Disclaimer: I was told that I was too old for Draco, so I guess he's not mine. Not fair.

Memories Relived

Harry had been sitting in the common room thinking about all of the things that Remus had told him. He knew he had to talk to Val eventually about Sirius and Helena. But he wasn't sure how to go about doing it. He wasn't sure if he could tell the story as well as Remus had, and he didn't want to make Val feel worse about the whole thing.

"Just tell her, Harry." Hermione suggested knowing why Harry was lost in thought. Harry had already discussed the whole thing with Ron and Hermione. He had hoped that they would help him with telling Val, but neither of them felt it was their place to talk to Val about Sirius. Harry was the one she trusted the most, and he was the one who had been close to Sirius.

Val was sitting across from Harry and next to Hermione. It was a snowy Saturday and they were stuck indoors working on homework. Val looked up at Hermione's words. She looked from Harry to Hermione and then back to Harry. "Tell who what, Harry?" Val asked knowing that Hermione had to have been talking about her.

Harry gave Hermione a sarcastic smile and then turned his attention to Val. "Well, Val…You see…I know…" He had no clue how to start the conversation. He saw the expectant look on Val's face and knew he had to say something. But what?

He paused for another moment thinking, and then abruptly stood. "Come with me." He said reaching out and taking Val's hand pulling her to her feet.

Before Val knew what was happening she was being pulled down the halls of Hogwarts. "Where are we going, Harry?" She asked in confusion.

"Dumbledore's office." He answered but said nothing else. Val thought for a moment that she would pull away from his grip. She didn't want to go to Dumbledore's office. Why was Harry acting so strange, she wondered. But she trusted Harry and knew there was something he was holding back. She wanted to know what that thing was.

So she waited patiently as he gave the password to the two gargoyles and then stepped onto the stairs waiting for them to take her to the Headmaster's office. Harry knocked on the door and she heard Dumbledore call out for them to enter.

"Ah, Harry and Val. It is so nice to see you here." Professor Dumbledore said cordially, motioning for them to sit. "Would you care for a refreshment?"

Harry shook his head and Val could see that he was staring at a large stone basin that was placed on the Headmaster's desk. The basin had strange runes around the lip and she could see a silvery liquid inside.

"I'm afraid I was just about to leave, Harry. I have a few things to attend to. Was there something you needed?" Dumbledore smiled in that knowing way.

Harry opened his mouth to make the request that was there. But no sound came out. He did not know if he should ask for the favor now that he was sitting before Dumbledore.

"You know, Harry. You are allowed to borrow any of my possessions as long as they are not harmful to you or others." The Headmaster said smiling yet again and then standing. "Please shut the door on your way out."

Before Harry could express his gratitude, the wise old wizard was gone. Val was completely confused by the one sided conversation. She stared at Harry wondering if he even knew why they were there at that point.

But then Harry began to speak. "One of these days, I'm going to figure out how he does that." With those words he broke out in laughter.

"Does what?" Val asked in even more confusion.

Harry turned to her when his laughter subsided. "Know exactly what I want before I even ask it of him."

Harry reached out and pulled the stone basin closer to them. "Do you know what this is, Val?" He asked in a serious tone.

"Not really, Harry. But do you think you should mess with it. It looks really old." Val answered.

"You heard Dumbledore. This is what I wanted to borrow when we got here. He knew it, and had it out and ready for me." Harry answered. "This is called a Pensieve, Val."

A look of awe spread across Val's face. "I've heard of them. Lucius wanted one. But they are difficult to find."

"So do you know the basic idea behind using one?" Harry asked.

"Yes. A Pensieve is used to store memories. When a wizard finds himself too bogged down in memories or he wants to show an exact memory to someone without it being changed in any way, he can store those memories in a Pensive." Val said, and Harry thought she had the concept down.

"I want to show you a memory, Val." Harry said.

"A memory of what, Harry?" She asked nervously.

"Just a conversation I had with a dear friend, over Christmas break." Harry answered. "It's important that you see this memory just as I remember it, Val."

Val swallowed hard. "Okay, Harry." She answered. "What do I do?"

"Watch." Harry reached up with his wand and touched his temple concentrating on the memory of his talk with Remus. When he pulled the wand away it was as if silvery-blue threads were attached to it. He placed the threads into the Pensieve. "Now you must touch the liquid. You will feel as if you are falling, but you'll be fine. I'll follow you in. I promise I won't leave you alone." He said smiling brightly.

Val reached out her hand shakily and touched the liquid. She felt a sudden pulling feeling and then the sensation of falling. When she stopped she was standing in a large kitchen staring at two people sitting at a table. They were finishing a small meal. She walked around the table so she could see both of their faces. "Harry." She said seeing Harry sitting there eating.

"Behind you." His voice came from behind her. She quickly turned to see him standing behind her.

"But.." She turned again to the Harry at the table and then it dawned on her. "This is your memory."

"Yes. That man is Remus Lupin. He was a teacher here my third year, and he was a good friend of both our fathers."

For some reason Val knew he wasn't talking about Lucius. But then the figures started talking. She listened intently to them. When Remus talked of the love between her parents Val started to feel tears well in her eyes again. She hadn't known that it was more than just an affair for them. When the conversation was over Harry took her hand. "It's time to go now."

When they were sitting back in Dumbledore's office Val became very quiet as she stared at the basin. After a few moments of silence Val finally spoke. "It's not fair, Harry. They never even had a chance."

"I know. I felt the same way after I talked to Remus. I'm sorry, Val. I knew this would be hard for you to see, but you have the right to know." He said still holding her hand tightly not wanting to break the connection between them.

"Do you think they are together now?" She asked surprising him. He hadn't even thought of the possibility. "I never really believed in true afterlife. Oh I know there are ghosts and all, but for those that aren't trapped on earth." She stopped speaking there.

"I was there when your father died, Val." Harry said remembering the curtain in the Death Room at the Department of Mysteries.

"You were?" Val said leaning forward. She had not known that.

"Val, there are so many things you don't know about Sirius and I." Harry said smiling.

"In your memory, Remus called him your Godfather." Val said remembering that small detail.

"Yes, Val. Sirius Black was my Godfather. He was my father's best friend. The house in my memory is the Black Family Manor. Sirius left it to me in his will." This information did shock Val.

"You spent time with him then." She said with a sad look on her face.

"Yes, Val. Not nearly enough time. But some." He answered.

"Was he.." She started to say but paused. "Did he.." But yet again she couldn't express herself. She was becoming choked up. Harry meant so much to her. But he had something she desperately wanted, but could not have. He knew her father, and she could tell how much they had cared for each other just by looking into Harry's eyes. Finally she was able to express herself. "Did he see you as a son, Harry?"

"In a way, yes. That and a replacement for his best friend, at times. He missed my father immensely." Harry nodded.

"I'm glad he had you, Harry." She said bitterly and the painful tears started coursing down her cheeks again.

"I'm sorry, Val." Harry said realizing what his words had done to her. "It's not fair, that I knew him like a father, and you never even met him. I didn't want to cause you more pain."

"It's not your fault, Harry. I used to look at life and see all the good things. But now I realize just how cruel fate really is. Life isn't fair. It never has been. Why would this be any different?" Val said pulling her hand from Harry's and stood leaving him where he sat. She didn't look back as she left the office.

Harry sat where he was for a long time. He knew that if he went looking for Val it would just anger her, but he felt as if he had messed everything up. He had seen the memory as a gift to Val. A look into her parent's relationship. But instead he had driven her away feeling alone and mistreated. He had planned on telling her everything that day. About hearing people talking behind the curtain in the Death Room. About how he knew Sirius and her mother were waiting for her there. But then he would have had to tell her about how Voldemort had used him, and how Sirius had died saving him. What would that do to her? Would she hate him for it?