AN: Thank you for the response!

I forgot about disclaimers for a few chapters so: Of course Harry Potter isn't mine, it belongs to JKR.

A massive whoop for my beta: beau2809!

Chapter eight

Harry didn't walk back to the Gryffindor tower. He wanted to talk about his visit with someone he wasn't arguing with. He wasn't particularly close to Daphne so that left Ravenclaw tower as a destination. He assumed that there would be a password but he could hang around outside and hope that someone would pass through eventually. They'd have to eat dinner at some point!

Fortunately for Harry it appeared Rowena Ravenclaw saw things differently than the other three founders. She wanted her students to learn even as they sought entrance to the common rooms. You needed to answer a riddle to pass into the common room. As he stood before the entrance Harry didn't know if the system of passwords or riddles would work better. The brass knocker asked him:

"I have an eye but cannot see. I'm faster than any man alive and have no limbs. What am I?" Harry stared at the brass knocker. Has no limbs? So something that's not alive. A needle, no but what else has an eye, Harry thought. Perhaps…

"A hurricane?" the door opened in answer to Harry's question. He walked inside, walked inside surprised and happy that he had managed to solve it. Harry gaped as he walked in to the Ravenclaw's common room. It definitely beat both Gryffindor and Slytherin. He had never been into the Hufflepuff common room. The Ravenclaw's common room was light and airy and Harry wanted to spend hours reading through those books. He perused the titles and thought absently that he really should try and find Terry or Anthony. Harry wasn't as close to Anthony as he was to Terry, but Harry was becoming closer to the taller boy. Suddenly Harry was attacked by two blurs, one blonde and one brunette.

"Oof, hey Sheila, hey Jessica. Did you have a nice Christmas day yesterday?" The girls had told him over Christmas dinner the other day about their activities, but hopefully the question would lead to them stop crushing his ribs. It didn't.

"Yup, but I wanted to see you again after dinner." Jessica pouted at him.

"Terry said we might go swimming again this evening." Sheila bounced at the thought and thankfully let go of him with her iron grip. Harry smiled at her.

"That sounds great." It meant that he could avoid the only other two occupants in the Gryffindor tower. The two girls bounced off, happy that they had secured Harry's participation as well. As they excited the common room Harry heard laughter from the stairs.

"The great Harry Potter afraid of two eleven year olds?" Terry smirked, but then noticed Harry's expression.

"Hey Harry, are you alright?" Harry sighed.

"Could we talk?" Terry nodded and they sat down and Harry told him the entire story about the Dursley's and the fights with Hermione and Ron as well as the visit to Godric's Hollow. Terry was quiet and listened to Harry talk.

"You know Penny's probably better at this Harry, but I think you did the right thing. If you feel that way you need to express it. Besides if I would treat Anthony or Michael that way they'd never speak to me again, or at least not for months. They violated your trust as dad would say, he's a lawyer. Either way friends don't act like that and then blame it on the injured party. Damn I need to stop going to dad's trials…" Harry laughed with Terry and felt freer than he had since he opened that present containing a broom.

"Have you looked properly at the things you brought with you? If you want to you can use our dormitory, Anthony is in the library and I could read here for a while. I think you'd want to do this in private." Looking startled but feeling glad, Harry nodded. He'd never had someone else offer to give some comfort up for Harry's sake really. Not as thoughtfully as this had been.

As Harry sat down on Terry's bed (with Terry's permission) he placed the bag on the floor. He slowly took one item out at a time.

First there was the small stuffed dragon clearly loved with the plush a bit worn and the colour slightly faded in some places. Then there was the book with several bookmarks, marking a few stories, he'd have to read them later. He could imagine them in his mother's voice, he knew how it sounded now. Then Harry took up the wand. He didn't know if it belonged to his mum or dad, but Ollivander had said that his mum's wand was made out of willow and was ten and a quarter's inch. His dad had been made of mahogany and was eleven inches. He thought this would have been his dad's wand. Harry swished it in the air. It didn't feel as good as his own, but not bad either. He pointed at Terry's pillow thinking that he could always repair it with his own wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" the pillow rose, but a bit sluggishly. Not a perfect fit, but decent. Harry traced the wand with his finger, thinking that his dad had done the same and that he also had cast that spell with this wand.

Left in the bag was several pictures he had taken from Godric's Hollow. Some were pictures of his parents, Harry as a baby with them, of some he guessed would be his relatives (they looked like the ones from the mirror of Erised). Then there were pictures of Hogwarts and his parents. Harry paused over one of the photos. Could it really be…?

Harry quickly placed everything back in the bag and took out the marauders map. He was glad he had taken it that morning so that he could avoid Hermione and Ron. He found the first man he was looking for in his office. He had decided to deal with the worst first.

Standing outside of the office Harry knocked on the door. He heard a quill come to a halt. Harry sent a quick prayer to whomever listened and hoped that the new less hateful relationship he had with the teacher would survive this.

"Come in." Professor Snape sounded less than happy about being disturbed but Harry took a deep breath and soldiered on. He hoped he would get out of this in one piece. He took the picture and as he walked into the office he placed it on Snape's desk.

"Is this a picture of you and my mother?" Snape paused and looked at the picture.

"Yes." The answer was barely audible.

"Did you know her?" Harry looked at the picture. They had their arms around each other and looked like friends.

"I did." Snape refused to look Harry in the eyes and instead looked at the picture on his desk.

"Were you friends?" Harry looked at his Professor's head.

"Once upon a time." The professor was practically strangling the poor quill.

"Why didn't you or anyone else mention it?" The professor laid down his quill and finally

looked at Harry.

"We had a falling out. Then later she started seeing your father and I truly detested him. Your father and I didn't get along, Potter." Harry nodded. The professor obviously wasn't comfortable with this topic, but Harry wanted to try anyway.

"Could you tell me something about how she was as a person? I only know that she was good in school and what wand she used. Oh and that Aunt Petunia hated her and therefore hates me. " As the professor knew about the situation Harry could tell him this. Snape took a deep breath. He looked very pained and conflicted.

"She was brilliant. She was smart and very kind. She never lorded her knowledge or beauty over others. She didn't care about your appearances or money, she cared about the things that mattered. She was great at potions, we used to brew together. She was my first friend. She would have killed Petunia for what she did to you; she was very protective of those she loved." Harry smiled bitterly.

"What I hear when the dementors come near me is Riddle murdering her. She refuses to let him kill me." Snape exhaled and took a slow breath.

"It sounds like Lily. She wrote to me you know, when you were born. We hadn't spoken for years, but she told me that she had a son. She loved you a great deal." Harry looked at him thoughtfully.

"The reason that you saved me that quidditch game wasn't because of some debt to my dad; it was because of her, wasn't it." Snape looked at him with his eyebrows raised.

"Perceptive Potter. Perhaps there is still hope for you." He went back to his papers and Harry stood up. He paused.

"If you want to you could copy that picture." Snape didn't acknowledge him but swished his wand. Harry picked up the original and exited the office. One down, one to go.

As the other teacher was supposed to be ill Harry didn't really know if this was a great idea, but he really wanted answers. It couldn't hurt to ask right? He raised his hand and knocked. He had double checked that he was here and that Madame Pomfrey was no where nearby. Harry heard a shuffling noise.

"Come in." Harry opened the door and saw Professor Lupin bent over supporting himself against a wing chair. His eyebrows shot up when he saw Harry.

"Harry, what are you doing here? I hope everything is well." Harry looked at the professor. He looked ready to keel over. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea.

"This might be able to wait professor…" Professor Lupin waved him off and managed to get down into the wing chair. He motioned for Harry to sit down as well.

"Nonsense. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't important." Harry hesitated but gave the photos to the professor. While there had only been one photo of Professor Snape there were many pictures of Professor Lupin. The professor took them silently and traced the frames.

"Ah. So you are here to ask me if I knew your parents, or rather if I was their friend." It was a statement not a question. Harry only nodded. Most of his bravery had been used to talk to Professor Snape.

"I did know them. I was a prefect with Lily, but I had been one of James close friends since first year." Harry closed his eyes.

"Why didn't you come to see me after they died or said anything since you came here? I know nothing about them." Professor Lupin looked at Harry with an odd look in his eyes. He slowly lifted one of the pictures.

"This picture is the last one of the four of us together. The four of us had become friends at the train going to school the first time. Lily took the picture. We knew someone close had turned to the other side." He took a deep breath.

"I think they thought it was me. You see Harry, since childhood I've been a werewolf." He paused and looked at Harry as if he expected Harry to run away or start screaming.

"Dumbledore knows. Werewolves don't have it easy in our society, so many followed You-Know-Who. I guess they thought I must have been lured with promises of a better life." He swallowed.

"I won't deny that the thought hurts, them thinking I would betray them, but I can never blame them for it. You trusted no one at the time. It became clear after THAT day that another was the one who betrayed them." He paused and looked back at the picture. Harry turned away his eyes.

"Sirius Black. Was he really my godfather?" Harry said with clenched teeth. Professor Lupin nodded.

"Yes. You need to understand Harry, something most have happened to him. I cannot understand what happened, but the man I knew from school would have never betrayed your family. My guess is after his brother was killed something changed. You see Harry, he came from a pure blood family that didn't have the best reputation. He was expected to be dark, but hated everything to do with it. I do not know what happened, but within the space of two days one of my supposedly best friends had killed or caused the deaths of my other two best friends. If you add that to the fact that I'm a werewolf I knew I would never be able to see you. I am sorry for not trying however." Harry looked at him. Not only did Professor Lupin look ill, he looked pained, an expression Professor Snape had mirrored earlier. It was in their eyes, Harry thought.

The parts about Black made Harry's blood boil. He hated that man; to betray someone who you profess to care about and wish to protect was vile. Harry felt his anger increase and looked at the remaining pictures in his hands. He could be angry later. Now he wanted to know more about them.

"Could you tell me about them?" Professor Lupin coughed and sniffled and Harry let him pretend it was due to his illness.

"Lily was so kind, she was so charismatic and she never used it to gain something or hurt others. She knew about me being a werewolf and simply shrugged. Your father found out in third year with the rest of them and instead of being angry or disgusted they tried to find ways to make it easier for me. Truly spectacular people. Of course Harry, it's important to remember that they weren't perfect. Don't try to live up to some perfect image. Your mother had the temper that made many drag up lame jokes about red heads and tempers. She also was quite stubborn and sometimes had trouble forgiving someone if they had behaved very badly. I'm not talking about forgetting to give a pencil back, but much larger things." He smiled softly.

"Your father was more than a bit spoilt, being an only child and all. He loved Lily form the start, but she detested him. He used to try and get her attention by hexing others and other stupid things. He deflated his ego later on and she gave him a chance. He was immature sometimes and a jokester. Most of the times it was funny, like a certain set of twins, but sometimes we crossed a line." Professor Lupin looked at the pictures again.

"They were wonderful, loving people Harry. But don't try and live up to some perfect ideal. They were people with flaws like everybody else. Good people who tried to make the world a better place without You-Know-Who, but still human. They'd stand up for others and didn't care about prejudices. They'd be the ones to listen to someone who was sad and try to cheer them up, thought in different ways. They both had a wonderful capacity to love. Although James was a bit prejudiced to Slytherins and any boy that Lily liked. He swore during first year that he would marry her." Professor Lupin smiled in remembrance. He lifted one photo. It was a picture of three boys hugging a pair, Harry's mum and dad, in the middle who was smiling at each other.

"This was taken on the day they got engaged. It was one the few bright days that year. It was such dark times with death and destruction everywhere around us. To be able to celebrate love was something cherished. You caused the biggest celebration though." Harry looked up. Professor Lupin was smiling crookedly.

"Lily was insisting it was too early, James was pulling out his hair while trying to calm down Lily who was trying to calm down him. I was trying not to laugh as the poor mediwitch tried to throw …. Some others out. You were so loved Harry, from the moment they knew about you." Harry nodded and stood up. He looked at the frail man.

"Do you need help back up professor?" Professor Lupin smiled and shook his head. He handed the photographs back to Harry.

"No I'll be fine, Harry. Here take these back." Harry placed all the photographs back in the bag and hesitated.

"Hagrid gave me pictures of mum and dad during the end of first year. Did you send pictures?" Lupin nodded.

"I was happy to share. I have so many fond memories of your parents Harry. You should have been given more. I'll be happy to share them sometimes." Harry smiled hugely at the pale professor and started to walk to the door.

"Harry. When we're not talking as student and professor if you want to, you can call me what you called me when you were little, even if I'm sure the pronunciation's better now." Harry smiled at the teasing.

"Sure professor. What was it?" Hopefully nothing bad.

"Uncle Remus." Harry felt warmth spread over him, someone wanted to claim him as family. Harry swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I'd like that, Uncle Remus." The answering smile he got was huge.

"So would I Harry. So would I."