(A/N: We finally got to Monday.)

A little after dawn, Harry first thought he was dreaming, when, after a few gentle shakes from her, Harry opened his eyes and saw a blurred Hermione, kneeling by his bed.

Whatever she told him sounded like gibberish and he asked, groggily, "What?"

She whispered, "Harry, I said, 'I'm sorry to wake you up this early, but I've already checked the hospital wing, his office, and the potion's class room. I don't think Professor Snape has come back yet.'."

This was enough to wake Harry up and make him reach over and grab his glasses off his nightstand. Hermione watched Harry pull the Marauders' Map out of one of the drawers and blocked him from pointing his wand at it, "No, Harry, not here. Someone might wake up and see."

Harry glanced at his fellow dorm mates. They all looked sound asleep, but Hermione made a good point.

He nodded at her and then they both stepped outside the boys' dormitory.

Harry pointed his wand at the map, "Mischief managed." and it came to life, as a nearly full map of the school grounds.

Harry and Hermione swept their eyes over the map, but after a few moments they shared worried looks. Then, Hermione pointed to the gate, where Filch, Isaac, and Natalie were, "Look, there. They're probably going to tell him about yesterday." She locked eyes with Harry and confessed, "I have a few things I want to say to him myself."

Harry nodded, in agreement. He gave Hermione the map and said, "I won't be long. You can go ahead-"

"No, I'll just wait for you in the common room." she said and then left him to go back in the dormitory and get ready.

Natalie's outfit matched her uncles' and, back at home, her grandfathers'. She had on her black shoes, stockings, and a knee length dress that looked like something Mary Lennox would have worn in The Secret Garden (1993). She swung her eyes from Isaac to Filch, while she pulled another Hershey kiss out of her zip lock bag.

Filch leaned against the gray stone wall attached to the tall, iron gate, eyes on the dirt and grass. He looked like vomit was coming up his throat. Isaac was across from him, focused on the smooth, dirt path behind the gate, in clear view of anyone walking up to it. Isaac was in some of his best clothes, hand-polished black shoes, black pants, a soft, but stiff black waist coat, with wind and water-like designs, which gave him good posture, and a soft black dress shirt.

Anyone walking up to the gate would have spotted Natalie first, since she was in the center.

The silence felt like a fourth person, nagging at them to discuss how worried they were.

They all brightened up a little for Harry and Hermione, who struggled not to gaze only at Isaac, when they heard them both say, "Good morning."

After she, her uncle, and Filch said it back, Natalie extended her zip lock bag to Harry and Hermione, "Would you like one?" When Harry and Hermione declined, she tilted her head, knowingly, "You don't have to say no just because I'm eleven." She smiled and motioned for them to take some, "Here. You probably haven't even eaten yet."

Hermione admitted, "No, we haven't," she glanced at Harry, "but we're fine."

Natalie looked at their stomachs, "Well, let's see how long it takes your stomachs to rumble." The three of them chuckled, softly, and Natalie told them, "Any second now."

"We're really ok, for now." Harry insisted.

"Just take some chocolate." Filch told him and Hermione.

Isaac added, "Mr. Filch and I ate some, earlier. You can have some too."

When they locked eyes with Natalie again, she grinned at them, encouragingly, as she held out the bag.

Harry and Hermione gave in and reached for it, at the same time.

They both pulled their hands back, shared a surprised expression, as Natalie, Isaac, and Filch tried to conceal their smiles.

Harry and Hermione offered each other the chance to get a chocolate kiss first, then, fell silent.

Natalie smiled, as she reached in the bag, pulled two out, and handed them each one, "Here. You can have more, if you want."

"Thanks." they both said, while they peeled off the silver wrapper.

Isaac stopped smiling, suddenly, "Harry, Hermione, thank you for coming out here, to wait with us, but, and I'm sorry to ask you to do this, but I want you both to wait, back at the front steps, at least. My brother might want a chance to speak to only me, Mr. Filch, and Natalie."

Harry and Hermione set their mouths in lines and nodded, torn between wanting to argue against leaving and knowing Isaac was right.

Natalie pulled a few more Hershey kisses out of her bag, "Here, since you won't be down here with us." Harry and Hermione started to decline, but she kindly forced the candy into their hands, "Just take it. So you don't get too hungry."

"Thanks." Harry and Hermione smiled at her, just before they left.

When they were out of ear shot, Filch said, "That probably would have been a good time to tell them we know they have the Marauders' Map."

Isaac nodded, wanting to kick himself for not doing it.

Father McKenzie had had trouble sleeping that night, which was evident in his eyes. They were barely open, behind his glasses. He had just allowed himself to sink against the front door of the church, when he spotted Snape, Ashley, and Gregory coming towards him.

He admitted, as he went over to meet them, "Hi. I'm glad you finally made it back."

"We're all glad to be back." Ashley decided, earnestly.

She gave him an expectant stare, about whether or not he had done what she asked, just before Father McKenzie revealed, "I saw Harry." Snape raised his eye brows, surprised, Ashley glowed with excitement, and Gregory was a little stunned, as he wondered what this meant for his daughter and Isaac. "He and his friend Hermione Granger came here, yesterday, with Argus, Isaac, and Natalie…" He looked down, mainly to avoid Snape's gaze.

Snape turned to Ashley, a little fearfully, while Gregory followed Father McKenzie's example.

Snape felt like his chest was being hallowed out, all the material dragged to his stomach. He asked, "What did you ask Father McKenzie to do?" He asked Father McKenzie, "What did you all tell them?"

Father McKenzie looked up at him, apologetically, "We showed them memories from when Ashley and Isaac rescued Remus Lupin and then the night Lily, Ben, and James Potter died-"

Ashley, suddenly, felt like her brother did, "Did you show them that Isaac went-"

"No," Father McKenzie assured her. "No, we stopped it, just before Isaac went with Remus, to look for anything worth keeping."

Ashley relaxed, "Good,"

Snape decided, angrily, "No, this is not good!" He asked Father McKenzie, "Why didn't you just show them that Isaac tried to help Lupin and then all Lupin could do-"

Ashley tried to cut him off, "Severus-"

"We should do this, up at the school." Snape informed her, suddenly with as much concern as he had been angry. He lowered his eyes, shamefully, as he added to Father McKenzie, "You should probably come with us."

Father McKenzie squeezed Snape's shoulder, forgivingly, as he joined him, Ashley, and Gregory. Snape turned to him, ashamed to see no traces of anger in Father McKenzie's eyes.

Natalie's muscles relaxed, when she and Isaac saw Ashley, Gregory, and Snape, now without Father McKenzie. Isaac studied his siblings and brother-in-law more carefully for something like a limp or any indication of a covered up wound.

"Argus, they're here," Isaac informed him, as he shared a grim look with Snape.

Snape passed the gate and went right over to Isaac, gloomily, while Filch watched Natalie and her parents hug and ask each other if they were ok.

Isaac and Snape turned to watch, just as Ashley gave Filch a sad smile, after she heard Natalie say, "No, Uncle Isaac, Uncle Argus, and I really haven't been waiting that long."

Ashley confessed to Filch, "I really didn't get a chance to say everything I wanted too—I've been thinking about it since we left."

Gregory nodded, while Isaac and Snape shared a grim look.

Ashley continued, "Well, I'm really glad that," she glanced at Natalie, "she's finally calling you Uncle Argus."

Filch felt like a slab of led was crushing his lungs. He admitted, softly, "So am I."

There was a pause, as Ashley gave Filch a distressed look that she wished he would understand.

Ashley eventually asked, "We're going to be like a family again, right?" She swept her eyes over the others, "All of us?"

Filch glanced at Isaac, "Well, Isaac and I are pretty well reconnected," he looked at Snape, "and so are me and Severus."

Natalie confessed, encouragingly, "I already feel like you're my uncle."

Filch gave her a small, but loving, thankful smile.

Ashley's eyes glistened, as she grinned, hopefully. She threw her arms around Filch and kissed him on the cheek. He breathed out something like a sob, while he hugged her back, and kissed her on the cheek.

Snape took this as an opportunity to whisper to Isaac, "Father McKenzie told us about yesterday. He was going to come with us, but he got more nervous, the closer we got-"

"Because he doesn't want to see thestrals," Isaac said, knowingly. "Hagrid had some of them out of the forest, after you left. He knows Natalie and I can see them."

Snape's chest felt tight, but he relaxed a little, when he realized Isaac, or Natalie, would never have told Hagrid why Natalie could.

Then, Snape said, "I know Harry is Lily's son-"

"Do you?" Isaac asked, using his eyes to scold him for the way he treated Harry.

Snape's spirits sunk a little and he replied, "Yes, but did you have to show him and Miss Granger those memories? And why couldn't you show them the way Lupin-"

"No, Severus." Isaac shook his head, sadly. "That wouldn't have been fair."

"It wasn't fair, what Lupin did to you." Snape insisted.

Isaac gave him a pleading look, "We've already been over this."

Isaac's expression made Snape feel like his insides were tightened, closed in on each other. He thought of Isaac's arms and that was enough to make him drop the subject.

While her parents and she talked with Filch about plans for him to visit Snape manor at Christmas and when Warren checked Gringotts, Natalie looked over at her other uncles, just as Isaac had realized what Snape was thinking of.

Isaac placed his hand on Snape's shoulder and smiled at him, a little, as he assured him, "I'm not going to cut myself because you don't like Remus or that you're mad about us showing Harry and his friend Hermione those memories."

Snape still looked ready to cry, so Isaac gave him a kiss on the cheek, not only to comfort him, but because he was glad his brother was safe.

Natalie turned back to her parents and Filch, "We should get up to the school. Harry and Hermione are waiting for us."

Snape set his mouth in a line, as he looked over at his niece, aware that Isaac would and did detect his annoyance.

Ashley smiled, excitedly, and headed towards the school, "Let's go." She told her daughter, who was beside her, "Father McKenzie told us all about them coming with you Sunday."

Natalie nodded, solemnly. Then, she added with a smile, "Harry and Hermione are great."

After that, her mother nodded and then leapt, much faster, up the sloping hills. Everyone else followed suit.

When they first saw Harry and Hermione, sitting on the front steps, ready for them, thanks to the Marauders' Map, Ashley called out, "Harry!"

She bulleted over and attacked Harry with an embrace. Her mouth moved a thousand miles a minute, "I wanted to talk to you, Saturday, but there wasn't enough time. And I guess it really shouldn't have mattered." She pulled away, hands on his shoulders, eyes glistening, "You really do have Lily's eyes."

While he looked into her nostalgic face and nodded, Harry couldn't help but think about how much he would have liked having Ashley as an adoptive-mother.

Ashley turned to Hermione and reached out to hug her, "Father McKenzie told me how nicely you treated my daughter and Isaac, and what Isaac told him you did before you got to church." She was hugging her by the time she added, "Thank you for not insulting Severus in front of Natalie."

Hermione was so surprised that she barely managed to say, "You're welcome."

Gregory came over next and shook Harry's hand, "Hi, I've heard a lot about you, but I guess everyone has."

Harry nodded, "Yeah."

Gregory swung his gaze between him and Hermione, "Thank you for befriending my daughter."

Harry told him, "Well, she would have basically been my little sister, if I had gotten to live with you."

Both he and Hermione noted the faraway look in Ashley and Natalie's, as she came over, eyes as they reflected on something: a failed couple.

Natalie broke the ice, by joking, "Well, it still would have been right, if you hated me. You would have probably done that, if you were around, when I was born."

Harry jested, "Well, I wouldn't have been the center of attention anymore."

"Because being my parents' only kid is the only way you'd be center of attention."

Harry and Hermione laughed with her, as her parents smiled, eyes glistening. Snape made his eyes remain dry, but he was rendered speechless by the affect Harry and Hermione had on Natalie. Isaac eyed him, hopefully.

Then, Harry turned to Snape, who made his face more stoic, and went over to him, followed by Hermione.

Harry locked eyes with Hermione a moment, before he told Snape, "Professor, I never got to thank you for trying to save me from Quirrell and Voldemort too, back in my first year-"

"And when you tried to save us and Ron, in our third year, even though Sirius was innocent," Hermione added.

Harry nodded, in agreement. Then, he pointed out, "And you helped us last year…" Harry couldn't finish, as Sirius's death crept back into him. "Thank you."

Snape explained, "I'm a Professor, I-"

"Severus, just say you're welcome." Ashley insisted. "They already know you were friends with Lily." She clamped her mouth shut, when everyone looked over at her, since she had just been about to reveal her brother's personal confessions.

Harry and Hermione heard Snape say, "Thank you for befriending my niece." and turned around, surprised.

There were no traces of his usual anger and resentment. Harry could finally picture having Snape as an uncle and Hermione didn't feel like there was anything weird about having a crush on him.

"Well, she's very nice." Hermione told him, which made Natalie smile, sweetly.

Harry nodded, "Yeah, she is."

Snape reeled his slight openness back and said, briskly, "You're friend, Ronald Weasley, should realize that." and then walked past them.

"We know." Harry and Hermione confessed.

Snape started to turn around, but just couldn't go through with it. Ashley asked Gregory, "Can you go start filing everything?"

"Yes," he nodded. Ashley followed her brother, followed by Isaac and Filch. Gregory turned to his daughter, with a small smile, "I was right about you having fun here, I guess."

She chuckled, like what he said was an understatement, "Yeah, dad."

He was pleased by the way she sounded like a typical child. He smiled at Harry and Hermione, "I hope you two didn't have to wait long. Natalie says none of you were, but I'm a bit skeptical."

"No, she's telling the truth." Hermione assured him, as she and Harry joined them.

Gregory said, "I think you'll have Isaac as your potions teacher today," he glanced, fondly, at Natalie, "and Natalie too." He added to Harry and Hermione, "Isaac—I mean Mr. Snape—went to Oxford, after he left Hogwarts, to become an English teacher, back home."

Harry and Hermione gave impressed expressions and Natalie added, "I plan on going there, for the same thing."

Harry and Hermione smiled and Harry said, "That's great. Good luck."

"Are you going for the same subject?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." Natalie nodded.

Gregory took in how comfortable Natalie was with Harry and Hermione a moment, before he announced, "Well, I have to get home." He added to Natalie, "I'm glad you're getting adjusted alright."

She nodded, "Better than alright."

"We'll look after her." Harry promised.

Hermione nodded.

Gregory smiled, "Thanks." Then, he hugged Natalie, who wasn't at all embarrassed to have her father hug her in front of her friends, and kissed the top of her head, "Bye, have fun."

"I will." she told him.

While he started heading for the gate, Natalie headed inside with Harry and Hermione.

When they were in, Harry said to Hermione, "We should probably get our books and everything else."

She nodded, "Yeah."

Natalie asked, suddenly, "Hermione, would you come to the bathroom, with me, first?"

"Sure," Hermione replied. As they all headed to and up the stairs, Hermione added, "It's good you don't want to go alone here. I did, as a first year-"

"And a troll came in." Natalie finished.

"Yes." Hermione admitted, "It's just a good thing Harry and Ron found me."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "It's what made us all friends."

"Aw." Natalie grinned.

Then, they parted and Natalie pulled Hermione, by her wrists, deep inside the bathroom, by the window, "Hermione, I have to tell you this. I have a crush on Remus Lupin—Professor Lupin."

They grinned at each other and Hermione admitted, "So do I, actually."

Natalie confessed, "I'd always heard about him and I'd seen pictures and memories, but I guess I never thought about it before. I mean I guess I always had a crush on him, but it wasn't until last night that I realized it."

Hermione confessed, dismally, "I had a crush on another teacher-"

"Gilderoy Lockhart." Natalie said, grimly. "I know what he tried to do to Harry and Ron."

Hermione looked away, "I was so stupid."

"No, you weren't." Natalie insisted and Hermione turned back to her. "You were young-"

"I was a year older than you and I should have just had more sense. I gawked at him for almost a whole year."

Natalie commented, grimly, "My uncle Severus said Lockhart really seemed to like all those girls gawking at him."

"He must have been so pleased that none of us suspected him." Hermione decided, bitterly.

Natalie shrugged and nodded.

Hermione changed the subject, "I saw a lot of Professor Lupin, over the summer, with Harry and Ron, and Ron's family. Er," she blushed, "we all went swimming together."

"Oh," Natalie laughed and blushed.