A/N: Sorry about the underlining in the last chapter, people, I have no idea how that happened. Anyway I am thankful for all who review. I may be taking a break from writing during Christmas because I am possibly going to be visiting family and might not be able to use a computer often enough to write…

Oh yeah, and be sure to read this chapter very carefully. There's a part in there that might surprise you.

Anyway, here's Chapter 6…

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter… If I did, I wouldn't be feeling ill right now and I'd have a nice big soda to drink…

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I do own a few of the original characters in this story such as Harry's teachers at the muggle school he currently goes to, Carla, the lady who usually watches Harry and Dudley when Petunia was working or just out for a day.

Butterfly

Chapter Six: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Morning came all too soon for Albus Dumbledore was abruptly awoken by none other than Severus Snape. The older man got up and looked curiously at Snape who had awoken him with his loud swearing.

"Severus, m'boy. What is it that has you using such foul language?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes sparkling with concern. He quickly glanced at Remus who was surprisingly still asleep.

"You've seen Harry, right?" Severus said, a knowing look crossing his sour face.

"Yes, but only briefly when the child awoke from a nightmare. I only heard him ask his aunt what was wrong when we were there, why?" He replied, wondering what the Slytherin was trying to get at.

"Well, I know you've seen the ward at St Mungos for the mental patients because I went with you when you went to visit Frank and Alice Longbottom last Christmas. There's not much that magic can do for them or Harry. I've read this book, every single letter of every word on each and every page. There is nothing in this book that states how to help the child, other than what the muggles already provide to the boy. How are we supposed to help him?"

"Severus, calm down. I'm sure we can find a way to teach the child what he needs to know. It's not as if he's impossible to teach. We shall just be patient with the boy while we all take the time to work with him." Dumbledore replied, a warm twinkle in his eyes.

"Albus, you haven't seen the way the boy gets so terrified of men he doesn't know. The first time we met him, it took ages for his aunt to coax him into calming down and properly greeting us. I don't even tolerate the usual behavior of the students in my classes and I know you're going to end up telling me that I'm going to have to help teach the boy." Severus glared darkly at the man before him.

"Severus, I know. We'll work it all out somehow. Now why don't you get some rest." The older man laid a reassuring hand on the younger one's shoulders and lightly squeezed it before turning back to his bed and lying back down.

Eventually the two were both asleep and Remus Lupin lay on his side, staring at the yellowish brown stained walls. He hadn't slept at all and he still couldn't, not having just heard the worst thing he could imagine about helping Harry. Then again, he too had seen the goings on at St Mungos and knew many of the patients there. But of course, it had never hit him before now. Snape's words ran rampant through his mind as he desperately tried to think of something that magic could do for the child who bore such close resemblance to his dearly departed school mate, James Potter and of course his departed wife, Lily.

He sighed, his body begging to get up and just move around. Slowly, but surely, he made his way out the door and down the dark street. Despite the now freezing cold weather and the tale-tale signs of snow getting ready to fall, Remus leisurely walked down a moderately dark street, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. Over and over the thought of what would happen if Harry didn't get a proper wizarding education nagged at his mind.

Eventually he found himself in front of a small café that had just opened up as dawn started to approach the northwestern United States and bought a small coffee and pastry and sat down contemplating everything that had happened since that fateful day that it was discovered that Voldemort was after the Potters. Outside snow started to fall upon the streets and sidewalk, getting heavier with each moment that passed. It was rather beautiful, the way the snow fell upon the world. Of course, he knew one person who dreaded snow, and that man was currently walking down the street with Albus Dumbledore, a cross look seemingly glued to his face.

"Remus, I thought we'd find you here." Albus said upon his entrance into the café. Snape however glared at him.

"Yes, you just had to go out into the bloody snow, didn't you, Lupin?" Snape sneered, his tone cold as ice.

"Well I dare say it's hard to sleep properly when your snores sound like a boarhound being tortured!" He countered, taking one last sip of his coffee and standing up. He gently laid a few silver American muggle coins onto the table before putting on his jacket.

It was quite early and through the thick clouds, only a small bit of light made it to the ground as the snow fell swiftly upon them. Luckily all three men wore warm winter clothes as they slowly made their way through the thick snow.

"So, what do you suppose we should do now?" Snape asked as they walked.

"Well, I'd like to get Harry, his aunt, and his cousin some gifts for Christmas. After all, we're going to have to get Harry used to us. And Albus, did you, by any chance, send off that owl to Poppy yet?" Remus questioned, turning to the old man.

"Actually, yes I did, just after we realized you had left." Albus replied. "Now, why don't we go do some Christmas shopping?"

The trio soon found themselves in a muggle toy store where toys seemed to be up to the ceiling on their shelves. All the toys made both Remus and Albus feel like mere children again while Severus only scowled, remembering the Christmases he used to spend with his family, considering himself lucky if at least one family member remembered his premature love of potions.

Remus quickly dragged them to the area of the store where arts and crafts were king. Art sets of all kinds lined the shelves. Crayons, markers, colored pencils, clay, paper, and all sorts of other great art supplies could be found.

"Oh yes, Lupin, buy the child crayons and markers that will be quickly broken and lost. Buy him things that he's going to make a mess with! Perhaps something a little less messy would be in order. Like books, perhaps? The child's aunt said that he was having trouble with reading! Perhaps you could buy him something to help with that?" Snape cried out, desperate to get out of the muggle store.

"I know, Severus. Don't think I'm not going to keep that in mind. I'm not just planning on getting Harry art supplies." He grabbed a cart that was left empty nearby and put several different art things in it including new crayons, pads of drawing paper, watercolor paint and paper and much more. Albus had strayed off to the sports area of the store and came back with two shiny new bikes, helmets, and a brand new soccer ball.

"Bloody hell, the two of you are going to spoil those children rotten! Follow me!" Snape grabbed the cart and pulled it along till he came across an area where books of all kinds lined the shelves. Some were for small children, others for older children. There were sets of books that helped with learning how to read and write. Others helped to learn mathematics. He piled things into the cart whilst Remus and Albus almost silently wandered off to other parts of the store returning with baskets full of toys for both Harry and Dudley, only to be greeted by a dark scowl and tapping foot of Severus Snape.

Dumbledore, having a keen ear for music, had grabbed a keyboard and a drum set while Lupin had taken into account the way most boys liked to play with building sets and had grabbed some Lego sets as well. As soon as they had paid for all that they had picked out, they found a secluded place near the store, shrunk all their purchases to fit in their pockets, and set out to buy the boys some winter clothes and to find some gifts for Petunia.

Meanwhile, at the Evans residence, Petunia had just gotten home from the grocery store with the boys and was making hot cocoa while Harry watched Sesame Street and Dudley was busy trying to find some snow boots that he and Harry could wear outside.

She had just bought them new winter hats a few weeks before but snow boots had totally slipped her mind as she had been so preoccupied with everything. She had yet to get out the old fake Christmas tree and decorate it with her various ornaments as well. Sighing deeply, she brought a tray of Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, and marshmallows into the living room where Dudley was currently trying to fit last year's snow boots onto his feet and Harry was busy singing the ABC's with Elmo and Big Bird. Suddenly, like magic, Dudley was able to fit his feet into his boots with ease.

"See Mum, I told you they weren't too small! Look, I can even wiggle my toes!" Dudley exclaimed as he held out a boot-clad foot.

"No fair! I wa-want to go p-play in the sn-snow too!" Harry cried out.

"Harry, calm down. I think I might have a pair of boots that will fit you in my closet." Petunia said, gently guiding the boy to her room. He sat down on the end of her bed as she opened the closet and looked through the various boxes she kept in it. Finally she spotted the box which she was looking for. Inside was a pair of brown snow boots that had been given to them through a charity but neither boy had been able to fit into them the year before because they were too small on Dudley and too big on Harry. This year she held a glimmer of hope in her heart as she silently prayed that they would fit the child.

"I reme-memb-member those! They a-are too b-big!" Harry cried out, staring at his aunt in disbelief.

"They may have been too big last year, but your feet have gotten bigger, Sweetie. I think they should fit you now." She said, taking them out of the box and slipping them onto Harry's feet. They fit snugly on the child. "Well, Harry, are they too tight?"

"No, the-they're perf-ect." Harry got up and walked around a bit before jumping up and down in excitement. "N-now can we go-go outside?" he said, looking up at Petunia, a fire of hope burning in his emerald eyes.

"Not yet, first we have to get your sweater, jacket, and your hat back on. Then we have to find your gloves." She fondly ran a hand through the boy's already messy hair, making it even messier than it had been moments before. "Come, lets find those gloves of yours. We don't want you to end up turning your hands into icicles." She took his hand and the two went into Harry's room. It was messy, but just barely so, like a young child's room ought to be.

Petunia took charge of looking through the child's drawers for some gloves while Harry looked through his closet.

"I f-found them!" Harry called out. Petunia ran to his side and looked forlornly at the grey gloves. They looked too small for Harry's hands.

"Harry, I don't think those will fit." Petunia warned as she watched the boy attempt to put them on. He pulled and tugged at the first glove, trying hard to make his fingers fit into the small tips. He soon became frustrated with the blasted things and in his blind fit of anger; the gloves seemed to magically enlarge and turned a brilliant shade of dark green.

Petunia forced herself to act as if everything was normal. This was the second magical thing to happen that same day and she was, to say the least, confused.

"Okay Harry, lets go get the rest of your things on and you and Dudley will be able to play in the snow."

Soon both boys were outside having a rather fun filled snowball fight and it was unclear which boy was winning. Petunia watched from her window as the two played, laughing as if everything in the world was right. She knew differently and desired nothing more than to have the pure innocence of her two boys last forever. That was one reason she feared bringing her nephew into his parent's world. She knew of why her sister and brother in law had been killed. She knew why it was so important for Harry to go back into the world in which he had been born, and yet it made her want to hold onto him all the much more.

She sipped at her hot cocoa and nibbled at a cookie. Finally she found the nerve to bundle up herself and join in on the fun that Dudley and Harry were so intoxicated by. Granted, she wasn't nearly as well dressed for the snow as the two boys were, but that didn't matter, she wanted to remember what it was like to be a child again, playing in the snow, getting pelted with snowballs, making snowmen and snowwomen as big as possible, and comparing everyone's snow angels.

Back at the motel room which the three visiting wizards stayed, Lupin and Snape were busy wrapping gifts. Snape insisted that only a few of the things they picked out be given to the boys for Christmas and so only the keyboard, drum set, 3 books for each boy, 2 Lego sets, some art supplies, and some clothes were wrapped up. Everything else, Snape mused, could be presented to the boys at a later date. All of Petunia's gifts were wrapped up as well.

Dumbledore, however, had taken on the task of conjuring a magical fireplace in the room that only wizards, witches, and those who knew of the magical community could see and use. He then flooed his way to his office at Hogwarts.

At Hogwarts, Dumbledore immediately made Minerva aware of his presence and then swiftly walked down to the Hospital Wing where Poppy Pomfrey, the school's own private Mediwitch held reign. Surprisingly, for that particular time of year, the hospital wing was devoid of ill or injured students and Poppy was humming the tune of 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' while flipping through a recent copy of Witch Weekly.

"Ahem… Poppy, I do believe you got my express owl?" Dumbledore asked, first clearing his throat as to make his presence known. Madam Pomfrey jumped up, startled at the interruption.

"Albus, of course, I was just waiting for you to floo over. Now where in the world are we going to?" Poppy asked. "You know I can't be gone too long."

"To the United States, Poppy. There's someone there that I daresay you ought to take a good look at."

"If you insist. Just let me get my med bag and we shall be off…"

Soon enough, Poppy Pomfrey tumbled through the magically conjured fireplace, soon followed by Albus Dumbledore.

"Well, where is this person that you want me to take a look at, Albus?" She quickly surveyed the room and turned to the headmaster.

"Living nearby. Now, Remus, Severus, would either of you like to come with us?"

"I don't think so, Albus, that coffee I had this morning didn't quite agree with me…" Remus replied, a small smile crossing his face.

"Professor Dumbledore, I think perhaps it should just be you and Poppy who visit Potter." Snape suggested, looking up from his new copy of Potions Monthly.

Once they were outside and Dumbledore had conjured warm clothes for Poppy to wear, Poppy had a multitude of questions that needed answers.

"Albus, who exactly am I going to be giving a look-over?" she asked, frowning.

"Well, as much as I would love to surprise you, it is young Harry Potter that you will be meeting today." Albus replied, smiling joyously.

"You've got to be bloody kidding me! Albus, are you serious?" Poppy cried, shocked that she'd once again be giving young Harry Potter a check up before he was scheduled to attend Hogwarts as she had years before when the boy had only been a year old.

"I'm very serious, Poppy. Look, I think that is him over there playing in the snow." Dumbledore pointed over to where Harry and Dudley were busily making snowballs and throwing them at each other and Petunia Evans.

"Well, he seems healthy looking to me, if he is playing out in the snow like any normal ten year old would on a day like this!" she replied.

"Come, I still want you to give him at least a regular check up…" They walked over to where the two boys were playing and Petunia had to tell them to stop in fear of either visitor being pelted with a rogue snowball.

"Boys, it's almost time for supper, why don't you go wash up and get into some dry clothes." Petunia suggested to the boys. She looked at Dumbledore and Pomfrey gently. "Well I guess I must thank you for cutting our little snowball fight short. I was getting beaten by those two!"

"I suppose boys will be boys. Ms. Evans, I'd like you to meet Madam Pomfrey. She's the nurse at Hogwarts." Dumbledore explained as the two women greeted each other with a gentle handshake.

"Please, why don't the two of you come up to the apartment? I must get busy making dinner. I promised Harry and Dudley that I'd make Mac and Cheese tonight." Petunia said, leading the witch and wizard up to the apartment where Harry was struggling to get his jacket unzipped where it had snagged on his sweater and Dudley was trying to help.

"No, no, no!" Harry screamed in frustration. Dudley jumped back as a ring of fire surrounded Harry. It didn't seem to burn anything.

"Harry!" Petunia cried, afraid to get near the child, not knowing what to do.

"I w-want you to un-undo it!" Harry screamed. Finally Petunia worked up the courage to reach through the fire to get to her nephew and miraculously she did so without getting burned anywhere.. She undid the zipper with some difficulty and smoothed her nephew's hair as she whispered to the boy. As soon as the zipper was undone the fire fell away into nothingness…

A/N: And this is where I shall leave you to review… Please, make your review count! I'm sorry getting this chapter up took so long. I was going to make it longer but I couldn't force myself to write anymore and thought that this was a good cutoff point… Anyway the more proper reviews I get, the sooner I'll belt out chapter seven!