Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: I just want to say that TRL is Teddy Remus Lupin, though of course no one in this story is going to figure that out until Teddy is born. And a few people asked what time period this is. Well, it's fifth year during Christmas right after Harry overhears that he was being possess. He was having the conversation with Ron, Hermione and Ginny when he was transported to the other room.

Thanks to Eminnis who beta this story.

Chapter Two

In Memoriam

"In Memoriam," Remus read.

"So, you mean, we're not even going to ask why this people are here?" Ginny asked, making it clear who she meant by 'these people'.

"Nope," Remus said, and she supposed she didn't really need an answer to her most pressing question, because Fleur was sitting very close to her eldest brother. Noticing that every male in the room (except Dumbledore and Remus) was looking at her didn't really endear the blonde-haired girl to her. She shared a glance with Hermione and knew her bushy haired friend felt the same as she did.

"What do they mean Memoriam?" Arthur asked softly but everyone heard him.

"I'm sure we will find out," Remus sighed.

Mentions Harry was bleeding:

"Oh, what is it this time?" Ron asked sharply, before his mum could even fret over him.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged, and most of the boys were sniggering at that.

Mentions a cup outside Harry's door:

"Er … what's that about?" Fred asked.

"I don't know," Harry repeated.

"Do you know anything?" George and Draco both inquired.

"Shut up Malfoy!" George said.

"You said the same thing," Draco said rolling his eyes.

"I said shut it!" George said.

Mentions Dudley's idea of a clever booby trap:

"Well, that's too clever for me," Sirius said.

"So, you admit you're an idiot," Severus snared.

"Do we really idolize this guy?" Fred whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

George shrugged. "Unfortunately."

Mentions it was stupid that Harry was still unable to perform magic:

"Those last few days really do get irritating," Percy said, being one of the few people that had already turned of age outside of Hogwarts where this issue was relevant. There were others who would experience this in the future, Harry of course, as well as Draco and Ginny. However, he wished he hadn't spoken because his siblings were all glaring at him (though Bill's look was more of a stare than glare).

Mentions a gold locket with a note signed by R.A.B:

"Er … what?" Harry questioned.

"I guess that means that something new that you'll pick up," Hermione said reasonably.

"I wonder who this R.A.B guy is," Sirius frowned, his mind immediately going to his brother, but he shook that idea off.

Mentions fragment of the enchanted mirror:

"Oh, I remember that," Sirius smiled. "Me and James use to use that all the time when we … er … never mind," he trailed off as he looked at McGonagall and the glare, she was now giving him. "But why is it a fragment? Did you break it?"

"Sirius, I don't even have this mirror yet," Harry said. "How should I know if I broke it or not?"

"Remus," Tonks said softly, looking at the now pale werewolf. "What is it?"

"It can't be," Remus said and his voice drew everyone's attention because there was so much pain in it. "It can't … he …."

"Remus," Sirius said in a shaky voice, and his friend looked up at him and he could see what he was about to say. Remus's eyes were vacant, and it looked like he was in great pain. He moved his lips, but he couldn't say the words.

"That his dead godfather, Sirius," Tonks read for him, tears were coming to her own eyes as she held onto Remus's hand.

"NO!" Harry shouted, his cry seemed to mirror all the pain that Remus was feeling, and the young man's eyes were glossed over in pain and tears. "No …." he repeated in a weaker voice, he could not lose his godfather. He had just found Sirius … he just found this piece of his family and he couldn't lose that.

"I'm here Harry," Sirius said, getting up and wrapping his arms around his godson without hesitation. "I'm not going anywhere …."

"But …" Harry started.

"We're going to change this … we won't let anything happen okay," Sirius said making Harry look at him. "Besides, Remus is still there … and he's going to need you to look after him …."

Harry snorted, though he still felt miserable, and nodded his head.

Remus on the other hand was looking at the two of them. He didn't think he could stand it if he lost his last, for lack of a better word, brother. However, Sirius had just inadvertently reminded him that there was still Harry that he would have to think about. He would have to be strong for the boy.

"I think I'll take that back now," Remus said taking the book back from Tonks, giving her a sad smile to show that he could handle it and started reading before anyone else could say anything.

However, everyone had a different reaction to this. Dumbledore was frowning at Sirius and Harry, knowing how hard the loss would be on the boy that had already lost so much. Not to mention how cruel it was for Sirius to be taken from this world after all the pain he was forced to suffer through. McGonagall was actually crying, not that anyone but Dumbledore noticed this, she had always liked the Marauders even if they were the bane of her existence. Severus frowned, surprisingly upset about the man that annoyed him more than anyone else was going to die. Hermione was crying too, knowing how painful that was going to be for Harry and how much she is going to miss Sirius. In fact, most of everyone else's reaction was like that.

Mentions the locket was worthless but it had cost him to attain it:

"If it's worthless, then how much could it have cost," Draco rolled his eyes.

Harry, however, flinched and looked at Sirius with a questioning expression. Perhaps it cost him a life, he thought darkly.

Mentions Albus Dumbledore remembered:

"What?" Several people said.

"Does that mean …?" Sirius started to say.

"That I'm dead, I believe so," Dumbledore frowned.

"That's impossible," several of the Weasley boys said.

"You're Dumbledore," Sirius echoed their thoughts. "You can't die!"

"I'm just a man like anyone else, Sirius," Dumbledore smiled. "I assure you, that I can die."

Severus folded his arms at this and turned away from everyone else. Dumbledore, the man that he had come to respect so much in the last fourteen years … that was the only person that he could really be himself without having to hold anything back … he was dead.

McGonagall sagged in the chair that she was sitting in, thinking about her friend of more than thirty-nine years dying. Hogwarts would never be the same without him there. Molly put her arms around her, as they both shed tears for the old man.

Harry was looking down, how many more people that he cared about were going to die? Was this his future, to lose everyone he loved?

Hermione took his hand and Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. Neither of his friends were looking at him, and they both looked pained by the news, but all he could feel was the warmth their actions had given him. They were always there for him when he needed it. He didn't know what he would do without them, and he never wanted to find out.

Mentions met Albus Dumbledore at the age of eleven,

"You were eleven?" Sirius questioned in a tone that was so ridiculously innocent that it caused most people to chuckle even though no one felt much like doing that at the moment.

"Of course, I was eleven," Dumbledore smiled at him. "As I just reminded you, I am human."

"Right," Sirius smiled sheepishly. "It's just hard to picture you as being young."

"Why thank you Sirius," Dumbledore said, there were a few people that were even laughing now.

Mentions Aberforth living in Albus's shadows:

Ron grimaced at this; he could relate to Aberforth with that. His bothers constantly outshone him, and his best friend was effing Harry Potter. Then there was Hermione … who was brilliant and the top of their class ….

Mentions a friendly Blast-Ended Skrewt:

Some people chuckled at that weakly, especially the ones that knew what a Blast-Ended Skrewt was.

"What is a Blast-Ended Skrewt?" Fleur asked, she had always prided herself in knowing magical creatures, but she didn't know this one.

"Er … they're something that Hagrid had bred," Harry answered. "There was one in the maze …." he trailed off there, reminded of another person that had died around him.

"Oh," Fleur shivered, knowing exactly what creature Harry was talking about now. Her mind, too, had gone to Cedric and she grimaced.

Mentions Harry hadn't thought about asking Dumbledore about any famous achievements:

"I do not particularly like talking about such things," Dumbledore said, mostly thinking about the fight with Grindelwald … his onetime friend and bitter reminder of the most painful time of his life.

Harry nodded at him, not missing the look of sadness that was in his eyes, and Remus, noticing that too, decided to read again.

Mentions the Practical Defensive Magic and its Use against the Dark Arts:

"That sounds like an interesting book … where did you get it from?" Hermione said. "Maybe this means we'll get another good Defense professor."

"He didn't get that book because of classes," Sirius said and Remus glared at him.

"Where did I get it from then?" Harry asked, smiling amusingly at Sirius and Remus's expressions.

"It's your Christmas present from us," Sirius smiled. "We thought you might … er … find it useful."

"Cool! Thanks," Harry smiled, he was sure that he would put it to use in the DA.

"Er … you're happy you got a book," Ron looked at him liked he didn't know him at all. "You spend too much time with Hermione."

"Hmph," Hermione huffed, glaring at Ron, as all the Weasley children laughed.

"What do you mean find it useful," Molly narrowed her eyes at both Sirius and Harry. "How will he find the books useful?"

It was clear to both of them that she was thinking about the illegal defense group that she had warned Harry not to make and they both looked nervously back at her.

"It's just so he can have practice, so he won't fail his O.W.L.'s this year because that … er … Umbridge is teaching them nothing," Remus said, it was his reason for getting the books for Harry anyways, but he now realized it was probably not Sirius's.

Percy frowned at Remus; he had always had a high opinion of the man because he really was a good Professor. Remus had after all actually been able to instruct him and his classmates about defensive spells, whereas in the years previous he had to take it upon himself to learn everything. Yes, Remus was a werewolf, but that didn't really lower Percy's opinion of him, he was actually impressed that Remus had learned so much and actually made a contribution to his community despite his disadvantages. Still, he hadn't expected Remus to hiss out Umbridge's name in the angry almost growl that he had done. He was a reasonable man after all, and wasn't quick to judge others …

Mentions Rita Skeeter:

Everyone groaned at that, and Hermione was cursing bitterly in her head. Obviously, Rita wasn't going to learn her lesson about writing nasty things anytime soon.

Mentions Rita Skeeter is much warmer and softer:

"Whoever is writing this is not very intelligent," Hermione muttered darkly.

"You sound like you know Skeeter personally, Hermione," Sirius said raising an eyebrow.

"We might have met," Hermione smirked at him as Harry, Ron, and Ginny all sniggered. Sirius was more intrigued by this response, as were the twins, but didn't ask any more questions about this.

Mentions Dumbledor never talked about how his nose got broken:

Everyone felt curiosity burning in them as they wondered what was meant here. Skeeter was intriguing them more than they would have liked to admit, but no one wanted to ask Dumbledore about it. It was clear to them all that it was really hurting him to hear this.

Dumbledore took a deep breath as the guilt he always lived with came on stronger than it normally does … he was in a room of people that wouldn't believe anything of this to be true … and they would be wrong. And yet that mattered little … what was really bothering him was his thoughts about his family and how he had let them down.

Mentions Dumbledore's fight with Grindelwald ended with a conjured a white handkerchief and came quietly:

If only that were the case, Dumbledore thought wryly. No, that fight was a lot harder than anything he ever had to do in his life … though the emotional strain was what made it seem so impossible.

Mentions Dumbledore with Harry relationship:

"There's nothing sinister about our relationship," Harry hissed.

"That just sounds wrong Harry," Fred said sniggering along with George.

Mentions that Rita interviewed Harry about You-Know-Who's return:

"What?" Harry said confused. "I never talked to her."

"Yet!" Remus pointed out.

"Why would I talk to that cow of all people about Voldemort?" Harry hissed.

"I don't know, Harry," Remus said frowning. "But the truth is an article like that could help our situation … it would let more people believe that Voldemort is back. And I know that you don't like to hear this, but most people do think Skeeter is a credible news source."

"But I don't," Harry said. "She would twist everything that I said!"

"Unless," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Er … that might work …."

"Hermione," Ron said impatiently. "You're doing it again."

"What?" Hermione said.

"You're talking as if we understand what you're saying," Ron said.

"It's not my problem you have trouble understanding English," Hermione huffed and Ron stuck his tongue out at her, "I was just thinking that I might be able to get her to write an article … you know without her adding anything to it."

"How would you be able to do that?" Sirius asked.

"Oh … I have my ways," Hermione said, she had a mischievous look in her eyes.

"What have you done to her Hermione?" Remus asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"Nothing much," Hermione shrugged and again Harry, Ron, and Ginny chuckled.

The adults all looked at them funnily, but they decided to drop it.

"Just remember, you don't want to get on Hermione's bad side," Ron chuckled.

"Er … I think you're the one that needs to remember that more than anyone else," Fred said and everyone laughed as Ron turned red.

"I think you're right Hermione," Harry said after he got his breath back. "In that circumstance I probably would give her an interview … argh … I'm not looking forward to that but if it helps …."

Mentions that Skeeter believe that Potter was there when Dumbledore died:

Harry bowed his head; of course, he was there … he had to watch everyone die, didn't he?

Mentions that Potter gave evidence against Severus Snape:

Everyone turned their eyes to Severus who was looking at the book in shock. There was no way that he would kill Dumbledore … that was impossible.

"You killed Dumbledore!" Sirius shouted, getting out of his seat.

"Sit down Sirius," Dumbledore said in a cool calm voice that emanated such power that Sirius reluctantly sat down, but he still glared at Severus murderously.

Severus didn't notice this though. He didn't hear Sirius's outburst or anyone else, for everyone had something to rage about now. He felt numb inside, Dumbledore was gone, and he had killed him …. How could either one of those things be true? He looked up and met emerald, green eyes, and a stab of pain went through him. Now! He had to see those eyes now when he was already grieving for another loss. He looked away, but still he couldn't help but notice that they weren't filled with hate like he had expected, but filled with doubt and … understanding?

Harry was looking at Snape, glaring at him at first. How could Dumbledore have trusted that creep? But when he looked at the professor that he had loathe for years now, he couldn't find the guilt that he had expected to see there. No, what he saw was devastation … Snape was grieving … for Dumbledore … He was in shock about what they heard. How could he be in shock if he was the one that killed him? Unless … well, Dumbledore was the only person that seemed to trust Snape … They might even be … Friends? That was ridiculous … but Snape's reaction seemed to be saying that …

"I repeat, I trust Severus Snape," Dumbledore continued his statement to Sirius and all eyes were now on Dumbledore.

"He killed you," Sirius said incredulously … how could Dumbledore trust Snape after this?

"We do not know all the facts Sirius," Dumbledore said calmly.

"So, you think Harry is lying!" Sirius snapped.

"No," this answer came from Severus himself though it looked like he was talking to himself. Everyone glared at him again, even though he looked pale and sick. The boy, he had to admit, would not lie about something like this, he had killed Dumbledore … what had happened?

"So, you admit that you killed him!" Sirius shouted.

"Sirius, he cannot admit to having done something that has not taken place yet," Dumbledore said in the same calm voice.

"How can you take this so calmly?" Sirius said shaking his head. "How can you defend your murderer?"

"Because I can think of several reasons why Severus would have to kill me and I wouldn't blame him for any of them," Dumbledore said.

"Er …." Sirius said completely caught off guard by that comment. The whole room in general was speechless now, all of them gaping at Dumbledore.

"I ask you not to judge anyone until we are done with the book," Dumbledore said. "There has to be a reason why Severus was invited in this room along with the rest of us and I doubt it's because he had killed me."

"Fine," Sirius sat all the way back in his chair and crossed his arms, still muttering to himself. Everyone else looked around uncomfortably, not sure what to think but they couldn't really say anything, so Remus did the only thing he could think of; he picked the book up and started to read again.

Mentions the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore would never pierce him again:

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow there, thinking that his brother had the same color eyes as he had. But why would Aberforth have the other mirror … and how would he have gotten it in the first place?

"That's the end of the chapter," Remus said, holding out the book.

"I think I should read," McGonagall said taking the book from him.