I'm so so so so so so so so SORRY! I completely spaced about updating this story last Sunday (or at least it's always Sunday when I update here), and I didn't remember till Tuesday, so I decided to update twice today, to try and make up for it.

Review Corner~

Hanmac: Yep, she still has the Kyuubi stuck in her gut. I have plans for the Twins find out, but I'm not exactly sure when that would be, so don't have high hopes for it being any time soon. And for Gamabunta, I'm hoping that will be some time in their second or third year…

Felicity Dream: Nope, sorry! Harry's not in this chapter, but it more revolves around Naruko and Severus (not as a couple). He IS in the next chapter though~

It's currently Easter today, and as I'm about to head to church, I thought you al might want the chapters now~

So Happy Easter! May you find many multicolored plastic eggs filled with sweet chocolaty goodness~

On with the story!

"So, what is it you wished to speak about, Naruko?"

The two professors, Naruko and Severus, had made their way back to Severus's personal quarters soon after supper. Naruko always liked Severus' quarters. They weren't like the outside dungeons, all dark and musky and smelled like stale water. Instead, with the walls painted a dark navy with hardwood floors and fluffy grey fabric chairs, it was very relaxing both of them, especially Severus. Naruko has seen him visibly relax the moment they stepped though the threshold, and today wasn't any different. They both sat in front of the fire place, in tall wingback chairs, drinking tea, though Naruko swore she smelled a hint of Firewhiskey from Severus's cup.

Naruko took a sip of her tea before she answered him.

"Well, it's more of a favor actually."

Severus merely raised an eyebrow at her to continue.

"I was wondering if you had any photos of Mister Potter's parents that you'd be willing to let me copy."

Naruko noticed him stiffen slightly out of the corner of her eye. The slight tightening of his knuckles around his tea cup also gave away how much he didn't want to have this conversation, though there also seemed to be a few emotions that she couldn't place at first.

"Why on earth would you ask me a question like that?"

'Ah, and there's the hatred within his voice that I haven't heard since I first showed up here… Joy.'

Naruko shrugged, "I'm not sure, it's just, I spoke with Harry a few days before he arrived here at Hogwarts and-"

"Oh, so it's Harry now, is it? Has he sucked up to you enough for you to call him by his first name now? I suppose he's also bribed you into letting him pass his class as well."

Naruko was completely silent, staring at Severus who continued to rant on.

"You're one of the saviors fangirls, aren't you? Always gossiping about him, and letting him get by with anything in your class! Because of Professors like you, he won't have to lift a finger to graduate Hogwarts! He's probably had everything in his life just handed to him because he's 'The-Boy-Who-fucking-Lived', and I bet you're the same way back in your village!"

There was a deadly silence between the two of them, one that was growing larger with each passing second.

"Are you quiet done now, Snape? Because if you are, then you listen to me. That boy has been living with his Magic hating relatives for the past 10 years of his life, never once knowing why he grew up different than others. For reasons he couldn't control!"

Naruko's eyes flashed over to Severus, who didn't seem as bitter any more, but she didn't care as she kept going.

"That boy has grown up all his life thinking that his parents were no good drunks that died in a car crash! Hated for no god-damned reason and could never make friends thanks to his bully of a cousin! And constantly told he was a no good freak!"

Naruko's voice had risen to an impossibly loud volume by this time, and she hissed out the word 'freak' in venomous anger, remembering the times she had been called that countless times at the academy and in the streets not only by strangers, but by people she had once called friend. She paused, catching her breath before staring at Severus with sorrowful eyes.

"Severus… He doesn't even know what his parents look like… He doesn't know what he has his father's hair… or that he has his mother's eyes…"

At this, she tugged at the strands of red hair that fell over her shoulder, thinking of the moment that she had finally been told of her own parents. Her mind also went to Gaara, and how he had finally been told that his Uncle had never hated him, even when he had tried to kill him on that fatal day all those years ago. Shaking herself out of her memories, she took notice of Severus, who seemed to be deep in thought. Realizing she wouldn't be getting any more out of him, she drained her tea cup and placed it down on the table before escorting herself out of his chambers. Once she was in the dungeon hallways, she allowed herself to change into her nine-tailed Animagus form before darting through the corridor towards the front of the school. She needed some fresh air to get rid of her depressing thoughts.

Naruko didn't show up for breakfast that morning, instead she slept until 10 minutes before her first class in order to catch up on her sleep. Getting up and ready for the day, she easily noticed her slightly depressing mood, and knew today would be a hard one. She hadn't thought about her childhood in such a long time, and whenever she did, it always left her in one of these moods. Unfortunately, she didn't have Sakura to help her get out of her funk, so she knew she would have to endure it until she could talk to Minerva later at lunch and hoped the older woman would put up with being her temporary therapist.

When she finally made her way out of her quarters and approached the locked classroom, she noticed a few early-bird third years hanging around her door, waiting to be let in. Greeting them softly with a nod, she unlocked the classroom door and walked in, quickly going over to her desk. Dropping her lesson plans down onto the desk, she took note of the small envelope sitting on it.

'That's odd… this wasn't here yesterday…'

Picking it up in her hands, she carefully ripped it open and looked inside. Within the envelope were a few dozen moving pictures, all of which had a black haired young boy with a hooked nose, and a little girl with long bright red hair. There was also a folded piece of parchment within, so she pulled it out to read.

"You were correct, about last night. No child should grow up not knowing. I would appreciate if these photos could be returned as soon as you're done copying them.

Sincerely,

S.S."

Looking up, she noticed that all of her third year students had already filed into the classroom, so she carefully placed the photos and letter into her desk with a smile.

"Good morning, class! Now, before we begin today…"

Again, sorry for the late update, and sorry this chapter's so short, but that's why I'm updating twice today!