Prologue

Harry was still slightly in shock. Dumbledore? Dead? He had just gotten over Sirius and now this had to happen. The thought of both Sirius and Dumbledore never coming back made Harry hate the Death Eaters and Voldemort even more than he already did- if that were possible. He grimaced. The sixteen year old did not appreciate being told to wait outside McGonagall's office while she and Lupin "sorted things out". Harry should have sensed something odd was being discussed inside the room from the many secrecy and protection spells that had been placed on it, but he was too caught up in his own turbulent emotions.

Finally, Lupin came out to fetch him. The ex-professor's expression was grave but there was a glimmer of something else there as well. Happiness? No of course not, Harry mentally scolded himself. Why would Remus Lupin have any reason to be happy right after the greatest wizard in the world had been murdered?

"Harry?" Lupin looked at him, concerned, "Are you all right?"

"I'm as good as I'm going to get for the moment."

"Ahem." This was from the previously unnoticed Professor McGonagall. "Mr. Potter, Remus and I have been going through a few of Professor Dumbledore's papers, and…" She paused, seemingly bracing herself for something, "You are aware, of course, that Dumbledore was the Secret-Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that! I mean, now that he's gone what will happen?" Secretly Harry had been picturing horrible scenarios involving Voldemort cackling while killing the entire order. He shuddered. "Voldemort can find us now can't he?'

"Actually it's the opposite," said Lupin, half-smiling "You see Harry, when a Secret Keeper dies, the secret dies with them. However, when you become a Secret-Keeper you write a document of some kind that reveals that secret. The document is then spelled so that only the Secret-Keeper can read it. Then the Secret-Keeper writes one name on that document, just one. This is so that if the Secret-Keeper were to ever pass on, then the person whose name is written on the document becomes the new Secret-Keeper. Minerva," he inclined his head to her, "is now the new Secret-Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix."

McGonagall stepped in at this point. "Professor Dumbledore was also the Secret-Keeper for a person who went into hiding a few weeks after your parents did. The issue that presents itself now is that he has named you his successor for this secret."

Harry was feeling slightly confused at this point. "Why is that an issue? Who is this person?" And why would Dumbledore want me to be Secret-Keeper for someone I don't even know? Harry mused silently.

Like always, Lupin seemed to read Harry's thoughts by answering the questions he didn't ask as well as the ones he'd said aloud. "Why is it an issue? Well it's a long story, so let's skip that for now. As for whom it is, that is quite simple. Her name is Lierre Evans." He smiled as Harry started at the last name. "Lierre was the younger Evans twin at Hogwarts in our year. She is your aunt Harry, which is why Dumbledore chose you to be the Secret-Keeper for her."

Harry was stunned. He had other family besides Aunt Petunia? "But…but why?" he sputtered "I mean, why haven't I been told about her before? What was she like? Did you know her? Why didn't she ever come out of hiding? Can I see her? Will…." Harry was interrupted rather abruptly by McGonagall.

"All right Mr. Potter. I believe you have said enough questions for the moment. Now I will tell you briefly about her, but in order to truly understand the events surrounding Lierre Mr. Lupin will need to take you into the Pensieve we have prepared specially for this." She was silent for a minute, and then began.

"Your mother Lily did indeed have a twin, fraternal by the way, named Lierre. Lierre was…delightful really. She was forever the peacemaker between her two rivaling sisters, and could make anyone smile at any time. You were never told of Lierre because of some later….events…..that took place. During the last war, many people were frightened. Lierre continued to be in contact with certain people, others began to turn against her. She went into hiding after being strongly suggested to by Dumbledore and others. This made most people extremely relieved at first, but after just a week everyone began to feel the loss. You see… during those dark times not many witches or wizards ha much hope. But Lierre did. To some she was the living heart and soul of happiness. Needless to say, her then being gone had a huge impact on the entire Wizarding community. Everyone was absolutely hopeless. And then of course, that night at Godric's Hollow, even in the celebrations afterward people still wanted Lierre back."

"Then why didn't she come back? Who was she in contact with that made people so mad?" Harry had a million more questions and was holding them back with difficulty.

"Dumbledore knew that since Lierre was far from sorry for anything she had done, that even if she did come back it was only a matter of time before everyone turned on her again. He was quite right of course." McGonagall glared at Lupin as if he had suggested otherwise. Lupin ignored her and instead turned to Harry.

"Who was she in contact with? Well…now don't take this the wrong way Harry, but she was in contact with a lot of people. Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Avery, Nott… all of that crowd." Lupin smiled as Harry gaped at him. "Oh don't worry Harry; Lierre was Sorted in to Gryffindor originally. But it is true that her best friends were none other than Bellatrix Black and Severus Snape."HHHhhhh

"Bellatrix and Snape! But- hang on what do you mean Sorted into Gryffindor originally? She wasn't there the whole time?" asked Harry

"No, not quite." McGonagall smiled. "I think I'll let Remus take over now. I need to attend to the rest of the school." With that, she left Lupin and Harry on their own.

"Harry?" Lupin asked from over at McGonagall's desk. He stirred the Pensieve that was resting on it. "Would you like to see a bit of history of your aunt? It includes quite a bit of memories of other people you'll recognize as well."

Harry strode over to the desk and looked into the Pensieve. It swirled around a bit before revealing the face of a young girl whose eyes were the same as Harry's own. She had golden blonde ringlets that framed a smiling, pretty face. The picture zoomed out to show that Lierre was rather small and thin, but obviously energetic from the way she was skipping about and laughing. Harry didn't know where she was, but there was something about this picture of innocence and happiness that seemed to make the dark times he was facing not seem so, well, dark. Harry wondered how anyonewho wasn't a Death Eater could have possibly turned on this (as she looked) sweet little girl. He looked up at Lupin.

"Take me through the memories."