AN: Hello all you lovely people! In case you're getting timeline confused this chapter begins at December 27th. The past two chapters were from December 26th. The argument with Hermione took place on December 25th.

As you might have noticed, this chapter took me longer to write. University has reared it's ugly head and called me back to the books and assignments. While I like university, this will mean that my updates probably will take longer. I'll make sure to update at least once a week though.

Harry Potter doesn't belong to me.

A big shout out to me lovely beta: beau2809!

Chapter nine

The next day Harry was once again the first one up in the Gryffindor tower. This time however Ron didn't wake up before Harry left. Harry had been surprised that he had slept so well last night. He would have thought that he would be thinking about everything that had happened the day before.

As he walked around in the castle mindlessly, Harry thought about the events from yesterday. He still hadn't really absorbed everything yet, although his parents felt much more real now. They were more tangible instead of only knowing that they were great. Professor Lupin, or uncle Remus, had said the thing Harry thought the most about. That they were human and had faults. It did make Harry feel better because he'd always felt like such a failure for not being as great as his parents. He doubted that would completely go away but at least someone close to his parents believed that they'd be proud of Harry.

Another thing that had been settled for Harry was the fact that he would not approach Hermione and Ron. The talk with Terry had made Harry more resolute on this. If Harry approached Ron or Hermione, it would most likely end up in another fight or in Harry somehow apologising. While it'd be awkward until then Harry was thankful that he now had other friends to rely on. He did care deeply about Ron and Hermione, but he felt as if they were growing in different directions. He wanted to be able to be his own person, even if that meant that it might create some distance between him and his two best friends. If they were truly his friends could they really wish for him to be someone he wasn't?

Harry wasn't sure about this best friends concept anyway. He had only had two friends his own age until a few months ago. So of course he was close to them, but he wasn't sure if he wasn't as close to Luna, Susan or Terry. He wasn't close in the same way to Penny and Cedric since both had sort of become something of what Harry imagined older siblings to be.

Harry heard and felt his stomach growl and looked at his clock. It was about half past seven and during the holidays breakfast didn't begin until eight. Harry started to head to the kitchens. Besides breakfast he could also learn more about Mimsy, she seemed very nice.

In the kitchen things seemed almost calm to Harry. There were very few elves around instead of the frenzy he'd seen the first time. An organised frenzy mind you, Harry doubted the house elves would appreciate being called disorganised. As Harry came in Mimsy came up and herded him towards a chair. Other followed and Mimsy looked sternly at Harry.

"You need to eat! You missed lunch yesterday, if you do it again I'll tell Madam Pomfrey." Harry hurried to eat while Mimsy looked at him with the same stern look Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall sometimes used.

When Harry was done Mimsy was still there making sure that Harry would be fine. Harry smiled at her.

"You know I don't know all that much about house elves. Would it be rude of me to ask you about it?" Mimsy smiled and shook her head, her ears flapping with her shakes.

"It wouldn't be rude. What do you want to know?" Harry thought about it.

"Have house elves always enjoyed domestic work and been bound to humans?" Harry hoped he wouldn't say something bad, he remembered Dobby's reactions.

"We've always bound our magic to other magic users. We survive that way. We like work. Some like swimming, hunting or running but we like to look after things and beings." Harry nodded. He didn't really understand, but it would be demeaning to question her beliefs. He wouldn't treat her patronisingly like the missionaries had done to people they considered heathens. You didn't need to agree or understand everything, Harry thought.

"But now young master we need to work. We're cleaning the whole castle when the students are away." She shooed Harry off. It was just as well because as soon as Harry walked outside, having decided to take a walk, Hedwig flew to him and hooted demandingly. Harry obliged by giving her an arm to perch on and taking her letters. He pocketed them and gave her an owl treat he had in his pocket, while he stroked her feather with his other hand.

"I missed you Hedwig. Did you have a good flight?" Hedwig cooed and head butted Harry who laughed and stretched his arm out for her to be able to fly off to the skies again.

The letters were from Penny and Cedric. They told Harry that they hoped that the situation with his friends would get better and that it was in no way his fault. It reminded Harry of his conversation with Terry, but phrased differently. He smiled as he read the letters while he walked around the lake. He did some giant squid baseball again as the giant squid also seemed to have a water fight with itself.

Harry was just ending his game with the giant squid when professor McGonagall appeared a few metres behind him and called his name.

"Harry there you are. I've been looking for you." Harry looked up and stepped down from the cliffs so that professor McGonagall wouldn't need to climb them.

"Harry, I wanted to talk to you about Miss Granger. I'm not just your professor right now and you seemed troubled by her actions these past days." Harry mulled over her words. He'd never really trusted adults. Professor McGonagall had in the past dismissed him, such as during first year and the Philosopher's stone. However she seemed to want to genuinely help.

"I think she's doing too many things. She's always stressed, too stressed. I can't believe the amount of homework she has. Then there are some other matters, but I hope we can resolve that between her and me." Professor McGonagall looked at Harry with her lips slightly pursed, seemingly in thought.

"Has she acted differently to those around her since she became so stressed?" She asked Harry.

"Yes a bit. She's always been a bit defensive and usually corrects others, but recently it's been more… intense." Harry didn't want to blabber to a teacher about her behaviour but he was worried about the stress. That didn't mean that he would tell Hermione's favourite professor that Hermione often made others feel like they were stupid. He didn't think she did it on purpose, but it needed to change.

Professor McGonagall seemed lost in thought as she stared over the lake. Harry let her have her time, after all, she had given him the same favour yesterday. He turned as he heard her sigh. She turned and looked at him and gave a very small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Sometimes Harry adults make very bad decisions and forget how the young and driven often forget to take care of themselves. In case there will be any unpleasantness I'll warn you that I will talk to Miss Granger about her stress and I might place her under Madam Pomfrey's care." She smiled sadly at Harry and began to walk back to the school. Harry stared out over the lake.

Would this help Hermione or make her even angrier, Harry wondered. He knew that she often listened to adults, but she could disregard their opinions when they didn't coincide with her own.

Instead of thinking about things he couldn't change Harry went to the library to finish the last of his holiday assignments. In the library he was nearly done when two bouncing first years approached him.

"Hi Harry. Did you have fun last night, I did and Anthony said that we could go and swim tomorrow as well but not today because apparently he and Terry needed rest. Isn't swimming so much fun? And did you see Jessica's flip in to the pool yesterday?" Sheila was brimming with energy, Jessica just behind her.

Harry was happy that it was the holidays and that they were the only students in the library or Madam Pince would have already hurled them out.

"So you had a good time yesterday?" Harry was pretty sure they had a good time; he was still trying to get the water out of his eardrums. Jessica hopped up on the table.

"Yup, but you left a bit early. Were you tired?" Harry smiled at her.

"Yeah I had a long day." Harry frowned a little remembering the fights and revelations of the past days.

"You look sad." Jessica pronounced. She flung her arms around Harry while she still remained perched on the table. Harry felt another pair of arms slip around him as Sheila joined the hug.

"My mum's hugs always make me feel better." She said. Harry hugged them back, a bit awkwardly in the beginning before he relaxed. He did start to feel warmer from the hugging.

"Thanks, you two always make me feel better." He received squeals and thanks for that and soon the two first years sped away to find something mischievous to do. Harry smiled at them and went back to his essay to wrap it up. He felt warmth continue to spread from the hugs and shook his head. Those two really did have hugs that made you feel much better.

Later that evening as Harry had revised all of the Christmas homework he started to head back to Gryffindor tower. He was stopped by Daphne Greengrass.

"Potter!" Harry turns on the stairs. He's halfway up as Daphne came rushing out of the Great Hall. He moved down the stairs again and they met half way.

"Is there something wrong?" Harry didn't know her all that well, they shared some lessons and had both been to the two swimming parties during the holidays.

"What did Sheila mean about the swimwear thing? She said that her mum who's muggleborn wears different swimwear and that our looks like the Victoria era or something." Harry snorted a little.

"The Victorian era. I can see what she means. Well you know what, I'll see if I can find you the information, but generally it's more practical and less dressed up. It's more revealing both for males and females. It's to make it easier to stay afloat." Daphne looked thoughtful.

"I'll ask her tomorrow." She turned around and then stopped.

"You do know that you're blushing Potter?" Harry spluttered and Daphne laughed a little as she walked away. Harry liked her laughter. It was never malicious as Malfoy's was.

Harry checked on the map as he walked up the stairs. Hermione was in the hospital wing with professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey. Harry hoped that she'd be alright. Daphne and Professor Snape were in the dungeons. The rest of the professors were in their offices or adjoining rooms. The ghosts were scattered around the castle with Peeves far away from Harry thankfully. Terry and the rest of the Ravenclaws were in their common room. Perhaps he should join them, Harry thought.

As he looked over to the Gryffindor tower expecting to see only Ron, he saw two dots on the map. Ron Weasley was shown to be in the dormitory but right next to him was another dot, one that was impossible. Peter Pettigrew was one of Harry's parent's friends. He had been killed by Sirius Black. So why was Peter Pettigrew in Harry's dormitory with Ron? Normally Harry would have rushed in, but something was fishy. Professor Lupin's office was close by and he did know Peter Pettigrew. Harry ran towards his office.

He knocked on the door as he stared at the map. Neither of the dots had moved. He looked up and away from the map when the door was opened. Professor Lupin or Uncle Remus smiled. He looked better then yesterday thankfully, but still a bit tired.

"Hello Harry… where have you gotten that map Harry?" Harry didn't have time to explain he just pointed to the dot. Professor Lupin gaped and then gasped a "Merlin!". He rushed off and sent something silvery towards the other end of the corridor. Harry sprinted after him. He caught up with him as the portrait of Sir Cadogan the menace opened up. Harry ran after him much to the protests of the portrait. They both yanked open the door to the dormitory as Ron jerked awake. A rat, Scabbers, leapt over the floor. A spell shot out but missed. The second time Professor Lupin's spell hit its target.

The rat Scabbers quickly started to grow as Harry heard someone else entering the tower and slamming the portrait open. Rushed steps were heard and just as the rat stopped changing Harry heard Professor McGonagall gasp.

"By Morgana! This cannot be possible." Both Professors looked as they had seen a ghost. Professor Lupin looked pale as a ghost as well and Harry briefly wondered how much Madam Pomfrey would yell at the professor for running while he was still unwell. Professor Lupin was first to speak to the dirty man.

"Hello Peter. I'm very interested to hear your tale."

AN: That was for everyone who has been asking about Sirius ;)