Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

"First things first." Severus said as he took another sip of his tea. "Is that your natural hair color?" He resisted the urge to laugh at the dark look on Lucius's face.

Lucius's eyes narrowed. He felt the pull to answer truthfully. "Yes, although now I add a color enhancement solution to it." He flushed with embarrassment and glared at Severus.

"Really?" Severus drawled in amusement. "Fascinating. Going gray haired already?" He asked in mock sympathy.

"Yes!" Lucius snapped, again feeling that pull to tell the truth. "Stop this and ask your real questions!"

"Oh, that was a real question. I have wondered that for quite awhile." Severus smirked. His face became serious. "Are you still a Death Eater?"

"No." Lucius answered promptly. "Not anymore."

"Why not? What changed your mind?"

"My family." Lucius said, looking at Severus evenly. "I do not want them harmed and I do not want a Death Eater's life for my son."

"Do you wish for Voldemort to ever return?" Severus asked, noting the wince Lucius made when he said the name.

"No I do not. He was insane." Lucius said in disgust. "Torturing his own followers for his own enjoyment? Wasting time causing mayhem? I thought he actually had an actual cause to fight for and instead he just enslaved us to him." He cast his left arm a dark look.

Severus nodded. Though there were some who eagerly followed Voldemort no matter what he did, there were others who didn't know exactly what they were getting into. If Severus had not had Lily in his life, he probably would have truly joined as well instead of only joining to become a spy for the light. "Do you plan to harm my son? The Weasley's? Myself?"

"I do not." Lucius said. "Despite how I acted last year, your son made the Dark Lord disappear which means safety for my family. As for the Weasley's, I wanted to cause trouble at work for Arthur but I wouldn't actually hurt them physically. They are pure-bloods after all."

"You still believe pure-bloods are better than half-bloods or muggle borns?"

"Of course!" Lucius snorted. "We are superior after all."

"You are aware that the top of the third year class at Hogwarts is a muggle born correct?" Severus asked innocently, knowing this would be a sore spot with Malfoy. He was not surprised that Malfoy truly believed that pure-bloods were better. The arrogance of the man was astounding.

Lucius scowled. "Yes, I am aware." He said through gritted teeth.

"Did you know that Voldemort is a half-blood himself?" Severus watched in satisfaction as Lucius's mouth dropped open.

"No, I certainly did not." Lucius said, his silver eyes narrowed.

Severus couldn't help but grin for a second and then schooled his face into impassive features. "Will you help me and the Headmaster find Voldemort before he returns to full power?"

"Yes." Lucius said. "I feel the mark on my arm, a slight burn at times. He is trying to come back and I fear it will be soon, especially with Black on the loose."

"Yes." Severus murmured. "Did you know Sirius Black was in league with Voldemort?" He asked curiously.

"No, that came as quite a surprise to me." Lucius snorted. "I never knew Black could be such a cold blooded killer."

"I did." Severus muttered, thinking of his near death experience in school. He knew the Veritaserum would be wearing off soon. "If I asked, would you make an Unbreakable Vow to help find and imprison Voldemort for good?"

Lucius took a deep breath. Unbreakable Vows were not something to play around with, they were serious. "Yes." He knew he wasn't a kind or even good man but he did love his family and he wanted a better future for them.

Severus nodded approvingly. "Before we move on, in seventh year when you and Narcissa broke up did she really beg you to take her back?"

"No, I begged her on bended knees to take me back." Lucius answered and then shook his head as he felt the pull to tell the truth finally leave him. He glared at Severus. "That was very amusing Snape. I hope you enjoyed that."

"I did, it is definitely something to save in my pensive." Severus said in a gleeful tone.

"You are a cruel and evil man." Lucius complained.

"Hmm most of my students would agree with that." Severus smiled in satisfaction. "Now, shall we get down to business?"

HPHPHPHP

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery wisp chased the Dementor back into the trunk and Remus shut the lid down. "Wonderful Harry!" He beamed.

Harry sighed and slumped into a chair. "It still won't take an actual form." He cringed at the whine in his voice.

Remus didn't seem to notice. "Give yourself time. You are doing remarkably well." He handed Harry a bar of chocolate and then sat opposite of him. "Let's take a break shall we?"

Harry nodded, feeling a little drained from the magic he had been doing. "So, are you going to tell me about my Mum? And James?" He popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

Remus nodded and a smile spread across his face. "They were both exceptional people. They were smart, talented, and popular. Your mother was one of the kindest people I had ever met. She was a good friend to me during a difficult time." Remus said softly.

"She sounds amazing." Harry said softly.

Remus nodded. "She was." He laughed. "She hated James for most of Hogwarts, though they became friends later on."

"Why did she hate him?" Harry asked.

"Oh, James liked to be the center of attention and also pull pranks." Remus rolled his eyes good naturedly. "We were well known pranksters at Hogwarts."

"Like the Weasley twins?" Harry asked.

Remus frowned. "Well, sort of. Sometimes James and Sirius could go too far with the pranks. That is what caused James and Severus to not get along."

"You guys pranked my Dad?" Harry asked with wide eyes. He looked thoughtful. "My Dad said that he and James didn't get along in school and that was why without his memories he didn't like me. You know, since I looked like James."

"Yes, James didn't like him and vice versa. Sirius especially didn't like Severus as he was in Slytherin." Remus said and a faraway look came into his soft brown eyes. "Sirius came from a family of Slytherins and was cast aside from his family when he was sorted into Gryffindor. He hated anything associated with the Dark Arts."

"You sound like you feel sorry for him." Harry commented.

"I did." Remus admitted. "He wasn't treated well at home and ended up basically moving in with the Potters. That's why it is so hard to believe…" He trailed off.

"That he betrayed James?" Harry supplied with a sigh. He gave Remus a sympathetic look. "That must have been hard for you, to lose them both the same night."

Remus nodded. "It was. Another friend was lost that night as well, Peter Pettigrew."

"So what kinds of pranks were played on my Dad?"

Remus shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, the usual mainly. There were jinxes to change his hair color, making the floor slippery where he walked down the corridor so he slipped, levitating him upside down…" He cleared his throat.

Harry frowned. That didn't sound like pranks. It sounded more like bullying. It made him think of Dudley, or even how Malfoy used to treat him. "What did you do when this was happening?"

Remus looked embarrassed. "I didn't do anything. I should have, especially when your Dad almost died…" His eyes widened when he realized what he had said.

Harry's mouth dropped open. "What? My Dad almost died? How?"

Remus bit his lip. "Well, it was a prank Sirius did that could have resulted in Severus getting severely hurt or worse. James stopped it just in time." Stopped him from facing me as a wolf, he thought guiltily.

Harry stood up. "So my Dad was bullied all through school, to the point where he was almost killed?" His face darkened.

"Yes Harry but we were young and foolish." Remus said urgently. "I regret my part in it immensely."

"You should." Harry muttered. "Picking on someone simply because they were in a House you didn't like?'

"He hung out with Lucius Malfoy and his cronies and they were from known to be into the Dark Arts." Remus tried to explain. He sighed when he saw the anger on Harry's face. "Believe me; I am not proud of how we acted. And James did apologize to your Dad after school. Your Dad even trusted him enough to keep you and your Mum safe."

Harry dropped back into his seat. "True." His heart hurt for his Dad. He had known that his Dad and James had not gotten along in school but had not known how badly his Dad had been treated. Just like Dudley and his gang of 'Harry Hunter's' he thought angrily. "I'm think I'm done for the day." He said as he stood up again.

"Harry, I'm sorry if I upset you." Remus said worriedly. "I didn't mean to."

Harry shrugged. "I know you didn't Professor. I'll see you later." Harry gave a tight smile and then left leaving Remus looking after him in concern.

HPHPHPHP

"We need to find the Dark Lord before Black does." Lucius said as he led Severus into his library.

"I believe Black's goal is to find my son before he finds Voldemort." Severus said in frustration.

Lucius looked thoughtful. "Perhaps he wishes to take your son to the Dark Lord. It would make him even more favorable." He pointed out.

Severus drew in a deep breath. That was a possibility. A frightening possibility. "Albus and I have been doing some research and there are whispers of a dark presence in Albania."

Lucius flipped through one of his books. "Albania is an area that is mostly secluded." He murmured as he looked at a map.

"There is a forest he is most likely hiding out in." Severus said as he pointed to a spot on the map. "How strong he is right now I do not know."

"Whatever he is, he is getting more powerful." Lucius said and looked up at Severus. "If one of his followers found him to help him how would he react?"

"With a crucio, if he can manage one, for not finding him twelve years ago and then a promise of a reward for helping him now." Severus said with certainty. "I'm sure he is aggravated that no one has bothered to try and find him."

"My sister-in-law would have." Lucius smirked. "If she wasn't locked up in Azkaban, that is."

"She was a crazy loon before Azkaban; I shudder to think what she is like now." Severus commented.

"I will put out some feelers to see if I can find out more about his location." Lucius said. "We need to make a plan for when I go to him. I have no intention of actually helping him so I will have to trust that I will have help." He raised an eye-brow.

"Albus is working on warding a special cell for Voldemort with the ministry." Severus informed him. "I am working on a potion that will weaken whatever strength he has. That combined with the cell should be enough to hold him."

"Why can we not simply kill him?" Lucius asked curiously.

"Voldemort took steps to ensure that he could not be killed. Albus has managed to counter some of those steps but not all of them. He is a little vague about it." Severus answered with a sigh. He looked out the window. "I have no doubt he will try and kill Harry again if he gets a chance. I will not let that happen."

Lucius nodded in understanding. He could empathize with wanting to save one's child.

"I will take my leave now." Severus said. "I will be in contact soon. The sooner we catch Voldemort, the safer we will all be." He paused in the doorway. "If you need help with a hair color potion, do let me know." He laughed as he dodged the hex Lucius sent his way.

HPHPHPHP

Severus arrived at his quarters and was surprised to find his son sitting on the sofa, absently flipping through his Quidditch book. "Harry, how was your lesson with Lupin?" He asked as he looked at his son in concern. Harry was slightly pale and his eyes weren't really focused on his book.

Harry shrugged. "I can just do the silvery wisp; my Patronus doesn't have a form yet." He answered quietly.

"It takes time." Severus said, frowning in concern. "Is something wrong Harry?"

"They treated you like Dudley and his gang treated me." Harry said sadly. "James, Sirius Black, Professor Lupin and Peter Pettigrew played cruel pranks on you and almost got you killed!"

Severus stared at his son in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"Professor Lupin was telling me about James and Mum and he mentioned that Black almost got you killed and James saved you just in time." Harry sighed and closed his book. "I know you said you and James didn't get along but I didn't know it was that bad."

Severus sat next to his son and pulled him to his side. "I didn't go into the particulars as they are not exactly my happiest of memories." He admitted. "Yes, Black devised a prank that could have ended in my death and James pulled me back in time. I am grateful he did though at the time I figured he only did it so that Black wouldn't get into trouble."

"I hate bullies." Harry muttered.

Severus ran his hand through his son's hair. "I know." He said quietly. "But we are both okay now yes? We have each other."

Harry leaned into his Dad. "True." He sighed. "Professor Lupin said he just stood by most of the time and did nothing."

Severus sighed. Bloody wolf. "It can take great strength to stand up to your friends when you know they are doing the wrong thing. For some, that is hard to do as they fear losing their friends."

"Neville stood up to me, Ron and Hermione." Harry said. "Our first year, when he knew we were going to sneak out again."

"An act that shows why he is in Gryffindor." Severus admitted. "He is still quite hopeless at potions however." He relaxed at his son's giggle.

"How was your meeting?" Harry asked.

"Productive enough." Severus answered as he made a mental note to discuss the meeting with Lucius with Albus. "How about a game of chess?"

"Brilliant!" Harry said eagerly as he got up to set the board out. There was a knock on the door and he could hear his father talking to someone. He looked up when his Dad walked back in the room and his emerald eyes widened. His Dad had his firebolt!

"Professor McGonagall said it passed all the tests and is perfectly safe for flying." Severus said and handed the broom to his son.

"Wow, I can't believe it I got it back!" Harry exclaimed as he looked it over. It was the most amazing broom he had ever seen!

"I can keep it right?" Harry asked after a moment. He looked at his Dad. "I know I was a total prat before so I don't blame you if –"

"Harry, the broom is now yours." Severus interrupted. "Except for the next Hogsmeade trip which you will miss, we are done with the Firebolt issue." He gave his son a reassuring smile. "You have a game coming up with Ravenclaw correct? They won't know what hit them."

Harry laughed and practically hugged the broom. He couldn't wait to try it out!

TBC: Hope you enjoyed!