A/N: I know. I'm horrible for making you wait so long. I feel bad about it too but there just isn't much time to do anything. Ok…here's the new chapter. I'm posting it in two parts because it's really long…too long for one I think. Plus I wanted to so there. Please review this one kids! Thanks a bunch for reading. Enjoy part 1.

Chapter Seventeen: The Answers She Couldn't Give Before…Part 1

"Ginny? You were the cat?" Ron blurted dumbly as they stepped into the common room.

"How did you find out!" Ginny jumped up. "Professor Dumbledore said he wouldn't tell you or Harry!"

"He didn't; he told Hermione."

"Ginny why didn't you say anything?" Hermione asked. Ginny shot her a look.

"I liked having my own secret. It was a lot of fun being a cat—being able to do what I want, go where I want, see who—it was nice," Ginny sighed as she sank back into the seat.

"Was?" Harry asked her.

"I'm not supposed to use it anymore. Professor Dumbledore said something about receiving proper training and being registered so I don't get into trouble with the ministry," she snarled.

"Do you know what else they said?" Harry asked as the three of them settled around her. "DO you know what they were talking about in there?" Ginny shook her and told them everything she remembered. Harry looked at her as she spoke. There was something the adults weren't saying, something important, and it was up to them to figure it out.

(sc)

"Do you think Ginny will say anything to them Mooney?" Alexia asked as she tossed her book onto her desk.

"Well…yes, she probably will—that or they will figure it out on their own," Remus said from the other side of her office. "Why? What are you thinking?"

'He's going to have questions—more questions. He already has so many…what if he figures it out?" Alexia asked stepping toward him.

"I don't see why that is a bad thing. I've been telling you tell him from the beginning, Alex."

"I know you have Mooney. But is he ready for all this? I mean, it could be something he's not ready for."

"If there's one thing I've learned about Harry. It's that he can handle more than most people can ever only imagine. I think it's a good thing—him knowing the truth, knowing who you are to him."

"You're right but—"

"And I think the thing you are worried about," he said walking toward her, "is not whether Harry can handle the truth but whether you can handle admitting the truth." He was standing an inch from her face and they were staring at each other.

"Mooney, how did you ever think you could read me so well?"

He smiled as he talked to her, their faces close. "I have experience with you Alex. It may be old experience but you haven't changed that much."

"Neither have you—a little shaggier, a little grayer but still as smart as ever. Then, maybe I give you credit you don't deserve."

"Oh no, I deserve it. I've still got you figured out after all these years." She laughed quietly and smiled. Lupin looked at her as she hugged him. "You're still beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

Her smile faded slightly as she looked at him. He tilted his head and kissed her softly. Within a second they were in another kiss and another, standing closely in each other's arms. She jumped back when he touched her face. "Mooney we can't!" He eyes explored his face and held back her own tears as she looked at the man she loved for years. The man she loved and longed to be with; the man who always held her heart; the man she could never be with. "We can't," she whispered, "Not after last time…"

(sc)

"Who is Anya?" Ron asked Ginny, who shrugged her shoulders.

"There's something no one is saying," Harry said as he looked out the window. "There's some kind of secret and they all know about it. For some reason…they aren't telling us what it is."

"How would we find that out?" Ron asked him.

"I don't know." Harry thought to himself in the quiet room. "Is the library open?"

"Yes." Hermione brightened.

"Then let's go. We've got a lot to find out," Ron said jumping out of his seat and heading out the door. Hermione looked at Harry and they looked back at Ron. "What? You know you were going to do that." Ginny giggled and stood up with Ron. "Oh bloody now, come on." Harry and Hermione followed them to the library.

(sc)

"That was a long time ago, Alex," Lupin sighed as he sat down.

"That doesn't mean it's changed," she looked at him squarely. "Mooney, don't be angry I just don—"

"Angry? I'm not angry, Alex. I'm not angry. I'm…I just don't know why you do this to yourself."

"Do what?" she snapped. He looked at her but said nothing. "Do what! Don't look at me like that Mooney! Do what?"

"Do this. Why you don't let yourself do what you want. Why you are so scared to be yourself and use your animagus. You've always been scared that you would turn out to be like her but she's not you and you…you're not her," Lupin said calmly.

"Don't try to tell me how I feel! You're one to talk!" Alexia scoffed. "You've been afraid to be yourself for years! Scared of what people would think about you if they knew you were a werewolf. You don't know anything anymore Mooney! Don't pretend like you do and don't pretend like you have it all together! We both know you don't."

"I'm not trying to. I don't have it all together but I'm not afraid to live. And I think you're real problem is that I do know you—after all these years, I still know you. And it scares you more than you turning into her."

"What about you?" Alexia threw back fiercely. "You're afraid of commitment and you always have been. You wouldn't let me get close to you back then…always pushed me away. Then when you wanted to be with me and I wouldn't want that. And the one time we tried…it was great until…it just never worked."

"I know that but it never changed the way I felt about you." She blushed as he kissed her again.

"Okay, okay. Enough of this, we'll discuss this later. I need to go find Harry and tell him," she smiled and turned around at her desk. "You wouldn't happen to have that great little map still would you?"

Lupin laughed as he followed her toward the door. "No. Harry got that years ago."

"Pity. That was such a great thing James invented. And to think they all thought him a git."

"He was a genius," Lupin smiled, "with everything but the homework."

She laughed. "Right, now let's go find Harry."

(sc)

"Do you know how impossible this is going to be?" Hermione said adding another pile of books to the table. "We are going to have to read practically every book in the library before we find anything."

"Not necessarily," Alexia said walking in with Lupin. Everyone turned to her. "What if I just tell you?" Harry looked at her but didn't say anything. "Well, come on…before I change my mind."

(sc)

They sat in silence and peered out the window overlooking the lake. Harry's mind was racing and he couldn't help but think that Alexia looked really nervous. He wanted to say something to make her talk but he didn't want to upset her. So, he watched her from the corner of his eye as she debated with her own thoughts. He heard her sigh and looked at her.

"You look just like him you know," Alexia smiled at Harry. "Every time I see you I remember your father and your wonderful mother. I still remember the first time I met her on the Hogwarts Express. I remember thinking hoe beautiful she was. She didn't look eleven or act it. Even then she was so sure of herself. I always wanted to be like her."

Harry swallowed his questions. He'd never heard anyone describe his mother like that. "James…oh he used to annoy her. Everyone of us always knew they'd end up together—before they knew it themselves." Harry smiled. He knew someone like that. "He was a good man Harry. He liked his mischief but when it counted—he was there. He was fun and he made every situation into something good. They were such wonderful people and I hate you not being able to know them."

Alexia looked at Harry again. "I know you have a lot of questions. You asked me some of them before but I couldn't give you the answers before. Now I can."

"I don't even know what to ask," Harry looked away then started talking. "How do you know them? Who are you really? Who is this Anya lady? Why are you here now? I know there's a reason Professor Dumbledore chose you—a complete stranger who's not really a stranger—to be here with me; I want to know why."

Alexia had a slight smile as she exhaled deeply. "You're right; there is a reason he chose me. And I'm not a stranger, not really. There is a lot I have to tell you. Before I do all that, there's something really important that you need to know. I'm your godmother."

Harry looked at her. He'd always wondered why his parents would give him a godfather and not a godmother. And now, here she was—another key to his parents. He started to speak but she interrupted him.

"Now, let's give you some answers," Alexia sat back in her seat and Harry followed suit and got comfortable.

A/n: So there's part one. Go read part two. Please give me some reviews. I want to have 30 before this story is over! I just like to hear what everyone's thinking. Thanks so much for reading.