AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm not sure how some of you feel about homosexual relationships but I've figured that pairing Sirius and Remus is the best way to keep Lily single

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm not sure how some of you feel about homosexual relationships but I've figured that pairing Sirius and Remus is the best way to keep Lily single. And no, I won't be pairing Snape with anyone.

Oh, and I need an idea for the name of the hippogriff that attacked Malfoy since it wasn't actually Buckbeak. (Though he will be making a cameo later.)

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Chapter 6

"We need to talk, Potter," Snape said, going up to Harry's bed in the hospital wing. The sun was starting to shine through the windows and it looked to be a beautiful Sunday morning after the torrential rains the previous day. "Regarding the Dursleys." Seeing that Harry wasn't going to respond, Snape repressed the urge to shout and instead said, "I understand why you are upset with your mother."

'She should have told me… The Dursleys withheld stuff from me,' Harry said, frowning. After a while, he added, 'Thank you, Professor. You've always been honest with me. I appreciate that.'

"I don't believe in sugar-coating the truth," Snape replied.

'May I ask you something, sir?' Harry asked, tentatively. 'What… were my parents like when they were at school?'

Snape slowly sat down as Harry sat up in bed. There were many ways to approach the question. But Harry had just thanked him for his constant honesty… "I knew Lily better than I knew your father. Lily and I have known each other since we were about 9 years old. James Potter and I… never got along. And I suppose part of that was because of Lily."

'What do you mean?' Harry asked, curious.

"The Potters are purebloods but they have always believed in equality between wizards and muggles," Snape explained. "Quite the opposite of the Malfoys for example. I was drawn to Lily from the first moment I saw her. And so was James Potter. There was always a rivalry between us. But I felt that I would win in the end. After all, years of friendship couldn't match a sudden infatuation."

'But Mum chose Dad over you,' Harry said, stating the obvious. 'So… something must have happened between you and Mum.'

"Yes… something happened," Snape said, quietly, not really wanting to discuss it. "I… betrayed my friendship with Lily. It was 5th year and during a heated dispute between myself and James Potter… I called your mother… something unforgivable."

'Mudblood,' Harry mouthed.

"Lily never forgave me after that," Snape replied. "And in all honesty… sometimes I think that I do not deserve forgiveness." Seeing Harry's questioning look, Snape shook his head. "That I cannot tell you now, Potter. Despite all that you have been through… you are not ready for that knowledge yet. I do promise to tell you, though."

Harry nodded. He wanted to know why Snape felt his didn't deserve forgiveness but knew that Snape would never withhold information without a perfectly sound reason. 'You may not have liked my father,' Harry said, a thought starting to form in his mind. 'But… was he a good man?'

Snape thought over the question. James Potter had been brash, arrogant, and a smart-ass… But he was also noble, decent, and often ready to risk everything for those he cared about. "I did not like you father, Potter," Snape said, finally. "But even I cannot deny that he occasionally had some redeeming qualities."

'What were you saying earlier about the Dursleys?' Harry replied, changing the subject.

Grateful for the redirect in conversation, Snape replied, "Your aunt and uncle have been taken into police custody regarding the charges of child abuse, medical neglect, child labor and several other charges. Your fat cousin has been sent to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys."

'They deserve worse,' Harry said, and he couldn't help but feel happy that the Dursleys were finally getting their just rewards. 'What about Camille?'

"Lily is talking to child services regarding the adoption of your other cousin," Snape said. "But the judges aren't sure about giving your mother custody."

'But where else can Cam go? Mum's her only real relative. And if Aunt Marge were to…' Harry repressed a shiver thinking of Camille living with Marge.

"The muggle courts will be putting your aunt and uncle on trial," Snape informed Harry. "Would you be willing to testify on behalf of Miss Dursley?"

'I'd do anything to help her,' Harry replied, earnestly.

"Very well, then…" Snape said, nodding. "Then let us discuss what you might be asked about regarding your life with the Dursleys…"

"You could have told me about Sirius," Remus Lupin said, coolly when Lily Potter waked into his office. "That he was innocent… That you and he were…"

Lily looked hurt. "Sirius cares about me because I'm his best friend's wife. We're only friends, Remus. Nothing more. He doesn't have the feelings for me that he does for you."

Remus looked at Lily, surprise on his shadowed face. "Sirius… still…"

"He still loves you, Remus," Lily confirmed as she sat down in front of Remus's desk.

Remus felt his heart lifting at this news but the worn look on Lily's face suggested that there bad news. "What's wrong?"

Lily sighed as she leaned forward. "The muggle courts want to give custody of Camille to Marjorie Dursley."

"What?" Remus asked, stunned. "You're kidding."

"According to the legalese if Petunia and Vernon are unable to take care of their biological children then custody is automatically given to Marge," Lily said, exasperatedly.

"Hypothetically… what about Harry?"

Lily frowned. "Nothing. He gets sent into foster care."

"Is Marge fighting for custody?" Remus wanted to know. "I mean… if she doesn't want custody of Camille…"

"She's suing… not for custody but for harassment and false imprisonment on behalf of her brother," Lily replied. "Trial starts on Halloween."

"What are you going to do?"

Lily stood and gave her friend a determined look. "I am NOT going to let my niece go to people who don't care about her."

Harry was nervous when he walked into DADA after the Quidditch match and saw Professor Lupin standing near a wardrobe which was shaking.

As the other students came into the classroom, Harry noticed that Camille looked shaken about something. 'Hey, are you okay?'

Camille shrugged, not looking at Harry. 'I was… talking with Aunt Lily and Professor Snape,' she replied, vaguely.

Harry nodded, having a very good idea what the three had been talking about.

"Mr. Potter… Miss Dursley…" Lupin said, smiling. "If you're finished with your conversation."

"Sorry, sir," Camille said, turning to look at Professor Lupin.

"As I was saying," Lupin said, looking at the class at large. "Today you will be each taking turns with a boggart; a shape-shifter which will assume the form of whatever frightens you the most. If you will all line up I will call you forward and one at a time you will say the word 'Riddikulus' and try to force the boggart into a form you find amusing."

Standing behind Harry, Camille tapped him on the shoulder and asked, 'How am I supposed to make Dad funny?'

Harry thought about that while Lupin spoke with Neville Longbottom who was going first. After a moment, he grinned. 'Picture Uncle Vernon wearing Aunt Petunia's hair-rollers,' Harry suggested.

"Miss Dursley," Lupin said, cheerfully. "Would you mind going after Mr. Longbottom?"

"What?" Camille said, slightly confused.

'You're after Neville,' Harry replied.

Camille sighed, as she watched Neville slowly approach the wardrobe which suddenly sprang open revealing Professor Snape. For a moment it seemed as though Neville had frozen but waving his wand Camille laughed when Snape was suddenly wearing a green dress and a witch's hat with a stuffed vulture on top. Stepping forward, Camille held her wand out and looked at Harry who signed, 'The spell is 'riddikulus'.'

Camille nodded and looking at the boggart, she waited until the false-Snape changed into her father. Frozen in panic, Camille couldn't react when the boggart grabbed her by the neck and started squeezing.

Back in the line, Harry stepped forward, his wand out. But to his surprise, the boggart didn't change shape. Instead, the boggart-Vernon let go of Camille and started for Harry.

"HARRY!" Camille shouted, forgetting magic for a moment and pulling at the creature's arm.

Pointing his wand, Harry tried to stay conscious as he thought as hard as he could, 'RIDDIKULUS!' Suddenly the boggart dropped him and staggered back as it had donned a tutu and was prancing about.

Camille helped Harry to his feet and they headed to the back of the room. 'Are you okay?' Camille asked as Harry rubbed his throat, coughing.

'I think so,' Harry replied, trying to breathe normally. 'That was…'

'I thought he was going to kill you,' Camille said, still looking worried. 'Though… last time was scarier.' After a moment, she glanced over at Lupin who didn't seem to be paying attention. 'Want to sneak out of here?'

Harry nodded and after grabbing his bag, quietly followed Camille out of the room and down the hallway where they stopped just short of running into Lily. 'Hi, Mum,' Harry said, unable to hide the 'I'm busted' look on his face.

"The two of you weren't skipping class, were you?" Lily asked, looking at her son and niece.

"No," Camille replied, quickly.

'Camille was just taking me up to the hospital wing,' Harry replied. 'We were dealing with boggarts in Defense Against the Dark Arts and a boggart version of Uncle Vernon tried to strangle me.'

"Are you two okay?" Lily asked, quickly, starting to worry. "Come on, let's have Madame Pomfrey check you out, Harry. You, too, Camille."

As Harry and Camille followed Lily, they shared a thumbs-up.