A/N: (november 24, 2010) Sorry but it will be a while before i update agian as my computer crashed BOO HOO! As soon as I get another computer I will be updating. I have not given up on the story. I am curetnly writting more on it. Until then I hope that you are all enjoying my first fanfic.
The outside of Camelot's Castle looked like a small castle. Inside the walls were cement gray as well as the floor. There were several small torches along the walls and multiple chandeliers hanging from the ceiling with a good fifteen or more candles.
"Aileen. Carmen. It's about time that you showed up. I just received another owl from your mum. I have not replied...the two of you can have the honors of replying."
"I suppose we should let mother know we made it here before we have lunch."
"Best we do so, Ali."
"Not that it will matter much. It will still be all my fault that were late."
"But it is all your fault. We did not have to stop that many times."
"That's not the point Carmen."
"Then what is the point?"
"That mother refuses to believe that you can be bad and naughty all on your own."
"That's not my problem."
Remus and Sirius steered the group to a table and sat down.
"Sirius."
"Harry?"
"You actually…"
"I am not going to answer your attempted question. You are too young…all of you are too young. It was a long time ago and I was stupid and reckless, that is all you need to know."
Harry let it go. The twins were still hopeful that they'd be able to get their questions answered.
Sirius got up and walked up to the bar. Once the barman noticed Sirius, the barman walked to over to him. Once up close the barman was about Sirius's height and beefy. The beefy appearance of the barman was pure, solid muscle.
"What'll you have?"
"Well, sir, I was wondering if you have four or five rooms available? Preferably five, but four will do. And we need food and drink. I am willing to hear any specials you may have or anything you recommend."
The barman rented Sirius four rooms and told Sirius what he recommended, in all it was four different dishes and beverages. Sirius returned to the table and told everyone that the room assignments will be the same as they were at The Dragon's Keep and told them what the barman recommended. Each told Sirius his or her selection and he returned to the bar. The barman walked over to Sirius and waited.
"We'll take two of each of the dishes you recommended and we'll have Butterbeer to drink."
"All right. It won't be long, you might as well stay here."
Sirius nodded a thank you to the barman, turned around and motioned for Remus and the twins to come over. As Remus and the twins reached Sirius the food was ready. All four returned to the table with the food and gave the correct plate to each, the barman kindly walked over with eight bottles of Butterbeer, set them on the table and returned to the bar.
"Blimey! Why don't we have bottles of Butterbeer that size?" Asked Ron.
"No idea." Replied Sirius.
"Actually, we do. When you've asked for a bottle of Butterbeer, Ron, have ever asked for a large bottle?" Asked Remus.
"No. Didn't know that there were sizes. Why doesn't anyone ask you what size you want?" Asked Ron.
"Well, Madam Rosemerta does ask…the adults. The children attending Hogwarts, she feels should inquire about size. If you don't specify, she'll give you the standard small bottle of Butterbeer or a mug of Butterbeer. It's not a Ministry regulation, it's Madam Rosemerta's own personal regulation. As far as the Hog's Head, well he only gets the small bottles of Butterbeer."
It was, as plain as can be that Ron did not think that was fair. Instead of saying anything further, he slowly started to eat, with a frown.
"Harry, when do you want to check out the houses?" Sirius quickly asked after everyone had finished eating.
"I…um…later this evening or tomorrow. I know I was in a hurry to get here, I just…need a little more time…to think…to concentrate and hopefully…remember." Harry said looking at no one, he was afraid of their reactions.
Sirius and Remus managed to not laugh; Ginny was softly rubbing Harry's arm; Hermione was smiling and shaking her head; the twins didn't mind, they were glad to be out of London; Ron on the other hand was glaring at Harry. Ron had the look and expression of 'Are you kidding? We get all the way here and not a clue as to where we go from here.' Ron opened his mouth to voice what he was thinking even though it showed on his face. Before one word escaped Ron's mouth, Hermione kicked him, but only hard enough that he would not be thinking about giving Harry a bad time. Fred had managed to silently cast 'Lang lock' on Ron.
As Ron's tongue glued itself to the roof of his mouth he looked at the twins.
"Ron, I will undo what Fred did, but on one condition. Do you want to hear the condition?"
Ron nodded enthusiastically.
"The condition is that you will not give Harry a bad time…at all." Said George.
Ron frowned.
"Take it or leave it." Said Fred.
"So, little brother, will you not give Harry a bad time? Can you try to see it from his point of view?" Asked George.
"George will undo what I did, only if you agree to the condition. Oh, and if you do give Harry a bad time and we find out about it…I'll redo it and we won't undo it until we return to London." Said Fred.
"Do you agree to the condition?" Asked George.
Ron nodded his head.
"And do you accept the consequences Fred informed you of?" Asked George.
Ron again nodded his head.
George grinned and silently removed what Fred had put in place.
"That…"
"Ron try and imagine being really excited about going to somewhere, and all you can think about is going there or getting there. Once there you realize that you're missing something." Said Fred.
Ron said nothing and sat in his chair looking grumpy.
"I'm going to go up to the room and relax, and of course concentrate on what the documents said." Harry said as he stood up.
"Oh, Harry, here's the key to the room."
"Thanks Sirius."
"And no one is to disturb Harry." Remus said as Ginny got up and followed Harry.
"I won't and I'll make sure that no one disturbs Harry, or I'll do my best. Any way, no one should be upset with or at Harry. I looked at the documents too and all I could remember was Camelot's Castle. Just maybe between the two of us, one of us will remember." Ginny said confidently.
Once in their room, Harry flopped on the closest bed, closed his eyes and folded his arms over his face.
"Harry?" Ginny asked as she closed the door.
"I feel so bad. I wanted this and now…I can't believe that I didn't think to write down the vague location to bring with…"
"Please don't do this. No one is hounding you. No one has a problem with the situation."
"Ron…"
"…is a prat! Only thinking of about what he's been through. It's okay, try to clear your mind…"
"It feels like that is impossible at the moment. So much is going through my mind right now."
"So, why not concentrate on me? On us?"
"That is easily possible." Harry said smiling.
"Okay, while you have images of us running through you head, only hear my voice…outside of your head."
Harry couldn't help but laugh. Ginny caught the gap in which one could be sarcastic. Harry quickly composed himself and brought images up in his head of Ginny and kept his ears open to her voice.
"Okay, now clear your mind. Remember being in Gobbes's office and seeing the names on the files. The next day we looked through the files. Think of the documents in regard to the houses and only the documents on the houses."
Harry laid there thinking of only the documents of the houses. He felt like he was looking through a telescope and trying to clear up an image that was not to be seen. He kept his breathing calm and his heart beating as close to normal as possible. A name of a street or road started to dance around in his head but was gone before he could truly lock on to the name. His eyes flew open as Hermione and Ron walked in.
"I get it Ron. Really I do. I don't see why we all had to come up here…unless Sirius and Remus would like to have an adult conversation with Ali and Carmen. Regardless, you don't have to be so loud in complaining about it." Said Hermione.
"Sorry for not being able to express myself quietly like some."
"Well, you should be sorry. And I mean really sorry."
"What?"
"Your loudness disturbed Harry, and by the looks of it…he was nearly at the point of remembering."
"How was I supposed to know…"
"You knew he'd be up here trying to remember, trying to concentrate. You can really be such a prat Ron." Ginny said annoyed.
"To be honest, all three of you have a point. But can you, Hermione, and Ron not make any sounds? Please."
"Yes." Said Ron as Hermione nodded in agreement and quickly moved to the other side of the room.
"Okay, clo…"
"Why does she get to talk?"
"Because, Ron, Ginny's able to get me to relax and concentrate. In other words Ginny can help me meditate and remain focused on the documents." Snapped Harry.
"Harry! Look at me! Please. Okay, lay back down, close your eyes and go back to the library at home, you're looking at the documents, focus on the houses. I'm there next to you looking at the documents as well. Squeeze my hand if you can picture the documents. Okay, just keep looking at the documents…"
This went on for about two hours. During this time Hermione silently threatened Ron several time by pulling out her wand and pointing it at him with a stern look on her face and pretending to zip her mouth shut. It was all Ginny could do to not laugh.
"DaMaber Road. End of DaMaber Road. A dirt driveway. Five miles north of Camelot's Castle." Mumbled Harry.
Hermione quickly summoned some parchment and a quill and quickly wrote down everything Harry had mumbled. She then read it back to Harry and asked if it was right.
"Yeah." Harry said relieved.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go let Sirius and Moony know and then we can go." Said Ron.
"I'm tired to be honest. You and Hermione are welcome to let Sirius and Moony know that I remembered."
"Ron, come on. Let's let them know that we have the general location. This way by the time Harry feels rested enough, Sirius and or Moony will have figured out we'll all get there." Hermione said as she tugged on Ron's shirt.
Ron slowly stood up and started walking towards the door. Hermione sighed, grabbed Ron by the chest of his shirt and pulled him out of the room.
"I can go too, if it will make it easier for you to rest."
"No. Stay, please."
"Okay, I'll stay." Ginny said grinning as she climbed up on the bed and curled up next to Harry.
"Thank you." Harry said sounding exhausted.
"For what?"
"Everything."
"You do know that you don't have to thank me every time."
"I know, but I want you and others to know that I do not take you for granted."
"Well, when you put it that way…you can thank you me all you want."
Harry smiled, scooted a little closer to Ginny, closed his eyes and fell asleep. Ginny snuggled up to Harry, closed her eyes to rest and enjoyed the soft, quiet thumping of Harry's heart.
Harry was so relaxed it was as though he was in a meditative trance, but only deeply asleep. He could hear soft footsteps scurrying around and soft, muffled voices.
"No! I'm not leaving! You don't get it! It's my fault."
"Ginny, no yelling we are in the hospital wing. And this is not your fault." Said Molly
"Yes it is! Harry's here because of me. Because of how I treated him. I was so stupid…"
"Ginny dear…"
"No mum, I'm not leaving Harry's side. I…I…should have talked to him sooner. I wanted to…I…I finally pull it together and…and…" Ginny sobbed out.
"Ginny, it's okay. Everyone knows that you've been dealing with Fred's death…" Arthur trailed off.
Ginny thought to herself, 'that's only part of it…only a small part of it.'
"Not to worry everyone, it's fine that Ginny stays. In fact I have to say that I rather she be here than anywhere else. Harry seems to do the best when she's here. I have to put my patients well being first." Said Poppy.
"I agree with Poppy. Also, I think that there has been enough commotion around Harry's bedside. Let us leave Harry in peace and quiet. And most importantly, leave Harry in loves capable hands." Said Minerva slightly chocked up.
Several footfalls could be heard retreating the area.
"Finally, a moment alone with you. I have wanted to talk to you. I know you can hear me, wherever you are. Though you haven't opened your eyes, you're still here with me…with us. That's a good sign. Everyone seems to think that my behavior towards you is because of in part, Fred's death but it seems so long ago that he...I do miss him terribly and I haven't quite let go yet. Then there's the speculation that I'm mad at you because you didn't tell anyone that it would only appear as though you died. Yes, I do admit that for a short while I was, but I realized that you wouldn't have had time and you honestly thought that you would…It's something else…different. I really feel stupid. I haven't been mad, not really. It's more that I have been scared to be honest. I know you promised Ron that you'd stay away from me, before you took of, abruptly from the wedding, but you also had to take care of something so that Voldemort could be eliminated for good. If Ron were to ever find out that you snuck off to meet me…any way, as I said I was scared. Scared of what you'd do, how you'd react…I mean everything you had been through…everyone we lost, you lost as well and facing Voldemort again…I'm so sorry for not talking to you sooner. I wasn't sure how to tell you, how to say what I need to say, what I should have said. No one knows…aside from me…the thing is…I…I thought…no…I was p…pregnant. The night you met me…obviously. I found out privately of course…well I started to freak out and panic…you were who knows where…I was stressing about you…afraid that I wouldn't see you again…afraid of what my family would say for…when they found out…well, I was stressing and worrying so much I…I… miscarried. I knew that it happened…just before you, Ron and Hermione showed up at the school and Neville sending everyone from the D.A. the message that you three were there…I wanted to tell you as soon as I saw you…I never got the opportunity to be alone with you…I could have requested to talk to you alone, but that would have sparked suspicion and of course I was still scared. Then of course the battle, Fred and the others that didn't make it through the battle…I saw your face…I could tell that you blamed yourself for all the deaths…I didn't want you to blame yourself for the miscarriage…time just kept getting away from me…you left the dining hall, I wanted to go after you…Fred, my family…I am so sorry…I was so stupid…I need you so much…Harry, please, please open your eyes and hold me and help me let go of Fred and get through the loss of our…"
Harry's eyes flew open, he sat up on the bed and quickly looked around his surroundings. He saw the walls of the room at Camelot's Castle instead of the hospital wing at Hogwarts.
"Harry, are you all right?" Asked Ginny.
"Yeah…huh…what?"
"You kept saying that you're sorry, that you didn't know and that you want to help someone deal with or let go and get through some kind of terrible loss."
"I…oh…you…we…oh…that's…I should have thought about it…I should have suspected…I should have persisted more…made you…"
"Harry, you're not making any sense and you're starting to scare me."
"Sorry Ginny, I didn't…I need to tell you something. It's important and has to do with what I've been dreaming about…"
"What exactly have you been dreaming about?" Asked Ron.
"None of your business Ron. But, if you must know…his broom." Ginny said in a matter of fact tone. Second later she was on the floor laughing along with Harry who was still on the bed.
"What's so funny?" Asked Ron.
"Obviously, Harry and Ginny have a code of sorts having to with 'his broom'. They are the only ones that know what is truly meant by 'his broom'. It's between them, Ron. You do not have to know every single thing that happens around you, or what happens or goes on in Ginny's life. It clearly has nothing to do with you." Said Hermione.
"She's my sister and…"
"That means you are not directly involved and it is not any of your business, Ronald."
"But..."
"Nothing Ron. What goes on and happens in Ginny's life is none of you're business, like I already stated. The only way it would be your business is if she made it your business."
"What Granger is saying is that Ginny's personal life is none of your business…" Said Fred.
"Like, your personal life is none of our business…" Said George.
"Or, like how your personal life is none of Percy's business." Said the twins.
"Any way Ron, I thought you trust Harry completely with me." Said Ginny reminding her brother of a choice he had made a while back.
"Yeah, I do trust him with you…"
"So, never mind what is meant by my broom."
"Okay, fine. I don't care. I don't want to know."
"So, Harry, is it dark enough for you? Are you rested enough?" Asked Fred.
"Or do you want to wait until day break to check out the houses?" Asked George.
"Oh…we can go now." Said Harry.
"But we won't be able to see a thing." Said Ron.
"Oh dear, how will we be able to get or create some light so that we can see." Mocked Ginny.
"Shut up, Ginny." Said Ron.
"Well…"
"I just meant…"
"I know what you meant Ron. For now, I just want to see the houses…or try to anyway. There will be plenty of time to thoroughly check out the inside of both houses."
"Harry, you seem a little skeptical and what do you mean by 'try to'?" Asked Hermione.
"I am a little skeptical. I don't know what kind of protection the houses will have…"
"You've been thinking about this, haven't you?" Asked Hermione.
"Yes, I have. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want Sirius to say 'no way' or change his mind. We may not even be able to see the houses. The documents from Gringotts do not clearly specify where the houses are…just a vague location…there could be Fidelius Charm on the houses."
"You just now tell us this." Shouted Ron.
"I never intended on saying anything about the possibility of not being able to see the houses. It's not all for nothing, we still know…we still have a general idea of where they are."
"Say that we are unable to see the houses, we'll have to come back…wait, I won't come back…"
"Ron, we would be able to apparate here, or at least near Camelot's Castle. We wouldn't have to take the Night Bus at all."
"Oh, well in that case…let's go." Ron said and quickly left the room followed by Hermione and the twins.
"Not that you have to have a reason, but why are you smiling?" Asked Harry.
"Just that it's nice to know that all it takes to not have Ron around is to imply that the Night Bus is involved or required."
"Ginny."
"What? I didn't mean…I meant only in a desperate attempt…"
"I meant to be agreeing with you."
"Oh."
"I guess we should get down stairs before Ron decides to come back up."
"Yeah."
"Oh, once back at my house, as soon as I can, I'll tell you what I was talking about earlier…before the interruption. I promise."
"Okay."
As Ginny and Harry walked out of the room Fred and George walked up to them.
"Is Sirius saying 'no' and that it's too late?" Asked Harry.
"No, not at all. He just thought that our bags should be brought up to our rooms before we go." Said Fred as George handed four bags to Ginny and Harry.
"Oh, yeah that would be good. I should pull out the cloak and bring it, just in case."
Once everyone was outside of Camelot's Castle, Sirius and Remus turned to face the kids.
"Harry and Ginny, under the cloak." Said Remus.
"Remus and I will place a Muggle disillusionment charm on the others. So if a Muggle were to be around they'll see only Remus and it. We will…all magic folk will be able to see the four of you…it won't look quite as strange this way and we will be able to easily and quickly remove the charm."
"Brilliant." Said Ron.
After Harry flung the cloak over himself and Ginny and Remus and Sirius put the Muggle disillusionment charm on the other four, they made their way on foot. Everyone was in agreement that they walk, as it would be really strange to request for transportation to the end of the road and get out to look around.
They finally reached the end of DaMaber Rd. No one said anything as they were catching their breaths. This five-mile walk wasn't too bad, but would have been better without the continuous incline.
"Now what?" Asked Ron.
"We all look for a dirt road, dirt driveway." Said Harry.
"Over here! It's over here!" Hermione called out seconds after they started looking.
Harry and Ginny were the first to step onto the dirt road. Everyone else followed after Harry let them know that he and Ginny were clear and far enough ahead to not be walked into. With everyone now walking along the dirt road, Harry pulled the cloak off and stowed it away. After a few minutes, they were far enough down the dirt road that Sirius felt comfortable with everyone lighting the way by the tip of his or her wand.
"Look! The road is widening. I think that there's some open space up ahead." Ron said loudly twenty minutes after they all lit the tip of their wands for light.
Harry was excited and nervous equally. His steps started to slow, he nearly stopped walking but felt Ginny take one of his hands in hers and a renewed strength filled him and he kept walking. When they reached the end of the dirt road they could see a massive open, empty space. This empty space was large enough to have two enormous houses, plenty of yard for each and enough distance in between the houses so each would have privacy. Harry threw light to one side and then the other and no house was to be seen on either side.
"Bummer." Said the twins softly.
"It's okay. I expected this."
"So, how do we see the houses?" Asked Ron.
"Well, we first go back to Camelot's Castle to at least get our things, then we go back to my house and search through the Evans and Granger boxes to see if there is something is there that will enable us to see the houses." Said Harry.
"Are you even a little disappointed?" Asked Ron.
"Well, yeah. Though I expected this, I still hoped that it wouldn't happen this way."
"So, we have to walk all the back to Camelot's Castle?" Whined Ron.
"Think of it this way Ron, it will be downhill instead of an incline." Said Hermione.
"No, we can apparate. At least to the outside of Camelot's Castle. I'll take the cloak off and we enter the pub. Once in the hall where our rooms are, Sirius and Moony can remove the charm off of you, your brothers and Hermione."
Fred and George held onto Sirius; Ron and Hermione held onto Remus; and Harry and Ginny were back under the cloak holding on to each other as well as the cloak just as a security measure. Seconds later they were next to Camelot's Castle and Harry stowed the cloak away once again and they entered the pub. Remus and Sirius removed the charm once they were in the hall and all eight walked into the room Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sharing.
"We'll stay the night and in the morning we'll apparate back to Harry's." Said Sirius.
"Before breakfast?" Asked Ron.
"Yes, before breakfast. I'm sure that after we return Sparky and Muri will fix us all something to eat and then all of you can start going through the boxes." Said Sirius.
The following morning Sirius, Remus and the twins entered the room the four youngest had shared.
"Where is Harry and Ginny?" Asked Remus.
"They left early, really early. Harry wanted breakfast to be ready for us when we arrive. It's a good thing to, Ron's already getting cranky." Said Hermione.
Remus walked over and stood in between Hermione and Ron. Once the children had a hold of an adult, Sirius and Remus turned on the spot and arrived at Potter Manor to be greeted by Muri.
"Welcome back sir's and miss. Food waiting in dining room. Master and Miss. Ginny are upstairs. They's already eat."
"Thank you Muri." Said Sirius as Ron practically sprinted to the dining room.
After eating, Remus and Sirius went to the living room to relax in the guaranteed quiet. Hermione, Ron and the twins raced up to the study.
"Any luck yet?" Asked Ron.
"Not in finding what I'm after. We've found several photo albums and a few 'Order of Merlin this or that class', and vague documentation of a feud in eighteen-sixty that resulted in twin brothers going their separate ways. Grant Evans remained in the U.S. with his family and Lucas changed his last name to his mum's, Granger, and took his family and brought them to Aviemore. I don't k now what the feud was about, but they obviously reconciled since the Evans house is across from the Granger one." Harry answered.
"Why not try summoning the documents?" Asked Ron.
"Because that would be to simple and quick. I want to go through the boxes anyway. You know, not everything in life is good to be done the quickest and simplest way. You should slow down, look around and enjoy each and every moment…all the time." Said Harry.
"Yeah Ron, some…" Said Fred.
"Like to take their time…" Said George.
"And go slow." Said the twins.
"Enough with the sex related comments." Said Ron a little annoyed.
"I'm shocked…you actually caught on." Said Fred.
"We were beginning to think that you're more clueless than we thought." Said George.
"As if the two of you…" Ron started to say before being cut off.
"What, know from experience." Said Fred.
"Don't assume anything Ron…I mean you never know." Said George.
"Enough, you three! I'm sure that Harry and Ginny would appreciate your help as well." Said Hermione while she was going through a box.
"Oh, right." Said Fred.
"Sorry." Said George.
Over the next several days they looked through the Evans and Granger boxes and managed to organize everything into categories; photo albums, 'Order of Merlin…' and documents and letters, the documents and letters were categorized as: family correspondence, birth and death records, marriage contracts and artifacts. They also managed to keep all the Evans and Granger items separate. In the last boxes of each, they finally found a file folder in each. Hermione quickly but gently flipped through the folder to find a detailed location of the Granger house. Harry was holding a folder under and arm as he stared at a smaller box that was more recent and he recognized the writing on the box from letters in his mothers writing.
"Ginny." Harry called out with a desperate plea in his voice.
"What is it Harry?" Ginny asked as she quickly reached Harry's side.
"Th-this box is…m-my mum…f-for me."
"We can go through the box later and in the meantime we can look at the file you found in the previous box."
"No…I want…I want to go through the box…n-now."
"Okay, but do me a favor and keep your breathing as even and as calm as you can."
Harry slowly nodded his head.
"If it looks to me as though it's too much, I will drag you out of here and into the living room."
Harry nodded again, took a deep breath, exhaled, opened the small box and started to pull things out. The first thing he pulled out was two letters that were tied together by a piece of ribbon, he untied the ribbon and looked at the letters. The top one was addressed to him and it was no surprise with it being the one on top. The second letter was a little bit of a surprise, it was addressed to Severus Snape.
"Why would your mum have written a letter to Snape?" Asked Ron.
"They were friends when they were kids. I think that there could have been something between them but Snape's friends were detested by my mum and she didn't like it when he and his friends would refer to Muggle borns as Mudbloods. My mum couldn't accept that she was different from all the other Muggle borns. Well, back then, we know differently now…any way, she felt that she was the same as the others and it made no sense to her when Snape was sorry for calling her a Mudblood or sorry for his friends calling her a Mudblood but not sorry when the term was used in reference for the other Muggle borns. Snape was the one who told my mum that she's a witch, about Hogwarts and magic. This was before the letter was delivered. She knew Snape first…my father never dabbled in the Dark Arts nor did he hang out with those that did…"
"SHIT! You could have been Snape's son instead of James's." Blurted Ron.
"Ron!" Said Ginny.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have been…it just wouldn't have been all that bad to…oh come on, Ron, so Snape hung out with a bad crowd and was cruel to Muggle borns by calling them Mudbloods…who he is now is what matters. He's strict, yeah, but so is McGonagall." Said Harry.
"Snape favors Slytherin over all…"
"Not so much anymore. Not since before Harry basically told him off for only seeing James and not Lily at all…oh, sorry Harry. I didn't mean to be insensitive."
"I know Hermione. The more I hear their names or there's a mention of…it's getting easier, regardless of how miniscule of an amount…all the same. You are right though, about Snape."
"So…" Said the twins.
"I'll read the letter later, I have a good idea as to what it says. As for the letter to Snape…I'm NOT reading it…it's his letter to read…I do have a feeling that he was supposed to get the letter ages ago but somehow it ended up packed…unless my mum intended to retrieve it but never got the chance to."
"I really think…"
"No, Ron, I'm not reading it. Whatever is in the letter is between my mum and Snape. It's none of my business. If Snape, one day chooses to share the letter with me then so be it. But I doubt he will and that's fine as well. It would be wrong to read someone else's letter without the receiver's permission."
"So, how are you going to get the letter to him?" Asked Hermione before Ron could get the chance to try and persuade Harry into reading Severus's letter.
"I don't know. I really don't want to send it by owl…it wouldn't be right…I would seem so impersonal."
"You could send a note explaining…enclose the letter from your mum to him." Suggested Ginny.
"That will work. He won't have to see me anytime soon. He'll have a chance, in private, to react and deal with whatever he…I think I'll go do that now. I also need to ask Moony for a favor. Oh, and do not touch anything while I'm gone."
"While you take care of the things you need to take care of, we'll wait for you in the library." Said Hermione before anyone could protest.
Harry ran down the stairs as the rest walked into the library.
"Master Harry, can Muri help?"
"Yes… I need to talk to Remus…er…Moony, and I need parchment and a quill."
"Living room, sir. Moony, parchment and quills is there."
"Thank you Muri." Harry said as he turned and sprinted to the living room.
"Harry, is everything all right?" Asked Sirius.
"Yeah…I just…Moony, could you please do me a favor?"
"What do you need or want done?"
"Well, could you go into the Master bedroom, shrink the bed and get rid of it so that a new bed can be acquired?"
"I can do that. I don't or didn't know your Grandfather as well as Sirius and I can actually not think about things that could…bother me."
"Thank you."
"No problem. How soon do you want it done?"
"Now, would be great."
"Okay."
Harry immediately spotted the parchment and quills after Remus left the room. Harry quickly walked over to the parchment and quills and wrote a note. He placed the note and the letter from his mum to Severus in an envelope and went in search of an owl. He first thought of Hedwig but decided to use one of the owls flying around the Manor instead to be on the safe side. He finally spotted a tawny owl, called it down, held out an arm and the owl flew down and landed on his arm. Harry held out the envelope.
"I need you to deliver this to Severus Snape. He lives down in Spinners End. He might still be at Hogwarts, I don't know for sure."
The owl hooted excitedly, grabbed the envelope with its beak and flew off. Harry ran back up stairs and into the library.
Meanwhile:
Remus reached the door to the Master bedroom, paused, took a deep breath, cleared his mind and entered the room.
"Moony!" Said two voices at once.
Remus frantically looked around with wand drawn.
"Oh, put that away." Said a female voice that seemed familiar.
"How's the 'furry little problem'?" Asked a male voice that also sounded familiar.
Remus spun around and then saw the portrait on the wall near the head of the bed. His arm fell to his side and his wand clattered on the floor. He was pale, his eyes were open wide and glassy with extra moisture.
"Moony…you okay?" Asked the woman in the portrait.
"I…just…what…I don't…how…I…" Stammered Remus.
"When my father died and then…well, Sparky…"
"I…I never thought I'd…I'd see…or…"
"It's okay. How is our little Harry?" Asked Lily from the portrait.
"What took you so long to…" Said James from the portrait.
"Harry's well. We recently found out…okay so we've known for a while…we're still…we've discovered something…or well Harry and his friends did and…I don't think I'm the one to say it or tell it all."
"Out of curiosity…"
"Oh, relax James, Harry's in Gryffindor, he's seeker…go on the house team first year. He's friends with Molly and Arthur's youngest four."
"Good to know. So, has Sirius been a good role model for Harry all these years? How old?" Asked Lily.
"Harry, will be fourteen this July. You both would be very proud of Sirius. He has been really good for Harry."
"What are you not saying Remus?" Asked Lily.
"Very perceptive Lily…well, Harry hasn't been in Sirius's care for long…longer than a lot of people knew…about a year I think."
"WHAT?" Yelled Lily and James.
Remus took a deep breath and exhaled, he was pretty sure he knew what was to come next.
"Where? Who?" Asked Lily.
"Your sister and her, now late, husband."
The reactions of Lily and James in the portrait were of the irate nature to say the least. Both were yelling at the same time but using different words, Remus had no way of knowing what exactly they were saying.
"It's not quite as a bad…it was really awful. Vernon is dead though. Petunia and her son, Dudley have magical cores…Dudley attends Hogwarts."
"Wait…what? Petunia…magical cores…Dudley…Hogwarts…"
"Yes, Lily, you heard me correctly. Petunia and Dudley both did their best to help Harry, behind Vernon's back of course. He was abusive to your sister and Dudley as well. Vernon was physically abusive…not to Dudley though, well as far as I know he wasn't."
"He…he…physically abused…" Lily trailed off not wanting to believe it.
"Why didn't anyone remove my son?" Demanded James.
"Yes, Vernon was physically abusive…"
"And?" Prompted Lily.
"Harry was forced to live in a cupboard until his tenth birthday. For punishments, Vernon would refuse to let Harry eat and drink anything, your sister and nephew would sneak food and water to Harry when they could. Harry finally had enough and left. It was discovered that Petunia and Dudley have magical cores, Vernon was going to disown both of them but before he could make changes in his will he had a heart attack and died. After all of this it was revealed that Vernon had fed Harry poison."
"But…poison…again why wasn't Harry removed from…"
"Well, James, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, would not budge on removing Harry…Cornelius was dead set that Harry remain with the Dursley's, even though he knew there was abuse going on…we tried…Albus, Sirius when he was able and Severus tried to help…warning, threatening the Dursleys'…but like I said Harry left the Dursley's, he spent time with Molly and Arthur and has been in Sirius's care. Speaking of Sirius…just wait."
"The Minister….knew….that…"
"Yes, James, we know what the Minister is. Oh, by the way James, did you know that you are a descendant of Merlin?"
"I'd heard…but never believed…I mean how…wait…"
"You indeed are, were, oh whatever. It show's in Harry and he's here in the house right now. He's in the library with his friends."
"Moony…"
"I'll go get him Lily. But first the reason why I came in here." Moony said then picked up his wand, shrunk the bed, picked it up and left the Master bedroom.
As Remus walked into the library he tossed the shrunken bed into the heat space.
"Um…Harry."
"Yes."
"Well, first of all, I took care of the bed…"
"That's great, now to just get a new bed…or conjure one."
"And secondly…"
"Yes…"
"Well…I don't know how to say it gently…"
"What is it?"
"There's a…in the Master bedroom…there's a portrait of…of your parents…and its not like a Muggle portrait…they'd…the…I'm supposed to be getting you and bringing you into the Master bedroom…"
"Oh." Harry said softly.
"Harry you can go if you like. We'll stay right here or if you want us with…" Said Hermione.
"Get Sirius and I…"
"Do you want all of us to with you?" Asked Ginny.
Harry only nodded his head. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be ready but was going to do it anyway.
"Harry are you sure about this?" Asked Sirius once he entered the library.
"Not really, but at some point…at least I won't be startled or shocked like Moony was."
"He has a point Sirius."
"Harry, I want you to know that I do understand, to a point, how you are feeling. I feel the same way, thought from a friends perspective and not a related perspective but…" Said Sirius.
"All the same. In a way it's more…for you."
"How so, Harry?"
"Well…you should not blame yourself for what happened…you, at last minute, felt that a change in Secret Keeper would be good since you would be an obvious candidate…you thought he was trustworthy and an unlikely candidate…you made the right decision…I don't blame you…they won't blame you, so you shouldn't…"
"That's very kind of you Harry and that means more than you can imagine." Said Sirius.
