I don't own Harry Potter, nor do I own the Tale of the Three Brothers. Both belong to JK Rowling…T-T

Story time at the Burrow was everyone's favorite time of day. No matter how old they got, all the kids still enjoyed it. That was also one of the few times of the day that Molly Weasley's attention wasn't divided by multiple children at once.

Bill was the story teller when he was home from school, always able to come up with a new story to keep his younger siblings entertained. Every evening from late June to the last day of August, the eldest Weasley could be found sitting in the kitchen, his youngest siblings circled around him. Charlie, at thirteen, was pretending not to pay any attention to the story. He was both too old and to cool for such frivolous things, however it was easy to see that his ear was cocked in his elder brothers direction. Percy, now almost eleven, was too old for the stories as well. But he to had his ear open, saying that he was there for 'educational purposes.' You never know when there was some truth in the night's story.

The twins, Fred and George, were on the floor around Bill. Being only seven years of age, they could listen to a story without worrying about what it may do to their reputation. Next to them sat five year old Ron, who listened eagerly to the story sure every word his brother spoke was the absolute truth. Next to him sat the youngest Weasley child and only girl, four year old Ginny.

Today's tale was a personal favorite to the family. The tale of The Three Brother's.

"There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at Midnight," Bill began, "In time, the brothers reached a river, too treacherous to pass. But being learned in the magical arts, the three brothers simply waved their wands and made a bridge. Before they could cross however, they found their path blocked by a hooded figure, it was Death, and he felt cheated. Cheated because travelers would normally drown in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers on their magic, and said that each had earned a prize for being clever enough to evade him."

"The oldest, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. So, Death fashioned him one from an Elder Tree that stood nearby."

"The second brother, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death even further, and asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave. So Death plucked a stone from the river, and offered it to him."

"Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And so it was that Death reluctantly handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility."

"The first brother traveled to a distant village, where with the elder wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he had once quarreled. Drunk, with the power that the Elder Wand had given him, he bragged of his invincibility. But that night, another wizard stole the wand, and slit the brothers throat for good measure. And so, Death took the first brother for his own. "

"The second brother journeyed to his home, where he took the stone and turned it thrice in hand. To his delight, the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet soon she turned sad, and cold for she did not belong in the mortal world. Driven mad with hopeless longing, the second brother killed himself, so as to join her. And so, Death took the second brother for his own."

"As for the third brother, Death searched for many years, but was never able to find him. Only when he attained a great age did the youngest brother shed the Cloak of Invisibility, and give it to his son. He then greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, departing this life, as equals."

By the conclusion of the tale, all six of the younger ones were staring enraptured at their older brother. He was a born storyteller. They began clapping enthusiastically, not noticing the four new arrivals in the back of the room. Only when the littlest of them joined in the clapping did they turn around.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Bill and Charlie shouted at the same time, surprised to see the old wizard outside of school.

"Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. I trust you to are well?" the long haired man enquired, his eyes twinkling.

They nodded, both wide eyed. Then all seven of them let their gazes drift over the other three people. One was their mother, a woman they all knew and loved. Another was a tall, light skinned, redheaded woman. The last was a young boy about the age of the youngest two Weasleys. He wore glasses, and his eyes were half covered by his bangs. He had disheveled midnight black hair, and the sad piercing green eyes as the redheaded woman. It his hands, he carried a broomstick.

"Dears, you all know the Proffesor. This is Lily Potter and her son Harry. I'm going to be teaching him along with you lot until you start school," Molly said, gesturing to each person as their name came up. "Make him feel welcome, and please do so gently. He's a bit on the shy side."

Seven pairs of brown eyes focused on the boy. They'd all heard the name. They'd all knew the stories. They were in the presence of one of the most famous wizards in the world…and he was going to be learning with them? And they were being instructed to be nice because he was shy? That was just to much!

"We'll leave you kids to it then. Perhaps another story Bill?" Mrs. Weasley called over her shoulder as the adults left the children alone.

Silence.

The room was filled with the sounds of breathing, nothing more. The red-haired children didn't take their eyes off the black haired one, he didn't take his eyes off them. No one moved. Not until…

His face a little red, the glasses wearing boy slowly set his broom on the floor by his feet and timidly raised his hand. He waved.

They siblings all exchanged a look. Turning back towards him, they waved back in union.

Silence, until finally…

"What model broom you got there Harry?" Charlie asked with a nod from his oldest sibling.

"Comet 220," came the quiet reply.

"Can you actually fly it?" the twins asked as one.

He nodded.

"We don't believe you," they said in answer.

This got him to open up.

"Can so! I'll prove it to!" he answered suddenly angry, his voice noticeably stronger now.

"Really? Follow us then!" they said standing up, still in tandem.

They charged toward a door at the back of the room, flinging it open and fleeing into the garden. The others soon followed after them, although the elder three at a more reasonable pace. Harry followed after, his broom slung over his shoulder. He could fly, and he was gonna show them so no matter what.

~X-x-X~

"Harry seems like such a nice boy," Molly said with enthusiasm to her fellow redheaded mother.

"He is a good kid," Lily answered, "Although your bunch seemed to overwhelm him. I've never seen him like that!"

"Yes…they do have that effect on people. But they're good kids, every one of them."

"Molly…can I call you Molly?"

"Yes, go right ahead dear"

"Well Molly, I can agree with you there. Just looking at them I could tell that."

The two mothers began bragging on their kids then, telling how well behaved they were and how sweet. Both had their backs to the window, and so were not able to observe the Quidditch contest between Harry and Charlie to see who was the better Seeker. Before the redhead crashed into the ground from not pulling out of a dive soon enough, the smaller child was easily winning.

The pleasant conversations always share when gaining a new friend were interrupted by Percy, who come running as soon as the crash occurred.

"Mother," he shouted as soon as he burst into the room, quickly pushing his glasses back up on his nose, "Come quick, Charlie's hurt!"

The two woman looked at each other, then hurried in the direction of the garden.

When they arrived, it was chaos. Ginny was crying, Fred and George were chasing Harry with giant sticks and throwing gnomes at him. Harry on the other hand was running from the Twins, yelling he was sorry and trying to duck the sticks and flying gnomes. Charlie was laying flat on his back next to his broom, holding his shoulder and staring open mouthed at the sky. Bill was trying to comfort Ginny while at the same time ask his brother if he was OK. Percy was now chasing the twins and Harry, trying to get them to settle down and Ron looked torn between joining his brothers or helping to comfort his sister.

This was stopped by Mrs. Weasley, who was used to all the noise. Without a word, she pointed her wand at the sky and a sound like a gunshot was emitted.

Everyone stopped in their tracks to stare at her. The silence was to foreign compared to the previous circus of activity.

"Now then," she said in a deadly whisper that hinted at something else. Something much more dangerous than could be expected from the petite woman. "What happened?"

Silence.

"Bill?

Nothing.

"I'll ask again…WHAT HAPPENED!"

This got a reaction.

Nervously, Bill stepped up. "Well, um… The Twins said they didn't believe that Harry could fly, and he said he'd prove them wrong. We came out and he did a few tricks…and Charlie egged it on by saying he was probably the better Seeker after we found out what position he liked best. So they both went up to see. He decided to show off…and he crashed before he could pull out of the dive."

More silence.

"I see," Mrs. Weasley said, her hands on her hips. Then the thing that every Weasley child fears. The Silence.

This was bad. Very, VERY, VERY bad. She was really angry.

"Lily I'm sorry, may we do this another day? I'm afraid you're probably about to see something that will most likely stain your opinion of me."

"No Molly, I don't think I will. Actually, as my son is just as much to blame as yours, I'll leave his punishment to you. He will be in your care part of the time and it's only fair that you punish him as you see fit," was the green eyed redhead's answer, now easily as mad as her brown eyed counterpart.

"I thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Harry and the Weasley children exchanged a look. Whatever this was, it couldn't be good.

~X-x-X~

After Molly easily fixed the shoulder, the children were directed to their tasks. Ginny was sent in to take a nap, a harsh punishment as the girl was neither tired nor did she like naps. The rest were assigned to de-gnome the garden. A thankless task as they would be back, and were prone to bight you with their surprisingly sharp teeth if they sensed weakness in you.

But everyone knew better than to complain. Soon the air was full of flying potatoes, as well as a wide variety of swear words and the occasional cry of "Gerroff me!"

As there were seven of them it didn't take long, and so it was on to the next task. Straightening up, and pruning the extensive garden. All the while this was going on, the redheaded mothers had returned to their talks in the kitchen.

~X-x-X~

And so Harry's education was, full of various misdoings and awkward punishments. But ever since that first day, he'd become a friend to the Weasley children, somewhat of another brother to them. Lily and Molly had become good friends as well, bonded by the stresses of motherhood.

Ron and Harry had become the best of friends. They shared many interests, mostly Quidditch. While he and the twins shared a pranker's nature, they were to old to really get a five year olds mind. In sharing a prankster's nature, he and the twins were constantly at war. Personal favorites include the time Harry gave George elephant ears and Fred a trunk and walrus tusks, and the time the twins dyed Harry blue.

While only four, Ginny had developed a crush on Harry. He didn't return it, but Sirius said he would one day. It was the Potter man's curse to fall for a redheaded woman. Percy looked on him as he did all his younger siblings. Someone who must be watched and shown the right rode to take in life. To Bill and Charlie, he was someone they could brag to their friends about knowing, someone else to look after and love. Both Potters were taken into the family as honorary Weasleys.

On March 2nd, the day after Ron's birthday, they took him out for a late celebration. A day in Muggle London. In attendance were Harry, Lily, and Sirius, who he was meeting for the first time. They'd gone to the theater, which was a first for Ron, and ate at a small eatery. Then the unthinkable happened. The newly turned six year old and his five year old friend hung back to look at a particularly interesting store window, not realizing their adults hadn't noticed they were lagging behind. When the two kids finally looked up…they were no longer in sight.

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter lost in London!

As the two wondered down the streets, the redhead was beginning to get anxious.

"Harry, where are they? We'll never find'em, will we?" he kept saying over and over, looking every direction in the hopes of spotting them.

"Calm down Ronnie," the black haired five year old commanded. "Mum and Paddy once told me that if I'm ever lost in London, then I'm to go to 'da Leaky Cauldron Pub and they'll meet me there. I'm sure they're already there!"

The redhead looked at him hopefully.

"Really? Where is it?"

"Why it's in Charing Cross'a course!" he answered in exasperation, as if every six year old should know this.

"Right…and where is Charing Cross?"

"I…I don't know."

"Then what're we going to do!" Ron screamed, causing several passerby's to stare at him. No one noticed the lights in the store windows nearest the two to soundlessly explode. Accidental magic!

The adults didn't notice it anyway. That doesn't mean a child didn't. Or that she didn't notice the sparks of blue that swirled around the busted lights. Her mind was able to process what had happen…and guess who had done it. After all, hadn't something like that happen to her as well?

Without thinking, she stalked over to the two boys and demanded, "How did you do that?"

They turned to look at her, then exchanged a look.

"Do what?" the one wearing glasses asked, trying to fain innocence. While his godfather could usually pull it off, it didn't work for him…yet. Much to his displeasure.

"You know what! He made those lights explode!" she shouted, pointing her finger at Ron. "And I wantta know what he did!"

The two young wizards just stared at the Muggle girl with her bushy hair and big front teeth. What was with her anyway? How did she know he'd done it?

"Hermione! Where are you sweetheart?" they hear down the street, causing the Muggle girl to look over her shoulder.

"Over here mummy!" she called, then turned back to them.

"Now what was that!"

Sighing, Ron said the one thing he really shouldn't.

"It was magic."

Before she could comment, two adults came running toward them and pulled her into a hug.

"Honey, we were so worried! Let us know before you go wondering off like that!" the woman demanded. Then she caught sight of the others.

"Oh…who are your friends dear?" she asked curiously, looking them up and down.

"This is…um…"

"Ron Weasley and Harry Potter ma'am," the redhead supplied politely, pointing to each of them in turn.

"Nice to meet you, Ron and Harry. I'm Jean Granger, and this is my husband Luke. You've already met Hermione."

They nodded.

Luke Granger looked around and then spoke for the first time, "Where are you two's parents?"

The two exchanged glances.

"We're a bit lost'a the moment. Do you happen to know where Charing Cross is?"

"Yes we do, it's not far from here. Why, is that where you're suppose to meet your parents?" Jean asked curiously. They nodded in union.

"Well we'll take you there, alright dears?"

~X-x-X~

Sirius Black stalked back in forth in front of the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace. He kept alternating between glaring at the floor, glancing at the bar where Lily was being comforted by Hagrid, and at the door of the Pub where he was hoping to see a familiar black mob of hair. He was worried, enough said.

While walking down the streets of London, somewhere they'd lost the kids. They were here waiting for them because it was the only place they could. They'd drilled it into Harry that this is where he was to come if he lost them in London. But they'd been here for an hour and a half already…but they could only hope…

As soon as they thought this, the door burst open and the very person he was thinking of burst in.

"Harry!" he shouted in joy, running over to him. He threw his arms around him, then looked up urgently, praying all the while that he would also see the redheaded child. Thankfully, he came in next followed by a bushy haired little girl who seemed to be peppering him with questions.

Two adults followed them in, looking around in wonder at the Wizard's Pub. Muggles…definitely Muggles.

"Harry! Ron! Thank Merlin you're OK," Lily exclaimed, dropping down next to them and drawing them into a hug. She quickly kissed both their foreheads.

"Mum!" "Mrs. Potter!" the two boys chorused together.

The Granger family stood back and smiled at the reunion, only the little one thinking it weird at who she thanked.

The kids turned back to the Grangers.

"Thank you for bringing us here," they said together.

The brown haired family nodded before turning to leave.

"Wait!" the black haired man called to them. Walking over, he embraced them both. "Thank you. For finding them and bringing them back to us," he whispered to them. The two nodded, seeing the sincerity in his words.

When they finally left, Hermione glaring at them for never answering her questions, the two boys looked at each other. At least they'd never have to see her again!

~X-x-X~

Lily stared at her reflection in the tankard. Her second of the night! Wonderful…she'd half to remember to ask Sirius to make her a hangover potion tomorrow. Merlin knows he was good at making them…

John was her forth boyfriend in the last ten months. First had been Paul who'd lasted two months. Then Stan, who'd been a Muggle. The relationship had been…interesting, to stay the least, but it hadn't lasted long. Less that two weeks. Then had been Logan, and now John the Muggle drill maker. He worked at Grunnings, an important drill company located near Little Whinging. She'd been dating him for about four months, and this was the third charity event he'd taken her to for it.

It was also the last. At the end of the night, he'd dumped her. Why? Because after countless dates, she still wouldn't sleep with him. Git…

While she was caught up in her ranting of her stupid ex-boyfriend, she didn't notice the familiar greasy-haired person who'd just entered the pub.

"Lily?" the voice of Severus Snape called out, breaking through the alcohol induced stupor of her mind.

~X-x-X~

He stared down in confusion at the letter in his hands, the stationary confirming it was from Hogwarts.

Dear Mr. Black,

Before he went into hiding, Mr. James Potter left in my possession a message. A message for you in case he did not make it. I was instructed to pass it on to you when a sufficient number of years had gone by, namely at least three. Four have now passed, and I believe it is time for you to hear his last letter to you. I would appreciate it if you could stop by my office on the 17th of May at 3:00 pm.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School

Ps.

I enjoy Jelly Beans.

He was here as requested, and now standing in front of his old headmaster's desk. It was strange to be back here after so long…almost like he was back in school. He was reminded of all the times he and James had been sent here by McGonagall.

"What's up Professor?" he asked curiously.

The old man smiled. "Please Sirius," he began, "As I've asked you many times before, call me Albus. You are no longer my student. On to the business at hand, James left you a Message. A memory."

Standing up, he walked over to a cabinet by the his phoenix's perch and withdrew a stone basin. A pensive. He pointed his wand at his temple. From it, he withdrew a silvery strand of thought and gently sat it within the already swirling added it to the pensive. He tapped his wand on it, prodding the silvery substance with it's tip.

A figure slowly emerged from it's shallow content. A figure so familiar, he knew it almost as well as his own. That of James Potter.

"Hey Padfoot! If you're seeing this, than I guess putting our faith in Wormtail wasn't the best choice we ever made… with any luck, the war with Voldemort is over. But that's not what this message is about buddy. During school, you didn't realize your feelings for her…But I did. I know you were in love with Lily, but I put my feelings first. I'm sorry about that. By now… you've probably realized how you feel, but have held back because of me. All I can say about it is…don't bother anymore, OK? Go after her. I give you my blessing on two conditions. 1) Wait until she's ready to date again. Don't force her. 2) You have to take care of her…her and Harry. Do that, and I give you my blessing. She wasn't meant for a life without love, and I know she love you to mate. She just hasn't realized it either. I can honestly say I'd rather her with you than anyone else… But know this. If you hurt her, I'll kick your ass when you finally die."

With that he smile fondly at him and slowly sank back down, his message finally delivered.

Sirius watched the memory disappear. He bid farewell to Dumbledore, and excused himself. He had a lot to think on now…

AN: A bit more than usual of Harry in this chapter. If he and Ron talked a bit more like grown ups than kids of that age should, I'm sorry. I'm a person who has no idea what a five year old sounds like. I did the best I could. Also, I threw some Hermione in there. Always wanted to write her… If it's a bit choppy, I'm sorry again. I tried to write this quickly. Least it's longer!

Be sure to keep an eye on the person Lily meets in the Pub. He comes into play a lot more in later chapters.

Thanks for reading and Please Review!