A/N: I know, this chapter is short. But, you know what they say: A chapter a day keeps the doctor away! And since it has been many days since I updated, I figured I better get something out soon before I condemn someone! Yeah ...

Anyway, this is a note that should have been in an earlier chapter, but I keep forgetting to add it. So NOTE: The names of the Slytherins all have meanings pertaining to the story. They aren't just random words. I actually sat down with a name book and specifically picked them. If you can guess why I picked certain ones, I might give you a prize.

Chapter 6

Previous Chapter: "Relax, Severus." Remus smirked. "I don't think anything I say can corrupt him more." His smirk grew at the baffled look on Severus' face. "Good-night."

Harry grinned as he heard Remus words, the wall entrance closing shut behind him. He took a step into the room. It looked the same as it had in his second year. Or, it looked the same as it would look in his second year. Right? Merlin, all these tenses were getting confusing.

As Harry started towards the boys' dorm staircase (at least, he hoped it was the boys dorm staircase. Now that would be embarrassing), a voice behind him spoke.

"What were you doing out this late?"

He turned around. Partially bathed in light from a warm fire, Lelia sat on a leather armchair. She had a small book in her hands and was absentmindedly playing with the corner of one of the pages.

"What are you doing up this late?" he countered.

"Trying to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man."

"Touché." Harry sat down across from her. "How'd you know that I was still out?"

"Professor Snape – he's the Head of Slytherin House, by the way – came by here looking for you. Plus, I've been sitting here for awhile." She snapped the book shut and leaned forward. "So what were you really doing?"

"Just trying to sort some things out," Harry answered honestly, though not adding that he had been sorting them with a werewolf.

"Sickle for your thoughts?"

He sighed. "I was looking at the memorial in the Great Hall." He didn't know why he was answering her questions, but, for some reason, he trusted her. It had been awhile since he had trusted someone without so much as an inkling of protest.

Then it hit him.

He didn't have to be so suspicious in this time. There wasn't any evil, wizard after his blood. No press hounding his every move. No adoring public who wanted him to be something he was not.

He was free, free to be whoever he wanted to be. Free to be just Harry.

And that scared the hell out of him.

Severus stared after Lupin's retreating back, forehead scrunched up in confusion at that last statement.

'What did he mean 'corrupt any more'?' he thought worriedly.

But he did know.

Severus watched the child all through the feast. He watched him with his new friends, chatting and laughing. And he had seen his face when Dumbledore had unfurled the curtain. Dark, haunted eyes had stared out of Zachary Harrison's face. Eyes that were too old to belong to a sixteen year old.

He had seen those eyes many times before.

Every time he looked in the mirror.

"Why?" Lelia's inquiry cut through his musings.

"Huh?" he muttered intelligently, shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts.

"Why did you stay there, Zach?"

"My parents are on that wall," he said softly. A hand flew to Lelia's mouth.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know. I wouldn't have asked if – "

"You are starting to sound like Becker." The look of horror almost fully disappeared from her face and she rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "It's alright, I promise," he reassured. "It's been awhile since they died. I've accepted it."

"Still – "

"No, stills. Now, we really should be getting up to bed. We've got class in the morning, after all."

"Okay. Good-night, Zach." She gave him a brief hug and trotted up the stairs.

"Night, Lelia."

Severus paced the corridor out side his common room. He needed to have a talk with Zachary.

Looking at the entryway, he steeled his nerve and said the password. The wall slid open to admit him.

Just in time to catch Zachary say, "My parents are on that wall."

Severus closed his eyes. 'An orphan. That explains that.' He watched as his students talked, before heading up the stairs. He walked out of the room.

The talk could wait until tomorrow.

A/N: Yes, Xirb, I used the unarmed man comment. I just couldn't help myself.