Chapter 16

Remus didn't understand a bit of what was going on. If that wasn't Harry Potter down there on the ground, then who was it? And why was Sirius so convinced that it wasn't, when both Snape and Dumbledore believed it was so?

Twenty years of emotions warred within him. He should hex that lying, betraying… But then, this was Padfoot. His best friend. How could he have? Did he?

He looked up to see those grey, fathomless eyes and felt himself lost. He was immediately twelve again, alone on the train joined by Sirius and James. Then fifteen, when his best friends showed him their Animagus forms and swore to be with him during the next full moon. And twenty-one, pacing with Sirius in the hallway, waiting for news of Harry's birth.

"Moony." Padfoot clasped his arm in the way he used to, grasping his elbow. Remus' hand met his elbow and his fingers curled automatically, wiping away the years.

"Harry?"

"He's fine," Padfoot whispered. "I promise." There was a sparkle to his eyes that Remus hadn't expected.

"He's been with you all these years?"

"The same question I was about to ask, Mr. Black."

Sirius looked at the Headmaster and his shoulders sunk a little. "No. Not the entire time. I was only with him after...well…" He broke off and ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair. "It's a long story."

"I'm sure we have time-" Remus said.

"As touching as this all is," Snape sneered, "the castle is under attack."

Sirius' eyes narrowed in on Snape and the corners of his lips twitched like they used to when face their old nemesis. "Yeah, Snivellus, don't you have somewhere to be? Run off and join your master."

"Sirius."

Snape didn't rise to the jab, surprising Remus. Perhaps the years had tempered all of them more than he'd expected.

"Don't worry, old man," Sirius said, his eyes never leaving Snape. "I know all about your spies. All of them." He finally turned his head and gave Dumbledore a knowing look.

"How are we to trust him, Headmaster?" Snape asked. "This could be a trap."

"I can take you to Harry right now."

Remus' heart thumped in his chest. Harry. He hadn't seen him since he was young-five or six. Remus hadn't been able to stop himself from taking a train to Surrey, walking the streets during a rainstorm, and watching for two days straight from various locations until he caught a glimpse of the little black-haired, skinny boy. It had torn his heart out so much that he'd walked away and left England, vowing never to return.

To see him now...fully grown…

Sirius strode toward the door, gesturing for them to follow "...he and Ginny Weasley were just…" They all stopped on the stairs when Sirius did. He glanced back over his shoulder and then gestured to the couple kissing passionately in the middle of the corridor.

"See?" he said. "That's Harry. Getting his face sucked off."

The tall man pulled away from the red-headed woman and looked up at them. Remus gasped at how much he looked like James. It was like being thrown back in time, or staring at a ghost.

The exchange that followed made no sense to Remus, but he couldn't tear his eyes from Sirius and James-Harry!-as they greeted each other. Whoever the woman was, she wasn't going to disengage from Harry's side no matter what. And Harry didn't seem to mind at all.

"Let us take this to my office," Dumbledore said.

"Headmaster…"

Remus watched the silent conversation take place between Snape and Dumbledore until Snape gave a firm nod and excused himself, hurrying away. Sirius watched him go, a strange look on his face.

"Coming?" Remus asked, gesturing to the doorway.

"Yeah. It's good to see you, Moony."

"I admit, I'm completely lost about what has happened here." They both watched the large group disappear up the stairs until it was just the two of them.

"You'll never believe it, Moony. If I hadn't lived it, neither would I."

"Harry?"

Sirius' face split into a smile that was such a remnant of the boy he once was, that it made Remus ache inside. "Harry." He clapped Remus on the shoulder and nudged him forward.

Once inside, all eyes were on Harry as he stood facing Dumbledore, a dark expression on his face.

"You sacrificed him."

"Harry…"

"You should have told him when you suspected."

"You could have done so, as well."

"You know that was impossible."

"What am I missing?" Remus asked Sirius. Sirius opened his mouth but just shook his head.

"Harry." Ginny broke into the argument, her hand coming to rest on Harry's arm. "You'll have to explain."

Remus looked around the room, glad that he wasn't the only one who seemed lost. Lots of faces had bewildered expressions. One red-headed man was propped in a chair in the corner, his face pressed into the wall. Remus opened his mouth to ask what that was all about, but Harry started speaking and drew his attention away.

"I was to be placed with my Aunt and Uncle after my parents were murdered by Voldemort."

Even Remus winced at the name, but Harry pushed through, ignoring the reaction. "But...someone...did not think it was a safe enough place. He took me, raised me, taught me, and protected me."

"Who-"

Harry's look quelled Dumbledore's question and Harry continued.

"When I was thirteen, I found out that I had a godfather. I saved him from being hunted down by the Ministry and he's been helping me ever since.

Sirius winked at Harry and leaned back against the wall, casually crossing his foot in front of the other and folding his arms across his chest.

"I worked to help other people, to...fix problems, injustices that I saw or heard about."

"Merlin." The tallest redheaded man exchanged looks with others in the room. "You're the Phoenix."

"Phoenix?" Remus said. "What's that?"

"Ombragė?" Another redhead asked.

"Blackheart," Ginny whispered.

The two twins exchanged a look. "Cor," they both said together.

Suddenly, a story that Remus had heard during his travels around Europe came to mind. A rumor spread about a wizard that one could summon to take care of problems. Remus had never believed it, or even paid it much mind.

"Turba Malum," Dumbledore said softly.

Harry looked at him and nodded.

Remus' forehead creased. "Turba…" He trailed off and looked across the room to the man who had been his best friend. "Oh, Sirius."

Sirius gave an unrepentant shrug and Remus had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. Showing amusement only encouraged such behavior, history had taught him.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Ron woke slowly, but didn't move from his spot in the corner. He opened his eyes, barely, and listened as the man who stood next to Dumbledore explained.

This was Harry Potter, the real Harry Potter.

A cavity in his chest continued to ache. If this was Harry...then who had he been friends with the past eight years?

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Bill shook his head as he tried to reconcile all of this. It made no sense. It made perfect sense. He and Percy shared a bewildered look and then turned to look at the man-Harry Potter-again. They'd compared notes on the shadowy figure that had helped them both, but come away with only remnants of memories.

Percy was convinced that there was some sort of charm on the card that the man had handed them that wiped their memories. Bill wasn't sure, but it was possible.

But how had Ginny gotten mixed up in all of this? She'd only met him while on Order business, hadn't she?

Unless... Was this her new bloke? Bill wasn't sure how he felt about that.

George felt Hermione twitch next to him and knew she was about to burst from so many questions rising inside her. He watched as Fred patted her knee in empathy and winked at her.

Ron was still passed out in the corner, and, for a moment, George envied him. He would have a hard time understanding it all when he woke, but for now, maybe it was best that he didn't have to look at Harry and be reminded of...Harry.

He shook his head and tried to wrap it all up in his mind. Two Harry Potters, countless secret identities, spies, escaped convicts, secret missions…. It was all so much.

There were large missing gaps, he knew, things that Harry wasn't ready to divulge, and things that Dumbledore was probably keeping hidden, too. Strangely, George was okay with that. There was enough to be getting on with as it was.

Neville couldn't help but stare at Harry's scar. It felt strange calling him that, when he and Percy had just hidden Harry's body. He had to shake his head as the thought settled in his mind. Harry was dead. But he was also standing in front of them.

They'd hidden Harry's body well, tucked him deep between some of Professor Sprout's most venomous plants, and covered him with burlap to help disguise the body. As Neville had been putting the final bag in place, he'd sworn he saw a flash of blond hair, but forced the thought out of his mind.