Disclaimer: As always I own nothing! and of course my Beta is my wonderful better half!

Harry had spent a fair amount of the day pacing, which had sent Neville storming off into his greenhouse when her agitation annoyed him too much. Draco had eventually given up calming Harry and suggested going flying pretending to faint when the raven haired girl had shaken her head refusing. When Harry just glared and threw a cushion at her, she slipped out, heading for the garden figuring that Harry needed alone time or that Andromeda would help her.

The adult watched her for a while more before speaking, "Harry." The girl looked over worry creasing her face, "I know you're afraid but you need to distract yourself." She shook her head and Andromeda gave her a gentle smile. "Harry, Narcissa won't let anything happen to him that's why she wanted your ideas."

Harry stopped, biting her lip, "But usually when I come up with something, I'm there." Andromeda gave her a soft knowing smile. Harry huffed dropping down onto the sofa in a way that would have made Narcissa and Augusta wince, "…I…" She shook her head, "How did no-one notice?"

"Diagnostic charms have a weakness when used on Animagus, unless they're a specific one they only work for the form that the person is in." Andromeda had Harry's rapt attention, "Narcissa knows both types, although she isn't able to do full healing. I remember she was afraid that one of us would be hurt so she made sure that she could do the basics or failing that be able to get to an actual healer." Harry's eyes widened at that and Andromeda smiled as she reminisced.

Harry nodded, staring out of the window for a while as she thought, "Did Narcissa tell you everything?"

She shook her head, "Most but nothing that she thought any of you would object to."

"…James isn't my dad." Harry said after another pause, "…I…" She looked thoughtful, "I…I guess I feel like Harry doesn't fit properly." Andromeda gave her a curious look, "Narcissa won't tell me everything she said it's better to wait for summer and then she'll tell me." She rubbed her head frowning, "I feel like Harry Potter is a lie."

Andromeda looked taken aback, "Why do you feel like that?" she was trying her best to be objective but was slipping into her healer mindset.

"…Hermione and Pansy told me about those books about me." She looked out of the window, "Draco knows and I think some of the others suspect but my childhood wasn't anything like that. The Dursley's never abused me but…" She shook her head, Hermione had once had a long conversation about how Harry was wrong about that, "They are scared of magic and hated my parents. So they took it out on me." Now she'd started talking she couldn't stop, "They didn't starve me or anything like that but I couldn't eat as much as I'd like and they didn't hit me." She shook her head, "But they didn't stop Dudley from doing so, Hermione said it was called emotional abuse although I think she thinks it was just abuse. I've never heard her have such a tirade against authority as she did when I told her that I had to go back. So finding out that James Potter isn't my dad was a shock but I never knew him. I hate those books though." She scowled, "I…I don't want to be Harry Potter. The boy who lived." She laughed bitterly, her eyes starting to water. "I just want to be me."

"It doesn't sound like Harry Potter was just a lie." Andromeda spoke softly, moving over to sit beside the teen, "It sounds like Harry Potter was hell." The dam broke and tears ran down Harry's face who buried her face into her Aunt's shoulder, sobbing harder when the elder witch wrapped her arms around her.

Molly had been confused when Arthur had come home early but after assurances that the minister had allowed it and that he'd explain later. He'd called Ron downstairs, explaining that Narcissa had heard that Scabbers was ill and that she'd offered to do her own diagnostic charms on him. Ron had beamed, explaining about the tonic but that he didn't seem to be getting any better so it would be good if she could take another look. Before he'd charged upstairs to fetch his pet. He'd been worried when his Dad body bound Scabbers before putting him onto the table.

"Sometimes animals run around when they're having diagnostics cast on them," Narcissa spoke gently, casting a spell silently which caused Scabbers to glow a vivid angry red. Ron gasped loudly eyes widening as he grew worried especially when his dad looked unusually serious as he conjured a cage. Ron went to protest as Scabbers was placed inside and his Dad and Narcissa cast several spells onto the cage but the expression on his parents face stopped him.

With the charms in place, Ron finally spoke up, "What are you doing to Scabbers? He's going to be scared when he realises he's in a cage? He's never been in one before!" Narcissa's gave him a look of such sympathy that Ron's anger faded, with a nod from Arthur, Narcissa softly asked if Ron would come outside with her. Ron had opened his mouth to start to shout but a look from his mother, he closed it again instead following her out.

A warming charm was cast over him by the worried looking woman, "I know you're angry." Ron rolled his eyes, getting a weak smile in response, "Arthur agreed I could tell you everything. The spell I cast didn't harm Scabbers, it's a complex one which reveals if an animal is actually an animagus."

Ron's ears had been going red as his temper rose only to quickly lose colour as the pieces fell into place. "….who do you suspect he is?" He asked instead.

Narcissa froze, Harry had told her that Ron was smarter than he acted but she'd not expected him to connect the dots as quickly as he did, "Headmaster Dumbledore came across evidence that proves that Sirius Black is innocent, and was instead framed."

The teen blanched, "…you think that Scabbers is the one who killed Harry's parents?" Ron felt sick. "He slept in my bed. He slept near Harry! Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I…" Narcissa took a deep breath, "I was concerned that if you acted any different it would alert him and put you in danger," Ron went to protest but Narcissa continued before he could, "Animagus have the same sense of smell as the animal they take the form of, you might not have acted any different but that doesn't mean you wouldn't have smelt uneasy. Your dad agreed with me that Pettigrew wouldn't hurt you but we didn't want to take the chance that he would if he thought that he'd been found."

Ron looked thoughtful "Peter Pettigrew?" Narcissa nodded, "Sirius Black killed him?" Narcissa shook her head and Ron ran a hand through his hair, "You think that's why Scabbers is missing a toe? He betrayed Harry's family and then blew up the street faking his own death in the process."

"Well said," Narcissa would have to tell Arthur that Ron had worked it out himself, it certainly helped explain some of the things she'd heard that the three Gryffindors had previously discovered, "I'm sorry you've lost your pet."

Ron shook his head, still looking disgusted, "He slept in my bed." His lip curled and he spun to the side bending over as his horror became physical. Narcissa gently rubbed his back as he retched.

"I'm sorry." She spoke softly feeling slightly unsure of what to do, Ron was calming and shook his head. "Myself and Arthur thought it would be better if you were told everything, I had to promise Harry that I'd explain properly and to quote her not an explanation for an idiot or a child. The whole truth."

Ron laughed straightening up and smiling when Narcissa wordless cast a cleaning charm and a vanishing charm, "Sounds about right. I'm surprised Harry didn't insist on coming with you."

Narcissa laughed softly, "She tried. I think she's probably driving Draco and Neville up the wall." Ron chuckled, he knew what Harry was like when she was concerned about something, "If you wanted to come over I'm sure Harry would love it." She paused, "I think she'd also understand if you'd rather stay with your mum though. Although you are taking this better than I expected."

"Weird things happen around Harry you learn to roll with it." Ron chuckled wryly, "Although next you'll be telling me that Harry is really Sirius Black's child and James Potter was evil or Dumbledore has a flying unicorn." Narcissa blanched and Ron's eyes narrowed, "Dumbledore has a flying unicorn?" He asked hopefully, she shook her head, "Sirius Black is Harry's dad?" Narcissa nodded, "James Potter was evil?" Narcissa paled. "Bloody Hell." He muttered shock written on his face, "Harry doesn't know yet?"

"No. She knows Sirius is her dad, but she doesn't know about James yet." Narcissa spoke softly her voice cracking, "We plan to tell her during the summer so that she can have at least one good holiday."

"…she deserves a break." Ron spoke softly, "I'll keep it a secret." He frowned, "How did Sirius become her father?" Narcissa shook her head, "okay something gross or evil that's probably the imperius, you need to think of a more teen friendly way of telling us." Narcissa had frozen, her mask slipping as her eyes gave her away and Ron nodded, "I won't ask. Although I'm guessing that Sirius is at Hogwarts and that he tried to break into Gryffindor tower when we were at the feast because he didn't want to hurt any of us. So you've spoken to him which means he's at least somewhat healthy although given Professor Lupin's little problem, I'm figuring he's a fair bit better after being nursed back to health by Hagrid and Pansy."

Narcissa's jaw dropped, "How?"

"You told me that Headmaster Dumbledore had found proof. The only way you could have known for certain how Pettigrew did it was if you had seen his memories, therefore speaking of Dumbledore means that Sirius is at Hogwarts. He couldn't have been in a healthy state after breaking out of Azkaban, given one of the friends was an animagus, it stands to reason that the others were too. After all…animals can't be infected by a werewolf's bite, I know I'd do it for Harry so from what we'd heard it stands to reason they'd do it to." Ron shrugs, "Obvious really."

Narcissa looked shell shocked, "Perhaps we had better head back inside," She said haltingly, Ron nodded. He looked as though nothing had happened, a complete contrast to the shaken blonde who followed him in.

Seeing the two Arthur frowned, "Is everything alright?"

Narcissa nodded, shaking her head, "Ron I forgot to ask, did you want an owl or a cat?"

"Owl please." Ron beamed, heading upstairs as though he'd not just turned Narcissa's world on its head.

"Narcissa." Arthur spoke softly, "What happened?"

"…" Narcissa seemed to shake herself, staring after him, "He's a genius."

After talking to Andromeda, Harry felt a lot better and with a soft smile had headed outside to see if Draco was still up for flying. She couldn't see her but that hadn't ever stopped Harry from flying before and instead swung her leg over her broom taking to the air with barely a moment of thought. Her eyes slipped closed for a moment as she revelled in the feeling of the wind rushing though her hair and losing herself in the freedom which always came from being in the air. Harry dived, twisted and twirled across the sky in a manner which would have made Hermione scream at her for being reckless as she imagined that she was trying to lose another person.

The draft of her movement made the grass below sway as she pulled up from her steepest dive, a laugh of pure joy left her lips as she casually barrel rolled through the sky. A wide grin spreading across her face as for an instant she felt the brush of feathers across her cheek, a quick glance, had her grinning impossibly wider as she pushed the broom through its paces trying her best to mimic her familiar's movements. Hedwig seemed to have intended that as once Harry had successfully copied, she shifted her movements making them more complex as her human managed to follow her pattern.

Harry chased after her amused familiar as the snowy owl dived deeply, toes and wings skimmed the grass as the two hurtled across the lawn before ascending rapidly to twist and rush between trees. Hedwig rapidly climbing up into the air the instant the sky was clear enough and the two just flew for a moment, revelling in their time together before with what Harry knew would be the final play the two rushed through a series of tricks which would have Oliver Wood drooling. They skidded to a halt by the doors in and Hedwig gently landed on Harry's shoulder, nibbling gently on her ear before running her beak through the long hair akin to how she'd groom a chick.

"We should have done that before." Harry spoke softly, chucking lightly as she got a hoot in return, "We'll have to do it again, especially as we're free from the Dursley's." Hedwig gave an approving hoot. Looking over Harry's shoulder towards a bemused looking Narcissa, after a long stare, she nodded once hooting approvingly at the blonde before with one last groom and affectionate nip, she took off heading towards her perch.

"Did you have fun?" The bemused blonde spoke softly, she was had seen the pair flying and while she'd had her heart in her mouth for sections of it. She couldn't deny that Harry had pure skill and despite the danger of the stunts, Harry had never actually been at risk. Harry just nodded, her eyes as light were as her steps as she opened her mouth to ask, Narcissa didn't let her instead continuing, "The rat was caught. Although, young lady, I would have appreciated a warning about your best friend's intelligent."

Harry grinned widely, "and spoil his fun?" She received an unusually serious look from the elder, "…he calls it chess mode. Me and Hermione call it keeping Harry alive mode." She added, a pout on her lips and a whiny edge to her voice that she would never admit but which reminded Narcissa strikingly of the tone Draco had when she was in trouble with her.

"Elaborate."

"Ron's a strategist. He's a genius at chess because he can accurately predict reactions and moves while also reading people." She ran a hand though her hair, "He doesn't know what to make of you, because he'd only seen bad things of Malfoy's before so he was probably studying you and after you captured the traitor wanted to know if there was an ulterior motive." She looked guilty, "He tries to protect me. I have a bad habit of being in the worst place at the best time, like when I saved Ginny from the Basilisk." She shrugged looking sheepish, talking in a rush, "Ron's brain tends to get me out again in one piece by making sure I do the right things to allow my luck to win out." Harry ended up mumbling, she didn't know how to explain it. It just was, like Hermione's brains or her fame.

Prior to heading back to the Longbottom Manor, Narcissa had accompanied Arthur to the ministry. They had decided it would be better to take the rat straight to Amelia and while Arthur was rapidly gaining respect, Narcissa wanted to see for herself if only so that she could reassure her cousin the next time he was awake. Both were deep enough in conversation that they didn't notice the attention that they were garnering as the pair strolled through the ministry.

Amelia Bones' office was large but set beyond the Auror's offices, the thinking being that anyone attacking the head of the DMLE would have to go through her best trained people first. Narcissa however just walked straight through, ignoring the protests from more than one Auror as she did. Arthur trailed after her, muttering apologies to those she'd offended, unintentionally or otherwise. Narcissa knocked loudly before opening the door to an unimpressed eyebrow raise from the powerful Witch behind her desk.

"Narcissa. It's polite to wait for an answer before opening the door." The amused smile took the bite out of the words as Amelia acknowledged her intruder.

Narcissa smiled in response, "Brought you a present," her words gained her a confused frown, Arthur closing the door behind him was her que to continue, "We believe that the animagus we've found may well be one Peter Pettigrew."

Rolling his eyes at the blonde's over dramatic way of explaining, Arthur placed the cage onto the desk. Amelia just stared at the two for a moment, however seeing the seriousness in both their faces, Amelia nodded. Requesting them to draw their wands as she stunned the rat, carefully levitating him onto the floor before the three of them. Two wands trained on the unconscious creature as the Bones' Matriarch forced the animagus to transform back. A flash of magic saw the rat rapidly elongating and twisting as bones popped and cracked into place to reveal a rather dumpy man who bore a striking resemblance to a rat. A soft gasp from Narcissa was the only sound in the room even as Amelia cast again having the man bound and the departments anti-animagus wards activated. It was mere moments later that she'd summoned some of her most trusted Aurors to take the rat into custody proper and guard him until she came down to interrogate him. After the Aurors had entered the room, the pair quickly made their farewells and departed to their own homes, Narcissa being in more of a rush as she wanted to get back to Harry, certain that the raven haired girl would want to know that Ron was safe.

The next morning saw an unusual event, hearing doors slamming early, Narcissa sighed. Slipping on a house-robe, she headed to her own door ready to tell Draco off for bothering Harry before the raven woke up herself. Only to hear, Draco yelling in annoyance about Harry waking her up too early. However that didn't stop her ire, storming across the hallway into Draco's room, with an annoyed shout of "Girls!" wide eyes turned to look at Narcissa, as she stomped in, "Go back to bed, it is far too early for you both to be up!"

Harry pouted, "But Draco's usually up in an hour."

"That is 5am. You are not getting up at 4 in the morning." Her eyes flashed slightly, "BED!" She received a sullen pout from the pair, especially Draco who was annoyed that she was getting into trouble despite not having done anything other than being woken up. Harry sulkily got into Draco's bed, the blonde scowled at her sister but let her into the bed regardless.

Staying silent until Narcissa left the room and the door swung shut behind her before turning to Harry with a scowl, "…now Mum is mad with us!"

"It's not that early though," Harry looked sulky, "we'd be up in an hour or two anyway."

Draco shrugged, "yeah but mum doesn't like mornings, she's used to me not being able to sleep late." The blonde looked away, it wasn't much but Narcissa had always tolerated Draco waking her up early as it allowed them to have their time. When she'd been little, it had entailed Narcissa having her son on her lap reading him stories, as Draco had gotten older the stories had become Runes or Arithmancy when he'd insisted that he was too old for stories. Yet she'd never stopped the tradition despite the pair both being aware that Narcissa was very much not a morning person and would far rather stay asleep until 10 or 11 at the earliest.

Harry gave her an apologetic look, the accident had changed the pair's routine and Harry hung her head. A sudden rush of guilt coming over her, "I'm sorry." She spoke incredibly softly, resting her head against the headboard of the bed.

Draco gently clipped her around the head, "Don't apologise. Mum's always wanted another child and I've always wanted a sibling."

"I've always wanted a family," Harry sniffed softly. "I have Hedwig. Ron's family is great and always welcoming but…"
"They're his family." The blonde spoke quietly. Getting a nod in return from the upset girl, Draco softly continued "You have us now. Me and Mum."

"But your Dad."
"Is a dick."
"Bribed the quidditch team."
"Wants me to be a proper pureblood."
"Set a basilisk on the school."
"and to marry Theo."

The pair looked at each other and sniggered softly, apparently they both had their own issues with Lucius.

"Tried to kill me."
"Lost Dobby."
"Wait what?!" They both said.

"Dobby?" "Tried to kill you?" They didn't realise their volume had risen again.

A loud CRACK! Echoed around the room.