Hey! I just got a review, well, I suppose it would be yesterday given that it is nearly 12:30 here, which reminded me that I have fanfictions to update. Thanks for the reminder, and I apologize for my rather skewed update patterns. Organization is not the best of my subjects, and I tend to do things erratically. Well, here's chapter 4, at any rate.

Disclaimer: I have just realized—4 chapters in, that I have not actually given one of these. Why we even need one is beyond me, but unless I want to be hunted down, perhaps I should remind the idiots stupid enough to think otherwise that I am a College student who make about 300 a week in America, NOT a British author who makes a good million more. Therefore, I do not own what you recognize, I suppose I do own what you don't, but that is totally beyond the point…

The next morning, Amber and Harry were up early and proceeded to apparate once again into the Great Hall for Breakfast. They were the last to show up, however, because, like all good house-elves, they had been up since dawn making breakfast for the other students.

So, of course they caused quite the spectacle by doing so in front of the entire school. The table Amber had conjured last night was still there, and waiting for them was Fawkes and the Hat, much to their glee. Needless to say, Amber and Harry had made a good friend out of the Hat.

Easily ignoring the gaping students and staff, they headed over to their table, Amber's familiars at their heels, and eagerly greeted both Phoenix and magical artifact. Easily finding their seats, they invited their bodyguards, and family, to take seats of their own. The staff gasped as the elves Severus had mentioned but never seen came out of hiding and sat down calmly.

Draco had also recognized the female elf that had accompanied the twins to Diagon Alley, and snorted at what he saw as undeserved kindness on the duo's part. Elves were meant to be slaves and nothing else.

Remus was the first to break the silence that had fallen—well, silence if you ignored the chatter between Hat and students—by approaching the table almost reverently and timidly asking,

"Amber? Harry? Is it really you?"

Amber and Harry turned at their names and stared at the man intently for a couple of moments. Then they smiled and Amber invited her father to pull up a chair and join them for breakfast. Remus did not do that right away, however, preferring instead to take Amber then Harry into bone-crushing hugs. (Remus controlled his werewolf-given strength enough that it didn't become literally.) Amber's pets did not take kindly to that, nor did the elves, but the Hat diffused the situation by explaining that this was the Remus Master Padfoot had mentioned.

"Where have you been all this time? Everyone thought you were dead!" demanded Remus after he found a seat.

"Momma looked after us like she was supposed to. As did the others." answered Harry, pointing at Dinky and the other two. Remus stared, as did the rest of the hall, who had been listening in and figured it out themselves.

"House-elves?" Minerva squeaked. "You were raised by house-elves?"

The twins nodded but said nothing else. Remus had a right to know, they understood that, but not in front of everybody else. Particularly as they did not like the look on Albus Dumbledore's face.

"Well, now that you have been found again, perhaps now it is time to head to where you should have gone. Amber can live with her father, and Harry, you were supposed to be raised by your Aunt and Uncle."

Nope, didn't like it at all.

Harry had heard of Petunia and Vernon from his parents' portrait. Despite making it known that in no uncertain terms was Harry—or Amber for that matter—to go to her, they knew full well that Albus Dumbledore did what he wanted, regardless of everything else. He had family, and his hating relatives weren't it. For that matter, there was no way he was separating from his sister, no way in Hades.

Dinky had also heard of said relatives, and her former masters' outlook on them and Harry being placed with them. She knew, in a sense that Master Padfoot had seen fit to have the elves watch over the duo in part to save them from undoubted abuse by Petunia's hand. And she would have none of Albus' tricks.

"Nos, they will not!" she cried, standing and glaring at the Headmaster. The others at the table—Remus included—backed the little elf up. "Mister Dumbly will not be sendings Master and Master's sister anywhere unless it bes with Mister Remus."

"But surely…" Dumbledore began, but Dinky would not have it.

"Nos! Nos, Nos, Nos! Dinky is a good house-elf. She allow Master and Master's sister to come to Hoggity's like Master James and Mistress Lily wanted. Dinky know Master James and Mistress Lily would rather Master and Master's sister bes cared for by Mister Snape then by muggle aunt. Dinky not allow it."

"Surely his aunt and uncle aren't that bad?" asked Minerva.

"I must say I agree with the elf on this one. I've met Petunia once, and heard of her often enough. Severus would be much better suited then Petunia ever would, because I know Severus hated James, and Harry by default, but even he won't go so far as physical abuse, which she would simply because he is magical. Petunia never understood magic, and was jealous of the attention Lily got for her own to boot, and saw us all as freaks. She wouldn't mind nearly killing any of us if given half the chance." Remus' eyes glowed at the thought of either of his cubs—Harry by adoption—going to the Dursleys. Not happening on his watch.

Severus stared at Remus aghast, before turning to Dumbledore.

"You cannot seriously think of sending either of them there are you? Besides which, what's wrong with their previous location? We STILL don't know where they grew up, and we though them dead for 10 years! If we can't find it, surely you don't believe a gang of Death Eaters will. Voldemort himself probably wouldn't be able to find it."

It should be noted that by now, Albus had moved everyone into his office, while the other teachers and the students had gone off to their lessons. Minerva, Remus and Severus had no classes at the moment and had followed. Remus wasn't letting Amber out of his sight until it was absolutely necessary as it was anyway.

Now the Headmaster was in a bind. He NEEDED to get Harry into the abusive hands of his relatives. The abuse would serve to make Harry his obedient pawn. As it was, being raised by house-elves would prove damaging. But how to do that with three rebels to this idea in his office—not counting the fact that the elves, nor the twins were taking this sitting down, heck even Fawkes appeared to be against it—was the challenge.

Then Harry had a brilliant plan to ruin this thought line of Albus' once and for all. In a calm voice that betrayed nothing he asked,

"Sir, may I request a trip to Gringotts for all of us, you included? I do believe that this issue will be easily resolved there." The Hat sniggered as he realized what Harry was doing. How very Slytherin of him.

With a resounding cheer from the elves and Amber, Albus had no choice and grudgingly agreed. They left post haste.

They were done quicker then one would believe and Remus was the proud guardian of both his daughter and Harry. Albus obviously did not like this development at all. Amber noted, in true Ravenclaw fashion, that they had time for all their afternoon classes and the duo apperated off for Charms. Remus and Severus headed off to teach themselves and Minerva made her way back to her quarters where she did a victory dance.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, contemplating how to best go about regaining his wayward pawn. Unknown to him, but several people were on to his scheme, and would not allow him to succeed. Most notable of all was the pawn himself, Harry James Potter, who at the moment was getting used to using a wand to float his feather, and would not be used.

Albus Dumbledore was in for a grim defeat in the coming times, and he would be the fault behind it. And he would have nobody but himself to blame for his death.

And that would be exactly how many people would want it.

How was that? Hope it was good enough for you. Don't worry, Sev is good, never mind HBP and Sirius will NOT die, no matter what. Peter has what's coming to him very shortly. Next chapter will get into classes a tiny bit more, particularly Potions and Transfiguration because Minerva and Severus will be on the twins' side. Remus' DADA class as well!

Ciao!

WoS