-

Harry was just about the happiest he could remembering being since he was seven. Sirius and Lupin had asked him lots of questions about Uncle Hugh and Uncle Jack and, while talking about his Uncles was a precious indulgence all on its own, they actually thought they could find Uncle Jack.

Missing Uncle Hugh was bad but with Uncle Jack there was a nagging question that made Harry ache at night sometimes. He knew Uncle Jack couldn't keep him (Uncle Vernon wouldn't let him) but Harry had always wanted to know if Uncle Jack would have kept him if he could.

Now that he might get an answer he wasn't sure he actually wanted to know. But Sirius and Lupin seemed so sure that it would be yes that it gave Harry hope.

"After all," said Sirius, "Moony and I would do just about anything to keep you, I'm sure the same was true for this chap as well."

Lupin looked at his hands. "I wanted to take you that Halloween but I wasn't really in a state to look after a baby and Dumbledore promised to keep you safe and give you a normal life. Better than anything a homeless werewolf could offer you."

"You mean," said Sirius nastily, "The great Headmaster guilt-tripped you into doing exactly what he wanted, regardless of the consequences."

"Padfoot, I don't think we should be discussing this in front of Harry."

"It's all right," said Harry, "I know it's important I stay at the Dursleys so I don't put anyone else in danger."

"Oh no," said Lupin, "I didn't mean that at all Harry. I hate that you and Sirius ended up imprisoned to keep you safe. I almost wish I'd never heard of blood wards. There has to be a better way."

"It's okay," said Harry and Sirius at the same time. That just seemed to make Lupin look even more unhappy.

"No it's not," he said quietly.

"No brooding Moony," said Sirius briskly, "Any brooding has to be carried out by yours truly, it's part of the contract."

Lupin laughed. "I don't remember seeing that bit."

"No? It was right under my inaliable right to leave dirty socks lying around on the floor."

Lupin rolled his eyes but all he said was, "Nice try."

Sirius pouted and Harry giggled.

Before any of them could say anything more there was a banging on the door.

"Dumbledore's here," shouted Ron, before clattering back down the stairs.

"Come on Moony, let's go and see what our Lord and Master wants." Sirius reached up with one arm and Lupin clasped it securely, hauling him to his feet. Sirius left his hand in his and held out his free hand to Harry.

"Coming kiddo?"

Harry hesitated. It seemed a bit childish to hold hands but Sirius was holding Lupin's, so maybe it was okay. After considering it carefully he gave into temptation and took Sirius' hand in his. Sirius squeezed it quickly and then they followed Lupin from the room.

-

Before they even reached the kitchen they could hear Mrs Weasley shouting. Harry cringed and tried to retreat. Sirius turned to look at him,

"It's okay kiddo."

Harry wasn't convinced. Lupin opened the kitchen door and said,

"I'm sorry but do you think we can keep things down. We don't want to set off the portrait of Mrs Black again."

"Merlin no," said Sirius.

"I don't care about that horrid old woman," stormed Mrs Weasley.

Harry stayed in Sirius' shadow as he looked around the kitchen. Mrs Weasley stood in the centre of the room, fists on her hips. Dumbledore was smiling at her, hands out placatingly. Bill stood just behind his mother, and behind him the twins hovered, clearly uncertain what to do. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were watching everything wide-eyed from the corner of the kitchen.

"Mum calm down," said Bill. He placed on hand cautiously on his mother's shoulder. "Remus is quite right. When that portrait gets going I can barely think over the racket she makes."

"I will not calm down." She brushed away from her eldest son. "Headmaster I have been patient for fourteen years, I will be patient no longer." She raised one shaking fist. Her face was red with anger and the air seemed to crackle around her.

Harry recoiled and Sirius backed up a step. Curling his arm, he swept Harry protectively behind him. Peeking around Sirius' chest Harry saw Lupin glance back at them. Lupin's lips thinned and he stepped slightly in front of them.

"Molly," he said, his voice stern, "I understand you are upset, this must be a very trying time for you, but I would ask you to control your temper. You are alarming the children."

Mrs Weasley glared at him. "If I could get it through this man's thick skull any other way I would." She turned her fury back on Dumbledore. "I will not stand for this situation any longer. Arthur nearly died. He could still die; die before he gets to hold his son again. I won't let our son die without him knowing the truth. This Christmas all our family will be together."

"Molly please," said Dumbledore, "As Remus has pointed out, now is a very stressful time, I don't think you should be making any sudden decisions. At least wait for Arthur to fully recover and talk it over with him."

"No. No I will not wait a minute longer to tell my son I love him. You will reverse the charms or I will do it myself."

"Perhaps we should start with an explanation."

"Explanation? How can I explain what I let you do to my son?" Mrs Weasley started to cry. Bill put his arm around her waist.

"Mum? What are you talking about? Which one of us?"

"Molly I do think things would be easier on you if Arthur were here."

Mrs Weasley wiped her streaming eyes. "You will tell them the truth right now."

Bill frowned at Dumbledore.

"I believe you should do as my mother asks, sir. What have you done to my family?" Fred and George came forward to stand either side of their mother and brother, jaws jutted pugnaciously. Hermione was hanging on to Ron and Ginny, trying to keep them away from the confrontation.

Dumbledore looked pensive and then he sighed. "Very well. I suppose the damage has already been done. Perhaps everybody should take a seat."

Lupin turned and started to urge Sirius and Harry out the room.

"We'll leave you to discuss the matter."

"No Remus. Harry needs to stay. This concerns you and Sirius too."

"Very well."

Harry had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. He stuck close to his godfather as they shuffled further into the room. Lupin took a seat but Sirius remained standing. Dumbledore sat down at the head of the table and looked at the Weasleys and Hermione expectantly. Slowly they all seated themselves.

Mrs Weasley fixed her gaze on Harry.

"Harry dear, do sit down."

Harry didn't want to but Mrs Weasley's face was setting into stern lines. Lupin flashed him a reassuring smile and pulled one of the chairs nearer to him. Harry perched himself on the very edge. Sirius shifted until he stood close to both of them.

"Well come on, Headmaster," he demanded, "Let us have it."

Mrs Weasley didn't look happy but she stopped glaring at Harry. Telling himself to relax, Harry wriggled trying to find a comfortable position on the hard wooden chair. His godfather nudged him with his elbow and when he gazed up at him, ruffled his hair.

Dumbledore smiled. "Ah Sirius, straight to the heart of the matter, I would expect no less."

"Go on then. We already know that none of us are going to like it. Just hit us with it."

"I'd like to start with a few words to clarify matters."

Sirius groaned. Mrs Weasley was twitching with eagerness.

"Never fear, I'll be as brief as I can. To start with I'd like to take us back to the fall of Voldemort. Times were troubled and I knew the relief and celebrations were premature. Although Voldemort was no longer a current threat, there were still a considerable number of his followers remaining at liberty and things were a long way from safe. Consider the Longbottoms as one unfortunate example."

"We already know all this," Sirius interrupted

"I just wanted to make sure the children understood."

"Albus, Voldemort came back last year, I'm sure they understand all too well."

Harry flinched.

"Sorry kiddo."

"If I may continue," said Dumbledore. "Thank you. Now due to the, shall we say, indisposition of the Potters' preferred guardians, I undertook responsibility for finding young Harry Potter a home."

"And a right fine job you did of it," grouched Sirius.

"I like to think so, yes." Dumbledore smiled serenely and Harry felt a violent flash of anger towards the man. Dumbledore continued,

"There were two main factors in selecting a family to raise the young Hero of the Wizarding World. Firstly it needed to be safe from Death Eater attacks. Secondly Harry needed to grow up without the pressures of his fame. Ideally he should also be brought up around magic within the confines of a loving home. Sadly these considerations seemed incompatible until I realised all that was needed was a little substitution."

"You couldn't have?" Lupin sounded horrified.

"Found the solution already Remus? I always thought you should have received a greater share of the credit for planning out the mischief the four of you got into at Hogwarts."

White-faced, Lupin just stared at the Headmaster.

"Yeah and I'm the thick one remember," grumbled Sirius, "Mind spelling it out for me?"

Dread was making Harry light-headed. He didn't want to know what Dumbledore had done. He wanted to jump to his feet and oblivate everybody so he'd never have to find out. As Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, Harry braced both hands against the table and tensed up as if expecting a blow.

"I knew of a large family that was just scraping by. This family had a son only a few months older than Harry Potter. A couple of glamour charms and it was a simple matter to exchange one child for the other."

Harry's insides were twisting horribly inside him. The knowledge of what Dumbledore had done was on the edge of his consciousness but he didn't want to recognise it. It wasn't true, it couldn't be true.

"By replacing Harry Potter with Ronald Weasley I accomplished all four of my objectives in one stroke. Harry Potter would grow up in heart of a loving family secure…"

Sirius cut him off with a roar of pure rage. "You abandoned my-" He stopped abruptly. Harry choked as his stomach rose up and lodged in his throat, because he wasn't Sirius' godson anymore.

"My, my… my pup," Sirius continued with a snap of his jaws, "You abandoned my pup to the Dursleys for no reason at all." A low growl rumbled in his throat.

"He is not your son," shouted Mrs Weasley.

Ron looked stunned, "Are you saying I'm Harry Bloody Potter?"

Dumbledore nodded, smiling.

Lupin leapt from his seat and grabbed Sirius around the waist, hauling him back from his dive across the table.

"Mum is this true?" demanded Bill, grabbing her arm.

"Mum!" wailed Ginny.

"Remus, let me go."

"Mum, is it true? Am I Harry Potter?"

Fred and George were both shouting but Harry couldn't distinguish what they were saying. He couldn't understand what anyone was saying. Individual words melded into a blur of sound. Sirius, teeth bared, was arguing fiercely with Lupin. Mrs Weasley was swamped under the shouts of her children. Dumbledore had his arms raised, appealing for quiet.

Harry covered his face with his hands as he tried to shut out the overwhelming noise and temper. Panting for breath, he tried to force himself to think. His mind had seized up. He couldn't understand. Everything he'd clung to since arriving at Hogwarts was gone. He wasn't Harry Potter. He wasn't Harry Potter. He wasn't…

"Oh God," he moaned, stumbling to his feet and tripping over his chair. Untangling himself, he turned around and saw everyone was staring at him.

Spinning on his toes he ran from the room. Racing through the house he slowed at the foot of the stairs. He thought longingly about the safety of his room. But it wasn't his room. Because he wasn't Harry Potter.

The hallway swirled around him making it hard for Harry to stay upright. Noise was following after him with heavy footsteps. He had to get away. He had to get somewhere he could breathe. Flinging the front door open, he fled into the dark street.