"It's you, isn't it?" said Rose softly.

Dalbert shook his head and placed the picture on his desk. "I think you already know. I do find it curious, though," he said thoughtfully. "It's curious that you were able to open it, Miss Weasley. It is possible of course, but that safe was protected by charms, only someone of our blood could get it open. Now, if I've done my ancestor correctly, you are very distantly related to Sirius Black and-"

"You're related to the Black family?" Scorpius interrupted incredulously. "But, I'm related to the Black family!"

"Yeah, we're cousins," she said obviously.

"WHAT!" Scorpius screeched. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

"I figured you knew," Rose replied slightly amused. "I guess you didn't know you were related to Teddy Lupin either, did you?"

"You mean your metamorphmagus cousin?"

"Yeah, you two are second cousins."

Scorpius fell back in Dalbert's teacher chair. "And all this time I wished to be one of you."

Rose furrowed her eyebrows at him.

"Well that was fun," Dalbert said amusedly. "But as I was saying because you are related it is possible for you to open the door, but not without difficulty. Unless " he looked at Al. "Unless you invited a Slytherin in the Gryffindor common room."

Al shook his head, looking as confused as Rose was. "But sir, the spell must have been broken; Max opened the door, he revealed its secrets," she said

Professor Dalbert looked shocked. "But, I don't see how that was possible. James Potter himself placed the spell, and that boy never screwed them up."

"Sir, Professor," Albus started. "Why have we never heard of you? I don't remember any stories about your adventures and your name isn't on the marauder's map either. Were you even one of them?"

Dalbert smiled slightly. "Yes, I was a Marauder, in a way. I wasn't in the big leagues. How do I explain this? Have you kids ever watched geographic or survival shows?" Max and Scorpius were the only ones to nod. "Well, you know how there's the main character or survival guy who climbs mountains and swims down rapids and crawls through caves? Everyone sees and likes the main character, but what many fails to realize, is that the camera crew is doing it all too. The camera man who's up on the cliff with the star, he had to climb too. Being rushed down rapids, climbing through caves, but nobody knows because he's behind the picture. That was me. I documented everything. I was their eyes, ears, messenger, and cover. And to be completely honest, I wasn't bothered by not being in the light. I was in nearly all of their charades, but I was very rarely caught and almost never blamed."

"You're not in hardly any of these photos," said Al, dropping the photo album onto the desk and flipping through.

Dalbert quickly wiped his eye as a tear seemed to jump forth the second he saw that book. "Ah, this was my most precious treasure," he said, rubbing the spine. "No, Potter, I'm not in nearly any of the photos because I took them and put this book together. There were, of course, much more with me, but I was going through a bit of a self-conscious stage and didn't want to be in the pictures. I've always been a behind the scenes guy. I played bass in a band for a little while and actually graduated with a degree in journalism. That's what I did at the Ministry."

"I thought you said you were an Auror," said Max, propping himself onto the desk.

"I wasn't for a while until I got a little too close to a scene. I was in the throng when Bones Drury attacked those children. The story became much too real for me, and I couldn't watch and not interfere as my profession would require."

"What did you do?" Rose asked, leaning forward on the desk to listen.

"I dueled him. One of the most dangerous wizards after Voldemort and I defeated him. I found something in myself that day. I found my love for battle and my love for children, which is why this job is perfect for me. But Bones was locked away, and I was given honors and an opportunity to train for a position as an Auror. I loved my job. Until, of course, I had to leave."

"Sir, why aren't you on the Marauder's map?" asked Al, Scorpius was still slouching in the teacher's chair, looking as though he were in the twilight zone.

"Because I asked them not to," Dalbert replied. "They fought me about it, but I didn't want my nickname on such a dangerous artifact. I didn't want to be held responsible for it. Besides, the name 'Ursa' wasn't a very cool one."

"Better than Wormtail," Al mumbled.

"Ursa?" said Max thoughtfully. "Isn't that-"

"Why have you mentioned nothing about knowing the Marauders before?" Rose interrupted.

Dalbert looked suddenly grim and very sorrowful. "I am sorry that I never told you," he said. "That past brings forth the greatest memories and the worst feeling in the world." He looked straight at Max who was staring closely. "Some things are best forgotten; they bring too much pain."

"But if it's your greatest memories too, then shouldn't it be worth a little pain to relish in the good times?" asked Rose, not at all understanding what he was talking about.

Professor Dalbert leaned forward. "Miss Weasley, it's okay to not understand this, good even. You have been fortunate. You have a family who loves you and surrounds you and who is- who is still alive. You haven't experienced loss, and I hope you never do. But thinking back to my school years reminds me of everyone I lost. James, Sirius, Remus, precious Lily, and even Peter."

"Pettigrew was a no-good filthy traitor!" Al said suddenly.

Dalbert looked sadder than ever. "You don't know Peter. Foolish boy, but so kind. He made the wrong choice and was a coward, I'll admit. He spent all of his school years a good and loyal friend, ready to lose everything. He died a dishonorable death, and he deserved it. Honestly, that was not the Peter I knew. The Peter I knew died when he sold his soul."

"But surely you should honor the memory of your friends by at least thinking of them!" said Rose, becoming slightly angry.

"Rose, no," Max whispered.

"Weasley, I lost everything important to me. James and Lily, Sirius in Azkaban, Remus to face the full moon alone, and Peter scurrying from guilt as a rat. That one night everyone was celebrating, raising their mugs to the boy who lived. The Marauders broke that night. We lost it all. I knew Sirius was innocent but couldn't prove it; I lost all of my best friends."

"You still had Remus," said Al. "You two were still alive, and Remus didn't have to suffer the full moon if you were there. I'll assume that you also became an Animagus."

Dalbert shook his head. "Remus wasn't the same. Lily and James died, Peter was supposedly murdered by his best friend who was now in Azkaban. I tried to help him, I tried to comfort him through the full moon, but something had changed. He lost his head after transforming. I had memories of the five of us exploring the grounds and castle as animals, but now, Remus' eyes vanished into his wolf's black ones. I tried," he croaked. "I really tried. I couldn't tame him." Dalbert lifted the side of his white shirt to show them a deep gash scared across his ribs. "And that happened while I was in form. If I were a human at the time, it would have killed me. He pushed away more than ever when he saw it. He didn't even accept my money." Dalbert wiped his nose. Rose sniffed slightly, feeling her eyes itch. "Weasley, I can't pick out the good times. If I think of them, I think of it all. Some things are best forgotten."

"Professor Dalbert?" said Al. "We'll leave you alone in a moment, but would you please answer this? Why is Lily chasing James with eggs?" he pointed to what seemed to be his favorite picture in the album.

Dalbert laughed and explained the picture, which led to him reminiscing on the following, and the one after that. So much for leaving him alone, the next five hours were spent sitting on his desk as he laughed and explained each photo. Why he had taken it, the story behind, and where everyone was. He commentated the matches that James could be seen playing in, and he told them about the Gryffindor parties afterward. He explained why first years weren't allowed broomsticks and the reason there were so many trick steps. It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons they had had in a while. The group of kids laughed hysterically at some of the stories and Dalbert cringed in memory of his first Animagus transformation attempt. He then produced a Patronus, and they watched it run around the room. Though he sternly refused to transform in the office as he said he wouldn't fit. They ate dinner and tea until eight thirty when he sent them to bed, saying that he couldn't have them past nine.

The four students left the office, classroom, and entered into the corridor, feeling rather happy.

"When are we telling all of this to our parents?" Albus asked Rose.

"Over summer," she replied. "It's too much to put into a letter unless you want to write it."

"No," Al agreed. "Summer is best."

"I really do wish Dalbert had transformed, though," said Max. "It would have been educational to watch it actually be done."

"I don't see how he couldn't have fit in the office," said Rose. "He's not an elephant or anything."

Al shook his head. "Have you ever seen a Kodiak bear?"

The four split to their separate common rooms. Rose waved at them and heard Scorpius mumble, "Related?" Then he positively shouted. "That means I'm related to you too, Al!"

Rose fell onto the sofa in the extraordinarily messy common room. Most students had gone to bed, being so tired from the match and party. Rose finally removed her turtleneck, so she was in a tank top.

"Whoa! What the hell happened there!" Max called, grabbing Rose's arms and examining the bruises.

"Oh, I'm fine," she lied. In reality, it hurt to inhale. It felt like she was being pounded again every time she took a breath.

"Let me see," said Max, moving her hair so that he could see the black bruise over her chest where her collar bone was. He placed his hand on top of the wound. "Does that hurt?" he asked.

Yes! "No," she replied.

His hands were warm and left a tingly sensation when he moved to grab her arms. He stoked her forearms with his fingers determinedly.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm trying to see how deep this bruise got. Really, you're mad to grab that ball."

"I'm a Weasley," she said proudly.

"What's the difference?" he asked.

Rose hit him on the arm and bounded up from the couch. "I'm going to bed now. Please don't let me sleep past class; I'm afraid I might."

"If Cromwell doesn't wake you, I will," he said, starting toward the stairs with her.

Rose dressed into her nightclothes, brushed her teeth and hair, and climbed into bed. Cromwell had warmed her pillow for her. She scooted the bird off before slipping under her covers and taking a deep sigh. Somehow, the bruise didn't hurt her this time. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.