Chapter 3! I want to apologize. One of my reviewers asked me how old Vega was and I answered 33, however Vega and Sirius are 34, their birthday being November 1st. This is because Hermione was 18 when she learned who she really was, and she was 18 when she disappeared. However, the disappearance was 8 mths after her birthday and when she learned who she was it was 8 mths there as well, so it only adds one year and a few months instead of 2 years. Sorry about that, She-Wolf

June 10, 1994

I knocked on Petunia's door with Harry behind me.

"Coming!" Petunia called pleasantly. I pasted a smile on my face and it turned into a real one as Petunia opened the door and paled.

"V...Vega? Lily said you were dead." She whispered.

"Hello, Pet. Can I come in?" I pushed past her frozen form, Harry trailing after me. "Grab your stuff Harry. Put it in this bag for now." I handed him a bag that I'd conjured. I turned to Petunia as he hurried upstairs. "Hello Pet." I murmured.

"Vega." She said.

"Lily thought I was dead. I'm not. Now, Pet, you and I are going to have a nice talk over here on the sofa." I said, leading her over to the couch. She collapsed down on it and looked up at me. I conjured a chair and sat down. Pet had never been scared of any magic that I did. She knew that I kept my promises and long ago I'd promised her never to use magic on her or her friends. "I came to collect all of Harry's things. I'm taking him with me and you'll never have to see him again if you don't want to." I said. She nodded slowly.

"Vega..." she began. "I want you to know...to know why I did it. I can tell you know how the boy's been treated here. I was jealous of my sister, Vega. I so wanted to be able to do magic, to do all of those wonderful things that all of you are able to do with just a flick of my wrist. I was jealous of Lily and when her son was placed on my doorstep, I knew that he would be magical too. How could he not be, with him being Lily's son? I remembered how I felt, being left at home when Lily went to Hogwarts and I was determined to make sure my son didn't go through the same. I kept my Dudley away from the boy, making sure he hated him. That way, when the boy went to Hogwarts, Dudley would be glad, not depressed. I admit that I went a little far in my mistreatment of the boy but I had a good reason, Vega. I didn't want my son to suffer like I'd suffered. I made sure my Dudley feared magic, instead of wanting it." She sighed and slumped. I could tell that she'd been wanting to say it for a long time.

"I forgive you, Pet, and I'm sure Lily does as well. Harry's learned love well enough while at Hogwarts and the Weasley's. He could have been raised better and I'm not happy about the way he was raised, but he's a good boy and he has a good heart. I'm taking him with me, Pet, and the blood wards around this house will fall the moment he leaves. I need you to call your husband home, call the school and tell them there's a family emergency. The three of you will pack your things and you will get in your car and drive. You will drive until you have no more money for gas. You will then go to the nearest bank where there will be money waiting for you. You will start a new life with your family and no one will find you if you keep a low profile. An hour after you leave this house, I will take Harry home with me. I will sell your home for you and add that money to the money I will send you. I am giving you this chance and I hope you'll take it." I stood and headed upstairs. I moved to Harry's room and opened the door. He beamed at me. "Harry, I need you to concentrate on the fact that this house is your home. You will live with me but I need you to concentrate on that thought for the next few hours. I'll explain later." He nodded, continuing to pack. His brow was furrowed, indicating that he was concentrating hard. I smiled slightly and exited, closing the door behind me. I heard Petunia talking on the phone downstairs.

Time moved slowly for the next two hours. Harry and I watched as Petunia, Dudley and Dursley packed and left. I sighed and slumped onto the couch as the door clicked shut. Harry sat on the edge of the couch uncomfortably.

"Go through the house. Anything they left is now yours. I'll shrink them for you." I informed him. He nodded and got up, going through the house. For the next half an hour, I rethought what I'd have to do once I got home. I'd have to immeadiately leave. I had so much to do now that I was back and Sirius was free and Harry was going to be living with us and Hermione had to die. It was so quiet that I jumped and screamed when an owl tapped on the window. I let out a squeal when I realized that it was Knight. I moved over and nuzzled him while I took the letter from his leg. He was a rare type of snowy owl that was as black as night.

Kitten,

Dumbledore sent Hermione's stuff to our house. I found your trunk from our Hogwarts years as well and it's in your room along with Hermione's trunk. An owl is here with a letter for Harry also. It's a very pretty owl, a rare pure white snowy. How much longer will you be there?

Sirius

I smiled and conjured a quill and ink. My conjuring skill would make the items last a day, which means the ink on the paper would disappear after that.

Siri,

Send a letter to Big Al and thank him for me. The owl is Harry's, her name is Hedwig. Since you were always asleep in class, her name is from his History of Magic first year book. We'll be here another half an hour.

Vega

I signed it with a flourish and then gave it to Knight.

"Take that home, Knight, and give it to Siri. I'll see you when I get there. Peck him until he gives you a treat but don't hurt him." I instructed. Knight hooted and then took off out the window. I turned around to see Harry standing in the doorway.

"Er...I heard you scream." He mentioned awkwardly. I smiled.

"I'm fine. The quiet of the house is getting to me. Are you done?" He nodded easily, relaxing. "Alright, come over here. I know you must have questions so as long as they aren't too personal and I haven't promised someone not to say something, then I'll answer. One thing you should know about me, I never break my promises and I don't lie unless absolutely necessary, even to myself, and I expect the same curtesy from everyone else as well. Do not lie to me and don't break any promises to me and we'll get along fine." He sat down on the couch, turned sideways to face me.

"Can you explain what happened with Hermione and you?" He asked. I nodded slowly.

"In my seventh year, just after N.E.W.T.s, I was in a very bad break-up. I was in love with a boy, still am in fact, and I found out that he didn't feel the same and I was devastated. We'd been dating and he broke up with me, telling me that he didn't love me. He wasn't cruel about it, he wasn't like that, but it hurt terribly. Sirius gave me a few days to wallow and then took me out to sit with him by the lake. We cuddled and talked like we hadn't in ages. I'd always been close to him, he's my best friend, but I hadn't had time to just talk to him in ages. I told him that I loved him and made him promise not to ever leave me. Then, I asked him why the boy hadn't told me earlier. The next moment, I was unconscious. From what I've found out, whoever took me de-aged me to the age of a baby and then put me in a stasis charm that kept me the same age. Whoever did it, waited until you defeated Voldemort and then placed me on the doorstep of a pair of muggles while I was under a semi-permanent glamor charm. I grew up as Hermione Granger. The thing is, in the other time line, Vega didn't come back. I was Hermione Granger until after our seventh year, and then I was told who I was. I was given back my appearance and my memories. I was sent back to your third year to help you and Sirius and Remus and Ron and Severus. The ritual that sent me back killed your Hermione because there can't be someone from the future in the same place as the past. You know the story from there."

"In Professor Dumbledore's office, you talked about a prophecy..." Harry said. I sighed.

"This is the worst timing for this question. Harry, have you ever wondered why Voldemort came after you every year but this one?"

"I dunno. I always assumed he just wanted to know how I survived when I was one."

"There is that, I suppose." I conceded. "Harry, the spring before you were born, there was a prophecy made. I don't believe in prophecies and divination myself and the thoughts running through your head about my not liking it just because I can't learn it from a book aren't true. I don't like it because no one can truly predict the future. Every decision made by every person on this Earth changes the future. It's constantly changing. Anyway, this prophecy was made and one of the spies overheard it. Voldemort took the prophecy for granted."

"What does the prophecy say?" Harry asked. I sighed again.

"Ask me again after next year. I promise that I'll tell you the first time you ask after next school year." I said. He considered it for a moment and then nodded.

"What was with you and Snape?" He asked. I smiled fondly.

"Professor Snape, Harry. Severus and I became friends in our first potions class of our first year. I had become friends with your mum, her being in the same dormitory as me led to our friendship, and she introduced us. We hit it off immediately. Your father was jealous that Sev was friends with your mum and Sirius was protective of me so they started bullying Sev. I mean bullying as in how Draco Malfoy bullies Neville. Do you remember in first year, when Neville told us that Malfoy was looking for someone to try the leg-locker curse on?" Harry nodded, looking slightly green. "Yes, well. Anyway, I scolded them for it constantly and gave Severus comfort, just as Lily did. They grew out of it eventually. They stopped hexing people for fun around the middle of sixth year. Seventh year they only fought to defend. Of course, they still pulled their pranks, but they weren't cruel anymore. Fifth year was the worst. Anyway, Sev and Sirius and your father still hated each other immensly, but Sev stuck with me and James and Sirius avoided him as much as possible."

"What about my mum?"

"Lily and Sev had been friends since two years before Hogwarts. His home isn't far from here. They had a big fight at the end of fifth year. Sev said something he regretted instantly when he was angry and defensive. Lily never spoke to him again, though she never laughed when others made fun of him and she never made fun of him herself. She was a kind soul, your mum, but she was very slow to forgive."

"Why did I have to concentrate on this being my home?" He asked. I smiled slightly.

"There are blood wards around this house. Until you are seventeen, or until this house is no longer your home, anyone who means you harm can't find this house." A beeping interupted me from saying anymore and I waved my wand. "C'mon. It's nine thirty which means that it's time to go home. Grab your stuff." He grabbed the bag I'd given him and I wrapped my arms around him, apparating. "Sirius!" I called.

"In the kitchen, Vegs." I led Harry into the kitchen and saw Sirius dressed in an old t-shirt and jeans that he wore at seventeen. He'd had a shower and looked better, though he was still skin and bones. I laughed and he turned around, flashing me a grin. "A little short, but they still fit." He said. I grinned.

"It's because you're skin and bones." I teased. I stretched and sighed, smile falling. "Call a house-elf from Hogwarts for breakfast for you and Harry and then help him settle into his room. Harry, get those things out of that bag because the bag will disappear in a day or so. I don't think I'll have time to take the two of you shopping. I've got to go to Gringotts to unlock our accounts. I've got to transfer some money to the Dursley's accounts. I've got to help set and stage Hermione Granger's death. I've got to go shopping to get food in the house. I've also got to go to the ministry to finalize your freedom. I probably won't be home until late so don't wait up. Do not burn down the house because I haven't got another unless you want to move to Grimmauld. Make sure you get dinner and lunch from Hogwarts, don't try to conjure something because you know what happened last time." I turned to Harry. "Conjured food still disappears even if it's already digested." I informed him. He grinned and I turned back to Sirius. "Spend some time with your godson and don't talk about Sev. I've already filled him in on your hate fight. Now, both of you be good and I'll see you later. Accio Gringok." I said. My key flew into my hand from somewhere in the house. Gringok was my password to the wards that made sure no one could summon it. "Bye boys." I apparated away.

I yawned as I stumbled into the kitchen and began putting groceries away. It was past one in the morning and I'd only just gotten home. Unlike wizarding shops, Goblins didn't close and it had taken four hours to deal with the goblins. I put the groceries away blearily, yawning. Unseeing, I stumbled down the hall to my room, trying not to wake Sirius or Harry. I stumbled into a warm body. I assumed I must have woke Sirius since the figure was taller than me. He wrapped his arms around me to keep me from falling. I couldn't help but snuggle into the warmth.

"Oh, sorry Siri. Didn't see you. Did I wake you?" I asked.

"Vega, are you alright?" It wasn't Sirius. That voice was familiar. I looked up at the familiar voice and saw Remus staring at me, concerned. I yawned.

"Fine. Just tired. I thought you weren't coming until morning. C'mon, I'll make you some hot chocolate." I said, turning around and pulling away. He grabbed my shoulders.

"No, you go on to bed." I shook my head insistently. I had never let Remus down before and my tiredness wouldn't make me do it this time. He always had a craving for chocolate and meat for two days before and after the full moon. A side effect of being a werewolf.

"No, I'm fine. Come on." I freed myself from his grasp and headed to the kitchen. I'd bought hot chocolate at the store, knowing, or maybe just hoping, that Remus would stay around. I opened the cabinet and grabbed a box, opening it and taking out two packages. I put the box back and flicked my wand at the two packages. They instantly began making themselves. I slumped on a chair at the kitchen table and yawned again.

"Are you sure you're alright? I can do it myself?" He offered. I waved him off.

"I'm fine. Just tired. I haven't slept since last night, and being in dog form only gave me a quarter of the rest, as you know." I heard a beep and flicked my wand at the mugs to make them float over. I sipped mine while he downed his greedily. I finished mine but it wasn't long after that my eyes wouldn't stay open no matter how much I tried. I felt Remus pick me up and I wrapped my arms around his neck and settled my head against his chest instinctively. I smiled and nuzzled into the warmth of his grip. He stiffened for a moment before relaxing and beginning to move. He carried me down the hall and into a room. He set me on a bed and tucked me in. Then, he murmured a spell that changed me into my nightclothes. I must have imagined what happened next, being as half asleep as I was, but I thought that I felt him lean down and kiss my forehead and whisper:

"Goodnight, Lynnie love." Knowing it was a dream and it couldn't hurt, I smiled.

"Goodnight Remmy." I murmured.