure of whom to trust.

He paused his quill, reading his poem and frustrated at himself for it. He tore the page out and shred it into pieces and threw into the garbage, and knowing that there is a repairing spell He then created a fire with a match and threw it into the dustbin. He then watched the flames engulfing in the small space and felt its warmth. He heard the door opening and someone shrieked.

"Harry! What're you doing!?" Hermione yelled, pouring water into the dustbin from a cup off a nearby table.

"Burning evidences, what else?" Harry replied casually.

"What evidence?" she asked suspiciously.

"A poem I wrote," he said with a shrug.

"Oh… well you shouldn't have done that," she reprimanded him.

"Don't you tell me what to do Hermione, I may remember my first year, I still don't trust you. What year am I going into anyways?"

"Our sixth," she replied.

"Well, exactly, I don't know what happened in the last four years, things might have changed since the first year," he reasoned.

"Oh, well, I suppose that would make sense," she said sadly. "Don't you worry, there's absolutely no reason you can't trust us, you wait and see."

"I suppose," said Harry, closing his journal. "Do you mind?"

"What?" she asked curiously.

"Leave the room so I can change the password so Sirius won't read what I've wrote," said Harry with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Oh! Oh, sure," Hermione said, leaving the room with door closing behind her. Harry pointed his wand at the book, remembering exactly how he had gotten his journal and giving the password. He inaudibly spoke his new password.

"Yh Wdn Amo Hwtsu Rt," since he had remembered the mirror of Erised. It seems only fitting to say the words backwards, with some spaces. (Translation: Trust whom and why) Satisfied that no one would be able to crack his password; he tucked away his journal for now and went downstairs to see what everyone is up to.

"Hey Harry, want to play some chess?" Ron asked, shifting slightly.

"Sure Ron," Harry replied, and the two went to play the chess game for about half an hour. When the game finally end with Harry winning the chess game.

"Bloody hell! You never beat me before!" Ron exclaimed, and Harry smirked.

"Well, you had to lose someday," Harry said chuckling. "So, who's the new Minister of Magic I keep hearing about?' Ron grinned at the question and beamed.

"My dad is."

"You're joking!" laughed Harry, remembering the trip to Burrow before his second year. He remembered Dobby, and the second year. The troubles with people being petrified, and discovering that it was Basilisk all along.

"Harry?"

"Ugh, I re-remembered my second year," he leaned back, sorting his memories out. "I slayed the Basilisk?"

"Yeah mate, wow, you're remembering everything faster now Harry! Bloody hell, at this rate, you'll remember everything by the time you have to go for the hearing," Ron said.

"Augh Ron, do you have to remind me of that?" complained Harry, but still glad that so far, in his second year that he and his two friends are still best mates. "Mmm, for some reason, the memory about me being a parseltounge, I want a snake," Ron's eyes bulged out at his announcement.

"Harry, are you nuts!? We can't have snakes, let alone in Gryffindor tower!"

"Oh c'mon, at least let me put my 'gift' to a use," Harry rolled his eyes at his friend.

"B-but mate, I don't want to see you using the gift, its considered a dark gift!"

"Ron, do you see me doing dark magic?" Harry asked.

"Er-the thing is, you already did…" Ron said nervously.

"I-I used dark magic? Wait, is that why I was sent to, this Azkaban place?"

"Yeah, wizarding prison," Ron filled in the details.

"Oh shit, I did, didn't I?" He vaguely remembered the feelings, horrible feelings. The ones he couldn't shake off of and somehow stuck with him to this day. "No wonder, I feel like shit."

"No shit sherlock, you don't last long with dementors around. God knows how you managed to stay sane. Back in our third year, we had dementors guarding Hogwarts because, well, at the time, we all thought Sirius was a convict. You see, he escaped the prison, first time anyone did actually. Anyways, when the first one came near you, you were completely knocked out. It was scary mate," Ron said with a slight shiver.

"Damn Ron, are you going to give back all of my memories tonight or what!?"

"You just remembered your third have you?" Ron asked sheepishly.

"Yes Ron! I want to take this slow! Ah well, like it matter, at least this one doesn't have too much mental energy as the last two…" Then Harry groaned, leaning forward, rubbing his temples. "Ah bloody great, I have one hell of a headache now…" he heard Ron getting up from his seat and left. A moment later, he heard three pairs of footsteps coming into the room.

"Harry, you okay?" he recognized the voice as Remus.

"Do I look it?" Harry replied sarcastically, still rubbing his temples.

"No, I say you don't, here, this is a potion to get rid of your headaches," Remus set the goblet on the table in front of Harry. He slowly looked up, staring at the supposed drink and stared suspiciously at Remus but he looked genuine. Heaving a sigh, he picked the goblet up and drank the contents down, willing himself not to spurt out any of it for it's foul taste.

"Er-I thought you were going to argue about drink that…" Ron asked curious.

"I would if I hadn't remembered my third year now would I?"

"Oh, so you made some progress at last!" Sirius exclaimed. "Though you do know that I'm innocent right..? Everything's changed since third year you know."

"I'm aware of that, but yeah I do know you're innocent. Now however, if I didn't remember the last bits of the memory, I'd kill you now."

The three laughed quite nervously, looking at each other, and Harry glanced at them suspiciously.

"Why do you have to act so nervous around me? There's no reason for you to be," Harry said curtly.

"It's just that you're so," Ron began.

"Sarcastic and distrusting, you're never like this before Harry, we're unsure of how you would act since you don't remember much," Remus said hesitantly.

"Really? So, I'm a different person than you once knew?" Harry asked, arching an eyebrow. Then he remembered his first, second, and third years. How 'nice' he had acted towards his friends. "Mm, I suppose you're right, comparing with my first three years at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, you see mate?" Ron agreed.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I think I'll keep this up until I remember everything," he said, getting up from his seat. Glad that his headache had gone already and went to the kitchen to find himself some butterbeer. i'At least this one isn't tampered'/I He opened his drink and drank the contents, feeling at once warmed up in the insides. The other three followed into the kitchen and stood there, unsure what to say.

"Well, if you want to sit, then sit, if you want to talk. Well, talk," said Harry, feeling too watched.

"It's just that, you're drinking," Ron said.

"Oh, come on, I know this one wasn't tampered with. So chill," he said, drinking the rest of the contents. Ron stared at him with an odd look on his face. "What?"

"Why do you have some American accent?"

"I dunno, Mark's?" Harry shrugged.

"What's his last name anyways?" Remus asked.

"Evans, Mark Evans," Harry replied, wiping his mouth with the sleeves of his shirt. Sirius, Remus and Ron gaped at him. "Alright, what is it this time?"

"Are you sure it's Evans?" Remus asking for confirmation.

"Yeah, do you need some help with your hearing?"

"You've got to be kidding," Sirius said slowly, and turned around and ran up the stairs. Harry stared after him, confused.

"Do you know someone with Evans? Or do you actually know Mark?" Harry asked after a tensed silence.

"Yes, and it was your mother, Lily Evans, perhaps it might be a coincidence"

"M-my mum?" Harry asked, widening his eyes. Then the three heard two pairs of foot steps coming back into the kitchen and appeared at the door. Mark, with confused look on his face, along with anxious look on Sirius'.

"W-well, I think we need Snape to get in here, and perform a small test." Sirius said.

"Why? What test?" Mark asked, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"There's a chance of having you two being related, seeing that Harry's mother was L-Lily Evans," Remus explained. Then a dawning comprehension appeared on Mark's face. Sirius left the room again, assuming that he had gone to get Snape.

"Wow, it would be so cool if he's actually my brother!"

"There's no chance of that, it's impossible. Harry was only a year old when his parents died," said Remus sadly.

"Oh, sorry,"

"It's okay Mark, you didn't know," Harry assured him. Nevertheless, the idea of having someone related to him. "Wait, are my relatives, alive?"

"If you mean Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley. I'm sorry to say but they all died. It's possible that Mark might be your only relative. That is, if Mark doesn't have any either."

"No I don't, my parents died in the killings," Mark confirmed.

"Oh, that must've been terrible," said Remus.

"Yeah, try having to watch two of your parents dying before you… it. It was bad," struggled Mark. "I-I'm sure they're somewhere happy together, Life goes on doesn't it?"

"Yes, 'accept past as past, don't discard or deny it' (from Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom)," Remus said quietly. The four stood there in silence, daring not to break the air formation of bond between each male. Then Sirius came back into the kitchen with Snape following, with a sour look on his face.

"So, you want to see if Evans and Potter are related?" Everyone in the room nodded. "I see, well, I'll tell this much, this potion is only related by blood. So if you two are related by name, well, you'd know. Now I need a drop of your blood, each."

The two looked at each other nervously. Purposely drawing out blood for a potion? Then it hit Harry, his fourth year of Hogwarts rushing forward.

"Oh not again," Harry groaned, sitting down in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Oh god th-that was Cedric?" he asked to no one in particular. He felt small tears filling to the brim of his eyes. He soon felt really shaky, remembering the rebirth of Voldemort, Wormtail cutting his hand off. He let out a low whimper and fell to the floor convulsing at the memory of having Cruciatus Curse thrown at him.

Harry heard someone saying his name, but it felt so far away. He wasn't sure where he was anymore, all he was trapped within his own mind, his memory in the graveyard replaying repeatedly. There was no escape he knew, the duel with the Dark Lord, the ghost figures coming out of his wand. The request Cedric had given him. The memory had replayed at least three times already, but he soon heard his name being called again.

"Har-ry, Harry," the voice was so small, so soft. "Harry," The voice grew louder, the darkness fading.. "Harry! Wake up!" He knew the voice, but who did it belong to?

"HARRY! HARRY GET UP!" His scar was burning so badly now that he realized. "Harry, I know you're awake, wake up," he felt hands shaking him to wake up. Harry let out a groan, and the shaking stopped.

"Ugh… wh-what happened?"

"I don't know, you tell us," he said.

"Well, I-my memory back in the graveyard, it was replaying so many times I-"

"Hush, it's okay Harry, you're not back at the graveyard anymore," said the same voice, whom Harry knew who belonged to, Remus. "We got your blood and Mark's for the potion and…."

"Are we related?" Harry asked anxiously. He saw a faint smile appearing on premature aged face.

"Yes Harry, third or fourth cousins at least."

"Oh, wow," Harry said. "Augh, damn memories, I need to sleep,"

"Yeah, you've been convulsing for past forty-five minutes. It's a no wonder that you're tired from all that energy you have expended. C'mon, I'll get you to your bed," Remus said, helping Harry up from the floor. "It's been a long day indeed,."

"You mean it's still today?" Harry asked in wonderment. It had felt like a week dragged on forever.

'Yes Harry, it's still August 24th. Long day I bet," Harry was led into his rooms and fell on to the bed, asleep even before his head hit the pillows.