His lack of an emotional response surprised him. Maybe a simple breakup was less significant next to all his other, greater losses. Maybe he was numb, unable to feel any more pain. Or maybe what he'd said to her was true. He'd always known that they wouldn't be together forever.

He put the thought out of his mind and rang the doorbell. Petunia Dursley answered.

"Hello," he began. "I don't know if you remember me, but I was a friend of your sister."

"Why can't you people just leave us alone? We've had quite enough visits today, thank you." She started to slam the door in his face.

"Wait a minute—who visited you?" he asked, frantic with visions of escaped Death Eaters coming for Harry.

"A lot of teachers from that school of yours." He relaxed.

"Listen, I don't mean to bother you. I just wanted to bring a little present for Harry." He held out an unwrapped package to her. She took it suspiciously. "Don't worry, there's nothing unusual about it. It's just an ordinary jack-in-the-box."

"I see…thank you." She shut the door.

Petunia Dursley went into the living room, where her son was playing with his new toys while her nephew watched from the playpen.

One of Dudley's new toys was a set of toy soldiers from Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. The soldiers were enchanted to walk and talk, but only for Harry, and since Harry was never going to play with them, they would remain simple wooden dolls for the rest of their lives.

Dudley's other new plaything was a light-up baby toy that Petunia hadn't recognized as a sneak-o-scope, from a man she hadn't recognized as Severus Snape. She assumed that the toy was motion activated, since it kept lighting up and making strange noises whenever she or Vernon came near, until Dudley smashed it with a hammer.

Petunia set the jack-in-the-box on the floor in front of her son and turned the handle for him until the little man popped out.

Taped to the inside of the lid was a moving photograph that had been torn in half and spello-taped back together. In it were five teenagers playing together by a lake. Under each person was a banner proclaiming his or her name, although Remus Lupin's and Sirius Black's were moving rather fast and hard to read.

Petunia plucked the picture out distastefully and went to put it in the trash with the purple toad brought by that very tall man.

In her absence, Dudley pulled the clown off its spring and sat on the box, breaking it along with the spell Remus had put on it.

If Harry had ever been able to turn the handle, he would have been able to hear the last conversation his mother had ever had with one of her dearest friends.

"I guess you know we have to go away for a while."

"I'd heard."

"And I can't tell you…"

"I know, I know. Don't worry. I'll know you're safe as long as Sirius is your secret-keeper."

"Sirius? How did you know?"

"Who else would it be?"

"It always is Sirius, isn't it? Secret-keeper, best man, Harry's godfather…But I want it to be you next time."

"Next time?"

"I hope it's a girl. I think Harry would like a little sister, don't you?"

"You mean…"

"Oh, I'm not sure yet. But I hope so. Even in times like these, I hope…"

"Is that what you're going to name her, Hope?"

She laughs.

"Oh, Remus, no! Hope Potter? Hope and Harry?" They both laugh. A baby begins to cry. "Oh, we woke him up! Come here, Harry." She begins to sing. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, mama's going to buy you a mockingbird…" Harry's cries die down, and she hums the rest of the song.

"Maybe I should go."

"Oh, no. Don't leave me. Not until James gets here."

"I didn't mean I would leave you here alone."

"All right, Patronus. I'm going to feed Harry."

The jack-in-the-box enchantment wouldn't convey this, but they hug for some time.

"I'm really going to miss you."

"Goodbye, darling," she says with a laugh, and walks away with her son.