Hi, I'm deeply grateful for all the feedback. I've never had so much feedback before.

In answer to all the people who want to know how Harry can be Ron while still having the scar, parslemouth abilities etc. I do have a (IMO) reasonable and logical explanation for this (though I'm not sure it's worth the build up). I would have explained it earlier but the characters are too busy coping with the repercussions of Dumbledore's plan to worry about how he pulled it off just yet. Though I give you only one guess what Hermione's researching at the moment.

Oh, and no it's not a double fake-out, Harry really is Ron and Ron really is Harry, if that makes sense.

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An Old Secret

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"Out," roared Sirius.

The room spun around dizzily as Harry was grabbed and thrown into Lupin's arms. Sirius bundled them out the room as the sink exploded and the fire roared up in the grate. Water geysered across the kitchen, splattering walls and sizzling in the flames.

As Sirius hurried them up the stairs they were followed by Mrs Weasley's shrieks of dismay and the hot hiss of steam.

A door slammed and Harry was abruptly dropped onto a bed. He bounced once and sat up, intending to demand to know what was going on.

Sirius wasn't even looking at him. His whole attention was focused on a white-faced Lupin.

"Moony, Moony you need to calm down. This blasted house reacts bloody strangely to wild magic and you're not even a Black."

Lupin was shaking like he had right before changing into a werewolf. Harry squeaked with fright and backed away to edge of the bed.

"Moony please."

"Did you hear what she said?" he demanded low and guttural.

"It doesn't matter. I'm here Moony. I'm here and I'm free. Everything's okay. I promise Moony, everything's okay."

Lupin took several deep breaths and the colour slowly returned to his face. His eyes scanned the room and Harry hunkered down trying to avoid his gaze. Fixing on the wardrobe, Lupin gently pushed Sirius to one side and held out his right fist, two fingers extended like a Muggle child's impression of a gun. Levelling his hand at the wardrobe he growled,

"Pow, Zap."

As Harry watched in amazement, the wardrobe collapsed noisily into a heap of woodchip. Lupin shook his hand as if it stung and smiled with satisfaction at the mess he had created.

"Well," said Sirius, "I was never fond of that monstrosity but you might have spared a thought for my clothes."

"It was that or the bed, and I prefer you in bed to in clothes."

"Moony!" Sirius went bright red.

"What?"

He flapped his hands in Harry's direction, "Innocent ears are listening. And Merlin, but I sound like James' Mum, what are you doing to me Pup?"

Lupin laughed out loud. "Sirius Black preaching propriety. I just wish Prongs was here to see it."

"Remus! Will you stop doing that. You're going to scare Harry half to death. He doesn't know how goofy you go after really loosing your temper."

"Ah," said Lupin and he suddenly looked almost ashamed. "Sorry Harry."

As Harry watched Lupin seemed to shrink in on himself and his teasing grin was overlaid with a smooth, calm smile. He realised he had seen beneath Lupin's Professor mask and he felt rather privileged.

"But it's okay though, isn't it Harry?" said Sirius, his voice an odd combination of stern and entreating.

"Course it is," said Harry firmly. His godfather wrapped his arm around his shoulders and grinned proudly down at him.

"And you, Pup, have joined the select few who know that Remus Lupin has a temper that's worse than mine."

"It is not," protested Remus.

"Independent adjudication, Moony."

"You bribed Prongs!"

"You were foolish enough not to. And Lily agreed too."

"She did not. She said we were as bad as each other."

"Then-" Sirius abruptly glanced at Harry and grinned, "Sorry kiddo. It's an old argument and Moony just won't admit he's lost. No Remus don't say anything more, we shouldn't argue in front of the children," he finished smugly.

Remus, judging by the glare, seemed to disagree. Before he could say anything though there was a knock and two identical red heads peeked around the door.

"Don't let us interrupt," said Fred or George.

"But it sounded like mayhem was occurring," said George or Fred.

"Without us!" The twin gave an offended sniff and pretended to wipe away a tear. "How could you!" Harry decided he was probably Fred when he pushed the door further open and bounced into the room ahead of his twin.

"I'm redecorating," said Sirius blandly.

The twins stared at what had been a wardrobe.

"Whatever you say," said Fred.

"But I wouldn't go down to the kitchen until Mum's recovered…"

"From your redecorating attempts."

"Because when we snuck past she was still…"

"Cursing you and your ancestors."

"She'd reached the tenth generation…"

"And it didn't sound like she'd be stopping…"

"Anytime soon."

Remus half-smiled. "It looks like you're in the dog house again Sirius."

"Oh very funny Moony."

"But it wasn't," Harry began and was cut off abruptly when Sirius wrapped his arm around his shoulders and clapped his hand over his mouth.

"So where did you two heathens sneak off to?" asked Remus. "We lost track of you after everything kicked off."

Fred and George shuffled until they stood shoulder to shoulder.

"We wanted to welcome…"

"Our new brother…"

"Properly."

"So I said to Gred, what's…"

"The one thing…"

"Our new brother wants most…"

"In all the world."

Harry felt a little queasy at the idea of the Weasley twins on the rampage for something they thought he wanted.

"Thanks guys, but you shouldn't have."

"Uh, uh," scolded Fred, wagging one finger at him. "How dare you doubt the brilliance of your brothers."

"So close your eyes…"

"And hold out your hands."

There was a militant sparkle in the twins' eyes so, unwilling to risk giving them time to think up something even more exotic, Harry reluctantly obeyed. He held out his hands palm up, screwed his eyes shut and cringingly turned his face away, bracing himself for impact. He trusted Sirius and Remus would protect him if it started exploding and would reverse anything too embarrassing.

"Oh ye of little faith."

Harry felt something long and fairly light being balanced on his hands.

"Okay then."

Cautiously Harry opened one eye. He saw only a long, thin parcel wrapped in brown paper.

"It's a broom," said Sirius flatly.

"My firebolt!" gasped Harry, clutching it to his chest, eyes flying to the twins for confirmation. They nodded, grinning widely.

"My firebolt." Harry shredded the wrapping, yanking his broom free. It looked undamaged but he checked it carefully, smoothing the bristles into perfect order and running his hands over the handle to feel the vibrant hum of the broom's enchantments. He beamed at the twins,

"Thank you so much."

"Err," said Remus, "Not to be picky or anything, but how exactly does giving Harry his broom count as a present?"

"They got back from Umbridge for me. Guys I don't know how you managed it, but thank you. It's a great present."

"Why exactly did she have your broom?"

"She confiscated it for fighting with Malfoy. Not that she confiscated his of course. Harpy," he growled under his breath, reflexively rubbing at the back of his hand.

"Don't worry Harry," said one of the twins.

"The other half of your present…"

"Is waiting for you at Hogwarts…"

"There's no way the…"

"Umbitch will be able to undo…"

"Our jinx…

"Before term starts."

"What did you do?" asked Harry suspiciously.

"Come along to our room…" They each grabbed one of Harry's arms and began to tow him towards the door.

"Away from adult ears."

"I resent that you know," Sirius called after them.

"Sorry Sirius…"

"We never meant to imply you where…"

"In any way shape or form…"

"An adult."

"I should think so too," said Sirius, sticking his nose in the air. The twins both laughed and dragged Harry out the room shutting the door behind them. Harry let them haul him along to the stairs before tugging free.

"Come on you two. Confess. What did you do?"

"We'd tell you…"

"But we don't want to…"

"Ruin the surprise."

"Right," said Harry, "Thank you. I think."

"Oh you'll thank us, brother of ours."

"We always did think you…"

"Were a black-haired Weasley."

"It's just more official now."

Harry ducked his head so he could avoid their bright, inquisitive eyes.

"Thanks," he mumbled. He was too uncertain of the reasons for the reversion of his feeling towards the Weasley family to attempt to explain them to Fred and George.

"Whatever happens with the rest of the family…"

"You always were…"

"And always will be…"

"Our little Harrykins."

And then Harry was fighting off two pairs of hands determined to leave his hair permanently ruffled. When he'd been thoroughly hugged and patted they let him go.

"One more thing…"

"The adults seem to forget…"

"It's your future they're discussing…"

"So keep one of these with you…"

"So at least you know…"

"What they're saying."

Each twin gave him an Extendable Ear.

"Thank you both. I really appreciate all this. You're good friends."

The twins sighed and exchanged glances. Then they both slapped Harry on the back.

"Of course we are."

"So if you need anything…"

"Just let us know."

"I will, thanks again." Harry gave them a quick wave.

"Goodnight…"

"Harry."

"Night guys." Harry hurried back towards Sirius' room. As he drew closer he slowed down and fingered the Extendable Ear in his pocket. He trusted Sirius, he really did, but the temptation to know exactly what Sirius and Remus were saying was nearly irresistible.

He moved down the corridor to a shadowy corner and activated the Extendable Ear. For a second he thought it wasn't working because all he could hear was a faint shuffling, then he caught Sirius' voice. His godfather sounded quietly exasperated.

"Will you calm down Moony. It's over and done with. It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does matter. You were in that dreadful place for twelve years. Twelve years Sirius."

"I know Moony. I was there remember."

"So why aren't you separating a few heads from bodies?"

"Because it won't change anything."

"Since when did you become the logical one?"

"I've always been the logical one. Dumbledore needed me out of the way so I wouldn't interfere with his plans for Harry. I just gave him the perfect opportunity with my wretched temper."

"And none of the Order bothered to look too closely because you were inconvenient."

"Why should they? Hell Moony, I've always been inconvenient. Inconvenient for my family, inconvenient for Dumbledore, inconvenient for the Order… inconvenient for you."

"You are not inconvenient for me," said Remus sounding rather strangled.

"Sure I am. Think how much happier you'd be if..."

"Padfoot if you continue that nonsensical train of thought I will send you to Pomfrey for a wit-restoring potion."

"Yeuch."

"Exactly. Oh Pads, I am so sorry I believed Dumbledore. I should never have let him ship me out of the country. I should have insisted on seeing you. I should have bloody noticed you never had a trial." There was a hollow thump of a fist hitting a wall and when Remus spoke again he sounded very tired. "Hell, I should never have believed you were guilty in the first place."

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad you thought I was guilty. I'm not sure I could have borne it if you'd wanted me out of the way with the rest of them. And heh, first time you and Snape ever agreed on anything."

"Padfoot please don't."

"Oh come on Moony, it is funny. Besides, if you hadn't fallen for the old man's lies you would have ended up in the cell next to mine. And I'm so glad you didn't."

"I'm not," said Remus softly.

"Now you're the one being nonsensical."

There was the sound of cloth rustling and then the gentle exchange of kisses.

-

Harry recovered himself enough to yank at the Extendable Ear and stop eavesdropping but he couldn't quite get his legs working. He could hardly believe what he'd heard; his brain couldn't process it and move at the same time.

He was still sitting there, clutching his firebolt, when Hermione found him some time later.