Disclaimer: See chapt. 1. We also don't own the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The history of the song can be found at: http: /www(dot)stinalisa(dot)com/ Lion.html

Chapter 27: The Lion(ess) Sleeps Tonight

"Headmaster! Headmaster!" called a bushy haired witch, breaking into his musings.

Dumbledore groaned, rolling his eyes. He never got a coherent story about what happened the night of the full moon. No one seemed to remember, and even legilimency couldn't make sense of the whole episode. To make it worse, Harry wasn't speaking to him.

"Headmaster, Harry isn't in his dorm and his trunk is missing. Is he already on the train?" Ron said as he and Hermione stopped by the headmaster.

'Not again!' he thought, head in hands. 'Well maybe next year I'll get to the bottom of things.'

0o0o0o0

Remus Lupin arrived at the Black's town house at number 12 Grimmauld Place with mixed feelings. He was still kicking himself for believing his best friend was guilty all these years. The evidence had been so overwhelming, but now that he thought about it, it was all circumstantial. If only Dumbledore had done the right thing and just insisted that veritaserum be used, none of this would've happened. He sighed, shaking his head as he entered the bleak house.

"Moony! Ol' pal! Ol' buddy! Come in! Come in!" shouted Sirius from the kitchen.

Suddenly a loud shriek filled the house. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! BLOOD TRAITORS! FILTHY WEREWOLF!"

"SHUT UP! YOU OLD HAG! I'M SICK OF YOUR SCREAMING!" Sirius shouted back, then muttering under his breath, "Wait until Harry gets here. He'll fix your wagon." Turning back to Remus, he said, "Never mind her. She's just my mother's portrait. I can't unstick her. So I just have to live with her."

Remus allowed himself to be lead to the kitchen. "Why wait for Harry? What can he do?"

Sirius grinned as he poured two cups of tea and held up a bottle of scotch. "Tea?" Remus nodded, holding out his cup for a bit of liquid courage.

Continuing on, Sirius grinned. "Oh Harry has his ways. He's a true son of the marauders."

"Just how powerful is Harry? And why is Snape convinced that Harry is insane?" Remus asked taking a sip of his 'tea.'

"Oh don't get me wrong," Sirius laughed. "Harry is just Harry but he's been raised by two very loving and very powerful people. Because of this, the type of power that Harry commands has left its mark on him. I can't tell you everything, because of an oath I took, all I can say is Harry is something that hasn't been seen since the days of Taliesin. Harry is a Bard Adept."

"Luuuuucy! I'm home!" came Harry's voice in a very fake Cuban accent. "When are we leaving for the Underground? Did Buckbeak make it there alright?"

"In here, Rickyyy!" Sirius called back in a saccharine falsetto. Remus sputtered into his cup. Just what was going on?!

"BLOOD TRAITOR! FILTH! MUDBLOOD! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

Sirius held up a hand to silence Remus as they moved to overlook the front hallway.

There they saw Harry pulling out his guitar. He then tapped his book bag with his wand. Remus couldn't quite make out what he had said as background singers and music started playing, drowning out Mrs. Black's shrieks. Harry faced the portrait as he sang,

"Lala kahle

In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight

Imbube

Ingonyama ifile
Ingonyama ilele

Thula"

The hair on his arms prickled as Remus felt the underlying magic swirling through the music. He remembered the few nights he had listened to Harry play at Hogwarts. It had sent shivers down his spine then as it did now. He then noticed the portrait's eyes widen. Her mouth moved but no sound came out.

"Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight

Ingonyama ilele

Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight

He, ha helelemama

Ohi'mbube"

Harry stood in front of the portrait in a regal pose cradling his guitar as the music faded, never taking his eyes off Mrs. Black.

Remus' eyes widened in shock as Mrs. Black bowed her head while painted tears fell from her eyes. "My Lord," she said in a calm soft voice. "It is an honor to have you in my home. Forgive my lapse. My only excuse is it has been many ages since someone of your gift has graced this house."

Harry smiled as he gave her a slight bow. "My Lady, I do bid you ponder my words. 'What's gone and what's past should be past grief. '"

"I shall, My Lord," she said, closing her eyes.

"Wh. . .what just happened?" Remus whispered Sirius.

The dog animagus smirked, pushing both of them through the doorway. "Told you that Harry would take care of her."

"Hi Professor Lupin," Harry said as he placed his guitar back into his case.

"How?" Remus asked, pointing to the now sleeping portrait.

"Come Moony. Let's finish our 'tea' and I'll explain," Sirius said, putting an arm around his old friend. "Harry you coming?"

"Sure thing. But I want a coke. A coke, a coke, my kingdom for a coke, and that's no joke, " Harry said, clutching at his chest.

As they sat around the kitchen table, Sirius said, "Harry, is your crystal full? Do you need to discharge it?"

"Nyah. Did that last night. I'm good until I get home," Harry said, pulling the softly glowing crystal charm out of his shirt.

"Bear in mind, Mooney, old pal," Sirius said, turning solemn. "Dumbledore isn't to know anything you learn here. He only sees Harry as a weapon and wants to manipulate his life to that end. If he ever finds Harry's parents," Sirius paused giving a slight shudder. "he would do his best to control them. Barring that, his only thought is to separate them from Harry."

"But that crystal?"

"It's not what you think it is, Remus. It's a battery that gather's ambient magic around Harry and pulls it in. Without it, Harry would be climbing the walls, literally. Harry is very sensitive to the magic around him, thus making him very hyper."

"You mean more so then what I've seen at Hogwarts?" Remus exclaimed, not really believing his friend.

Sirius and Harry nodded. "Could you just see Dumbledore trying to control a very hyper Harry? Hogwarts wouldn't be left standing. The old man has already placed several blocks on Harry's magic but thankfully, his parents removed them. They're pretty upset with the Headmaster as it is."

Harry rolled his eyes. "That's an understatement, if ever I heard one! Hey Uncle Snuffles, are we taking the professor with us? We need to get going. You know how Father can be and he's very adamant that the time line must be maintained," Harry said cryptically.

0o0o0o0

A/N: The quote was from The Winter's Tale (Act 3, scene 2). Frau and I want to thank every one for their reviews. We hope that we've answered some of your concerns about Remus. It'll be up to Jareth if Remus keeps his memories or not. As for the twins, Garion's brothers, rest assured. They will be making an appearance soon.

Until next time. --GF and The Frau