Disclaimer the same.
Chapter 4-
Harry excused himself and Draco, and left the Hall. As soon as the doors closed, Draco pulled the green eyed man to the side.
"What are we doing, Harry?" he asked, looking puzzled.
"We are going to talk to Lily," Harry said quietly. "Minerva said she has been keeping to herself lately and asked us to talk to her."
Draco nodded and followed Harry onto the grounds. Just as the Deputy Headmistress said, Lily was sitting on a big rock near the lake, just staring in the water's depths. They walked casually over to her. When the two arrived next to her, she didn't even notice.
"It isn't good to brood," Harry said, and accidentally startled his future mother. She squeaked and fell off the rock and a stick jabbed her arm.
"Ow!" she said and examined her arm. It was bleeding a little. She looked up and saw the men. "Sorry, you startled me."
Draco kneeled down and looked at her arm.
"It seems to be fine, just needs to be cleaned up," he said and looked to Harry.
Harry whistled two short notes, and suddenly Fawkes appeared. Harry pointed to Lily, and the phoenix chirped and landed next to Lily. It nuzzled her head, then tears formed in its eyes, and the bird let two tears fall onto the cut. Lily gasped when she realized it was healing.
"We are sorry for startling you, Lily," Draco said and sat down, next to the girl who was now stoking the phoenix.
Harry sat down on her other side.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked. "You seemed quiet at dinner, and then were staring at the lake."
Lily didn't look up from Fawkes but did stop petting him.
"I'm fine," she said in a not-so-fine voice.
Harry sighed and sat back on his hands.
"Lily, I'm not going to lie to you; one of your teachers told me you were keeping to yourself more often than usual," Harry said to Lily who had stiffened. "They were worried about you and wanted us to talk to you. They said you were brooding a lot near the lake, so we came to check."
Lily looked back to the lake.
"How do I know I can talk to you?" she asked bringing her knees up, and setting her chin on them.
Draco crossed his legs and looked at the girl truthfully.
"There is a certain magic that makes sure a Counselor do not say anything about their patients," Draco said. "In the muggle world there is something called doctor-patient-privilege. That is what this charm is like. As soon as you confide in us, the charm activates, and we can't talk about what happened during those sessions except with you or ourselves. The only way we would be able to is, if it will hurt yourself or others; other than that, we can't utter a word."
Lily nodded, taking in the information.
"Okay," she said finally. "It really isn't anything you should be concerned about. It's just a boy…"
Harry chuckled.
"Boy trouble?" he asked.
She nodded, shyly.
"You came to the right place!" Harry said and clapped his hands once. "You got two of them right here. What do you need?"
She grinned a little, and set her feet down on the ground.
"Um… how did you know you loved Draco?" she asked looking at Harry's emerald eyes. "Did you always, or did it happen over time?"
Draco laughed out right, and Harry leaned over Lily, and cuffed him.
"Shut up, you prat!" Harry said, trying to hide his grin of amusement.
Draco however, from the impact of Harry's hit, fell to the ground, still laughing. He sat up, and wiped the tears of amusement from his face, trying to get his breathing under control.
"That's-Ha- That's very- Ha, Ha- Funny!" Draco said in between laughs that escaped.
"What is so funny?" Lily asked, looking questioningly at the two men.
"It was your question that sent him off," Harry said, rolling his eyes at his lover. "At school, we were hated enemies. He tried to me hex me and get me expelled any chance he got. I, of course, retaliated. Isn't that right, Draco. You should of heard of the time when he was 'Draco, The-Amazing-Bouncing-Ferret!'"
Draco got over all of his laughter right then and there.
"Don't you dare, 'Golden Boy,'" Draco said sitting back on the stone.
Harry smiled innocently at his husband, who huffed in return.
"How did you get married then?" Lily asked, looking confused.
"Well, during my sixth year, everything was horrible for me," Harry said in a calm/serious voice. "I had horrible relatives I had to live with since my parents died. My uncle hated magic, so I was abused at home. My friends turned on me; my best friend was jealous that I had an immense fortune, though the price of it was my parent's lives; he never understood that concept. I was stressed beyond relief. I was messed up. One night I went to the astronomy tower, fixing to jump. Draco came and stopped me."
Lily looked shocked, then looked to Draco who seemed sadden.
"Yah, you see, for many years I had actually loved him, but was unable to say it because my father would have killed me, being the stupid pureblood that he was," Draco said steadily. "I saw him leave the feast, probably the only one, and followed him. It broke my heart when I saw him there. I told him not to, and he said there wasn't any reason why he should, so I confessed, and poured my heart out to him."
"I was shocked beyond belief that he loved me," Harry said. "I had loved him, as well, but knew I could never have him, with us being enemies and all. When he said that I ran to him and sobbed, then I kissed him. It went from there; he helped me in counseling and we grew close. A year later we bonded and married, and got jobs counseling kids like me who came from broken homes."
Lily looked like she didn't know what to say.
"Before you ask your question, I would strongly advise/appreciate if you don't try to jump out of a window to get his attention," Harry joked, and Lily and Draco laughed. That seemed to break the ice, so to speak.
"Well, there is this boy named James Potter," Lily started. "Ever since third year he has been trying to go out with me, but I always turned him down. He is and his friends are the pranksters at this school. They call themselves the 'Marauders.' James' friends are Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. They all are childish and arrogant except for Remus, but he just lets them do what ever they want. James' is the worst though; he is arrogant, self-centered, and ruthless. He is a bully! He picks on any guy-friends that hang out with me. My best friend is Severus Snape, and because of Potter we have to act mean to each other so they don't pick on him as much, but it doesn't help. It's like they go out of their way to get him."
Lily looked at the two who seemed to be thinking.
"Sorry to interrupt, but ask your friend, Mr. Snape, to come talk with us sometime," Harry said, and Draco nodded his head in approval. "We can also talk to Mr. Potter, but only if he hurts him again. I would really like to observe him, and see why he does that. Please tell me, when school starts, if he does that."
Lily nodded and continued her story.
"I hate the way he acts, but sort of feel attracted to him some," Lily said looking at her feet. "I don't want to, but I do. I mean, all summer I thought about him. Actually, I figure I would have gone out with him long before now, if he didn't act so pig-headed. I really don't know what to do…"
Draco patted her shoulder, comfortingly.
"Well, I think you should wait for him to get over himself," Draco said. "You deserve the best, everyone does. If he likes you that much, he should be able to change for you."
Harry put his hand on her shoulder, too.
"I agree," Harry said. "Who knows; maybe this class will do wonders for him. Draco," he said looking over to his husband, "I believe I know who we should pair up with Mr. Potter for class."
"Who?" Lily asked looking a bit miffed.
Harry stood up and stretched his arm.
"Why Mr. Snape of course," he said and Lily looked alarmed. "Don't worry, in our class, there will be no wands at all. Everybody will be in pairs, and they will have to get to know their partner and such. If they don't work together, they fail; plain and simple. If they want to pass, then they will have to be nice for at least one lesson."
Lily thought about it and laughed.
"That may work!" she said. "Oh, and don't worry, I won't tell anybody your plans or about your past. It seems only fair since you can't talk about what we talked about. I will talk to Severus when he gets here. I think I am okay now, I was just confused on what to do."
Draco stood up, and helped her up as well.
"Don't worry; you can always talk to us about anything," the blonde said. "Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with us? We need to get Fawkes some food. Green-eyes over there forgot some."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yah, blondie, I don't remember you reminding me," Harry said as they started walking to the village. He turned his head to Lily who was walking between them, smiling. "So, Lily, what does this James Potter look like?"
Lily thought a moment then looked at Harry studying him.
"What?" Harry asked, faking a confused look.
"He looks somewhat like you, I guess," Lily said, slowly, trying to describe him. "He has glasses, hazel eyes and is a bit shorter, though."
Harry nodded.
"I guessed that," he said as they passed the gates. "My grandfather either was disowned, or left the family and moved to America. I have never seen my dad's part of the family, so I didn't know I had relatives. My maiden name is Harry Potter, but I took Draco's name."
Lily gasped at this news.
"I knew it!" she proclaimed and bounced in the air. "When I first saw you, I thought you were James, but you looked older and different eyes."
Draco was proud how his husband had thought up a story in only a day.
"Well, I didn't know I had relatives, like I said," Harry said running his hand through his hair. "I just heard you say Potter, and thought about it. My godfather said the Potter men always looked a lot like their fathers, so it was confirmed when you gave me an image of him."
Lily nodded her head.
"Am I guessing that I don't tell anybody, right?" Lily said as they reached nearer to the village.
"Yes you are," Harry said smiling. "I want him to act just like he would with any teacher. He might act differently if he knew we were family."
They arrived in the village shortly, and Draco turned to Lily.
"You wouldn't happen to know where the pet shop is, would you?" he asked the teen.
Lily smiled and pointed to the shop called "Magical Beasts and Such." They walked in there, and a wizard went straight up to them.
"How may I help you, sirs and ma'am?" the wizard asked, in a sweet, greedy voice.
"I would like to purchase some feed for my phoenix, please," Harry said to the keeper.
The man nodded, and went to the back of the store. Harry felt someone tap his shoulder and he turned around to see Draco watching, curiously, as Lily pet an orange cat with a slightly squashed face.
"Where have I seen that cat before, Harry?" Draco asked quietly, so Lily wouldn't hear him.
Harry thought a moment then it clicked!
"My God, Draco, that is Hermione's cat, Crookshanks!" Harry whispered into Draco's ear.
Draco's eyes widened.
"It is, isn't it?" he said softly. He couldn't say anymore, as the shopkeeper had returned with a big bag of tiny biscuits.
"Is there anything else you need," the man asked.
Harry looked around and saw a gold bird-perch that he could have sworn was the same one in the future Dumbledore's office.
"Yes, I would like to purchase that perch," Harry said, pointing to the item. He turned, and saw Lily still stroking the half kneazle. "Also, the cat the young lady is petting."
Lily looked up, shocked.
"You don't have to get me anything!" she said, and stepped away from the cat.
Harry shook his head. He walked over to her, and picked up the cat.
"Let's put it this way; while you wait for Mr. Potter to come to maturity, you can have a feline friend to spend time with," he said as he walked to the counter.
Lily looked like she was about to protest, when Draco put a hand on her shoulder.
"Just accept it," he said to the girl. "Don't you want a friend that Mr. Potter won't be able to scare away?"
The girl sighed and nodded.
"All of it is 36 galleons," The shopkeeper said as he totaled up the items.
Harry pulled out his money bag that he had gotten from his trunk that morning, and gave the man some gold. The man greedily put the money in his register. Harry shook his head at the man, and shrunk the food and the perch. He picked up the cat and handed him to Lily.
"The cat is yours, Lily, and I have a name for him," he said, eyes twinkling. "How about, 'Crookeshanks?'"
She thought about it, and nodded happily.
"Crookeshanks it is!" she said as they walked out of the store. "I could never have a cat, because my sister is allergic, but I've always wanted one."
Draco and Harry shared a smile.
"But this cat is different," Harry said knowingly. "It is part kneazel, half I think. Do you know what that is?"
Lily frowned, and shook her head.
"Don't worry, a kneazle isn't bad," Harry said, chuckling at his mother's look. He turned to Draco. "Would you like to explain?"
Draco nodded.
"A kneazle is a type of magical feline creature," Draco said, going into lecture mode. "It is intelligent and independent. It has an uncanny ability to detect unsavory or suspicious characters. It can interbreed with cats, so a portion of felines that are owned by wizards have a tiny portion of kneazle blood in it."
Lily smiled and held her new pet to her chest. It purred in reply.
"So, I would say you have a pretty good friend, there," Harry said. "It will tell you if someone untrustworthy is around, and that is always good. Some people only want to be your friends for your brains or your popularity or your beauty. Crookeshanks will help you find true friends."
Lily was still smiling when they got back to the school. They walked up the stairs together in comfortable silence; Draco holding Harry's hand and Lily holding Crookeshanks to her.
They reached the painting of Miriam and Morgan and said goodbyes.
"Now remember, Lily, if you ever need to talk we will be here," Draco said to his future mother-in-law. "Whether it is now or during school, our ears are open. Just tell Miriam if you need us."
Lily nodded.
"Thank you again," she said, smiling happily to her new professors. "I will."
A/N- Here is your new updated chapter. Now, I am sorry but I may not be able to update till Sunday or Monday, for the school bell rings and my butt must sit in those uncomfortable chairs, instead of my cozy arm chair. But I do promise you will see the Marauders. Now I want your opinion on how Severus should act. Please review! I plan on showing them to my English teacher te next time she says I am not creative enough. That will show her!!!
Misty-Malfoy, Nyoka Li, tarzoniagirl, Erin, anlashoklennier, InsideMyWorld, EbonyBlack1, kminyufreak5 - Thank you all for reviewing. As for James, I will go along with cocky at first, but I will leave you in suspense on how he will feel about Remus and Sirius' relationship; don't want to be giving too much away. OH, and tell me what you thought about Crookeshanks. I thought that might be interesting filp in the story. Most of the Kneazle info I got out of "Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them."