Chapter 2: The Other Guardian

Lily had met with them at the main entrance of the Ministry. Upon her arrival, Harry had been surprised that Mr. Weasley seemed to know her, for they talked as if they had known each other for a very long time. He couldn't help but wonder why Mr. Weasley had not said anything to him at all.

'How was Fudge?' asked Mr. Weasley as they exited the building.

'As furious as ever and Umbridge…. could have eaten her own hat if she had one.' Lily smiled.

After a while they walked in silence, passing muggle shops as they made their way to the subway station. During that time Harry couldn't help but feel odd; somehow everything felt like he was in a dream and yet…it was tangible. He had questions to ask and many things to say to her but couldn't muster the courage to do so. As they walked by a particular street, Lily invited them for lunch.

'How about it Arthur, it would be my treat and we won't tell Molly.' She coaxed Mr. Weasley as they passed a muggle restaurant called La Lune. Mr. Weasley looked reluctant at first until a customer had come out of the restaurant - as he left the delicious smell of pastries filled the air.

'Well, I guess a morsel or two won't do any harm.' Mr. Weasley declared as he opened the door of the restaurant for them. 'After you May…Harry.'

Harry stopped walking, 'May?' he choked.

Mr. Weasley quickly forgot about the pastries and quickly pulled Harry outside. 'Listen Harry, I did tell you in the Ministry that I doubted she was your mother. I guess it is time for you to learn the truth, but not from me. I need you to be understanding and patient. I know that it is asking a lot.' said Mr. Weasley quickly as he began to see Harry's temper and disappointment begin to rise. 'I know what you are thinking Harry and all I ask…is to hear her out. Can you do that for me, Harry?' Mr. Weasley asked, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.

Harry nodded, as he saw the woman who looked like his mother secured a table for them. A split second Harry had hoped that Mr. Weasley was lying to him and that his mother was truly back. As they entered the restaurant, Harry saw May turn around to look for them and once she had spotted them, she waved. Mr. Weasley waved back in acknowledgment as they made their way to towards her.

'I have good news, honey.' said May excitedly. 'In a week or so, your famous godfather will be a free man!'

Harry looked at her with contempt but he couldn't deny that he was grateful.

'How did you accomplish it?' asked Mr. Weasley curiously as he put the menu down and motion for a waiter.

May looked guilty as she eyed Harry for a second before answering. 'When I was little…I had a knack for family history. My parents objected at first but…. I did it anyways.'

Harry knew why she was avoiding the question, about how she was helping Sirius. Harry wanted to shout at her for being such a fake and of all people she could have impersonated, why did she have to choose his mother? Didn't she realize how much she had hurt him? Harry felt like his heart had been ripped out all over again.

May continued as she began to rampage through her suitcase. 'As I track down my family line, I found out that not all my ancestors had been buried in the ancestral family plots. As eager as I was…I could only track down one family…the Evans.' May then pull out two pictures, which looked old and worn out from being taken from place to place, and gave then to Harry.

One picture contained two young girls around the age of ten, wearing matching pink dresses. They were sitting on a park bench together eating their ice cream cones. Both girls had long red hair and looked so much a like. Harry would have guessed that the girls would have been sisters by just looking at the picture.

The second picture also contained two young girls; one was a brunette and the other was a redhead. They were Hogwarts students. The brunette wore Slytherin's robes, while the redhead wore Gryffindors' robes. The girl in Grynffindors' robes he recognized to be his mother, Lily Potter.

'The first picture of the two young girls,' began May to say, '…is your mother and me. When I first met her I was shocked to see the family resemblance but she wasn't shocked at all. Your mother always said that she knew me, even before she ever met me. I would always tell her that…she knew me because she always saw herself in the mirror.' May weakly laughed, but Harry could see that the memory of his mother had affected her in some way because her eyes looked red, like she was about to cry.

May then cleared her throat as the waitress brought them the goodies that Mr. Weasley had so nicely ordered, without disturbing May's and Harry's conversation. Once the waitress had left, May continued.

'Then the time came and the both of us were accepted into Hogwarts. We were so happy…but then, I began to have doubts about how well I was going to do at Hogwarts, but your mother was always so sure of herself, something I always lacked.' she said as she sipped her tea.

The way she talked it reminded Harry of Hermione Granger, not matter how much she studied or prepared, she always doubted herself. The more he heard May talk, the more he was convinced that she was hiding something…something he couldn't put his finger on. The other thing that bothered him was that if she went to Hogwarts and was such a good friend to his mother…why hadn't Lupin or Sirius talked about her before? Harry thoughts were then interrupted as Mr. Weasley finally spoke.

'Tell me May, why the raven hair, when you have such beautiful red hair?' asked Mr. Weasley as he took one last bite of his sandwich.

'It was nothing really, I wanted to be different…unique in a way. Lily didn't mind…she always said that I had ruined my looks by coloring my hair to a darker shade.' She answered with a smile.

'We'd better get going or Molly will worry.' Stated Mr. Weasley hastily as he got from the chair. 'But first where is the loo? I hope you don't mind…it will be just a bit.' He indicated as he spotted the restrooms on the far corner of the little restaurant.

Once Mr. Weasley had left, May looked at Harry anxiously. Harry tried to avoid her gazed but it was impossible, so he did what Hermione would do, which was unnatural for him. 'What makes you different from my mother?'

May smile, 'Well…' she began, 'for starters your mother had a heart-shaped face and I don't. She had a better set of lips, gorgeous emerald eyes like yours…'

Harry smile as he heard her describe all his mother's attributes and perfection. But then May dropped the bomb he wasn't expecting.

'Harry…I know you barely know me, but would you like to come and live with me? You will be a lot safer and better taken care of and I can even arrange to…'

Harry cut her off before she continue, 'I would love to but I'm good where I am. Between Sirius' and Aunt Petunia's cares, I couldn't be happier.' He lied.

May looked crestfallen but smile nevertheless. 'Whatever makes you happier Harry, after all, what type of guardian will I be if I didn't want what's best for you?'

'Guardian?' muttered Harry as she played with the napkin in front of her.

May nodded, 'Your parents' also left me in charge of you, Harry. Unfortunately with the event with Sirius Black, I wasn't allowed to take you with me. Everyone though I was also in involved and had not choice but to leave the England.' She took a deep breath as she calmed down her anger. 'Sirius…' she said icily, 'is really something isn't he?'