Chapter 8

Hey all! I wanted to let you know I am not forgetting Harry Potter. I had lots to research to for my historical fanfiction, as well as Harry Potter. I just want everything to be perfect for everyone. I am also going to be working om each story simultaneously, so I do appreciate your patience on everything. The Chapters will be uploaded as regularly as possible. I really appreciate your patience on everything. Like always, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know if you have anything to ask or any suggestions, as I take time to make it perfect. Please Read and Review and Enjoy Chapter Eight!

Potter Manor

Harry was sitting at his desk in his room, writing on parchment with his quill, several books were open. He took a deep breath and looked out of his window and frowned. The weather outside was immaculate and he had been confined in the house for the last two weeks, doing nothing but his homework. The only thing he was allowed to do was go into the dining room and eat with the rest of the family. Today was his last day on punishment

"Ugh, I really want to finish this Potions essay." Harry said to himself.

He cursed Snape for being a git. Why did he have this much homework over the summer holidays? Four feet on the uses of troll's blood, three feet on the water plants of Europe and five feet on all the combinations of potions that they previously mixed in the last year. His father agreed that the expectations was ridiculous for a first year, but his mother was adamant that all his homework be completed, before he was able to enjoy his summer uninhibited.

Harry picked up a ruler and began to measure how much progress he had made on his essay. He groaned, in disgust. when he realized he still had six inches to write. He would still be short, even if he wrote in large letters. When he looked out the window again, he saw Melanie flying over their mother's flower garden.

Harry smiled. Even though he was grounded, Melanie had been his only comfort. She had snuck him sweets from the kitchen, she played card with him through his bedroom door, and she refused to go to the Burrow without him, even though that meant that she would not see Ginny.

Of course, he knew that Ron and Selena were also suffering. They both were grounded as well. He knew that Ron would be busy doing chores and Selena would be doing homework and keeping an eye on her younger brother during the day, while her parents worked.

Harry sighed again and returned to his essay. He spent twenty more minutes on it, before throwing his quill down in frustration. He walked over to his bed and laid down on it, getting caught in his own thoughts and decompressing. He really needed a break from the mountain of homework he had.

Harry looked around his room, wistfully. All of the things in his room to give him entertainment had all been removed by his parents during his punishment. Every Muggle electronic was gone, as well as his old toy chest.

Sometimes. he wondered if it had all been worth it. Should he have gone out that night or just sat in wait, until Voldemort came to finish him off? He often thought about the encounter, feeling the rage of the man who had nearly killed him and his family.

Over the last two weeks, he began to wonder why Voldemort was so intent on killing him. What exactly was the reason he wanted Harry dead? Why were the Potter family targets of his to begin with? If it was just an ordinary attack on enemies, he felt that Voldemort would have just killed his parents and been done with it.

He made his mind up, that he would ask his friends about and see what they thought. Maybe Ron, Hermione and Selena would have thoughts about what he should do. He felt like his parents were hiding something and despite how frustrating the situation was, he knew that there was nothing he could do about it now.

Harry stood up and went to his door. Slowly, he opened it and peered outside and looked around. Seeing no one around, he stepped outside his room and began to head to the stairs. He hoped that his parents would be more lenient on him today, since he hadn't really complained about being grounded since he returned home.

He was just a few feet from his door, when he suddenly heard a pop behind him.

"Master Harry shouldn't be out of his room." a high-pitched squeaky said.

Harry groaned and turned around to face a small creature with tennis ball-sized green eyes and batlike ears, wearing a butler suit with the crest of the Potter family on the left breast pocket.

'Come on, Blixy. It is the last day. Surely, I have earned a pass by now." he said.

Blixy was one of the four free house-elves owned by the Potter family. The others were his mate, Mima and their two children, Ona and Limby.

"Mistress Lily hasn't said anything to me, Master Harry. Master can come down for lunch." Blixy said sternly, shaking his finger at Harry.

'But that's two hours away! Can't I just walk in the gardens? I'm bored!" Harry whined.

"Master Harry still has not finished his homework." Blixy said.

"But I'm stuck. I still have six inches to finish and there isn't anything I can add. Please. let me walk around a bit. I haven't been in the sun since I returned home." Harry pleaded, giving a sad look.

After a while, the house-elf nodded.

"Oh, all right Master Harry. Just a walk, mind you. I'll have to tell Mistress Lily when she returns home." he said.

Harry grinned.

"Thanks, Blixy. Oh, by the way, remember what I said last year. I don't want you to call me Master Harry anymore. Just call me Harry. You and your family are free elves. You may work for us, but I want you to consider me as your friend and not your employer." he said.

"No, no. It is not right, Master Harry. Even if we are getting wages and clothes, we are just house-elves. It is not right to presume more, especially with Harry Potter and his family." Blixy said, clearly flustered.

Harry looked at Blixy, curiously.

"Why is that, Blixy? What is so different about me and my family?" he asked.

'Why, you are Harry Potter! Since you defeated, HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED, we house-elves have been treated way better by wizards." Blixy said.

Harry frowned. He never thought about how badly house-elves were treated before. His parents had always been respectful of house-elves and taught their children to do the same. He made a mental note to ask them about it sometime, especially his dad, since he was a pureblood wizard.

"Alright, Blixy. We'll discuss this another time." he said.

"Yes, Master Harry." Blixy said, before disappearing.

Harry continued to make his way down the stairs and finally made his way into the garden. He reveled in the sun and enjoyed the fresh air.

"Harry? What are you doing out here?" Melanie called from above on her broom.

Harry grinned.

'Just enjoying the sun." he said.

"You're supposed to be studying. I miss you terribly, but I don't want you to get in trouble with Mum and Dad." she said.

"Don't worry, I'm almost done. I just have six more inches to complete on one last essay. Plus, I asked Blixy and he already said he would tell Mum. It's the last day of my detention and I just wanted a break." he said.

Melanie smiled and landed next to her brother.

"Great. I hope that means Ginny can come over again." she said.

Harry nodded.

'Yeah, I guess so. Ron and Selena will be glad too. I hope they aren't too ticked off at me for getting them into trouble with their parents." he said.

"No, I don't think so, Harry. Ron is quite the big thing with his brothers now. None of them had such an adventure. Selena is the exact same way, when I visit Cyrus, except he won't leave her side." Melanie said.

Suddenly, she dropped her broom and ran to Harry, hugging him fiercely and began to cry.

Harry was surprised by this, but he held her the minute he heard the sobs of his sister.

"Hey, sprite. What's wrong? I'm here." he said.

' I just remembered that you confronted You-Know-Who again, just like when we were babies." she said, through tears.

Harry pulled back and held her at arm's length. It broke his heart to see his little sister in tears.

"Come on, sis. It's alright." he said.

Melanie slapped his arm.

"No! You could have died. I was so worried when I found out. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you." she said.

Harry's heart swelled. Harry knew that not many kids were as close, as he was to his sister. He would chastise Ron and Selena, when they would speak poorly of their own siblings. Harry and Melanie came very close to not having a family and worse, not having each other.

Harry led her back to the porch and sat her down in one of the sun chairs. He sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, little sis. I survived again. I don't think he will be back anytime soon. There is no reason why I should face him again." he said.

The two sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Melanie's tears dried up, but she continued to lay on her brother and Harry kept a protective arm around his only sister.

Finally, Melanie spoke.

"What should we do when Ron and Ginny come over?" she asked.

Harry smiled.

"Oh, I'm not sure. I'm sure we will think of something." he said.

They heard a pop and another house-elf, this time wearing a maroon dress, trimmed with gold dust, stood in front of them.

"Lunch is ready, young master and young mistress." she said.

The two Potters smiled.

"Thanks, Mima. Come on, sis. Let's go eat." Harry said.

After lunch, Harry decided to have another go at his essay. He went to the family library, to get a few more books on potions. Three hours later, he added another three inches to his essay He sighed in frustration. He was hoping that his mum would help him. She was quite good with potions.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door. He turned around saw his mum standing in the open door of his room, with her arms crossed over her chest. He silently gulped, in fear, at the stern look on her face.

"I heard you left this room right before lunch." she said.

'Um, yes, Mum. I just needed to clear my head. I thought a little sun wouldn't hurt." he said.

Lily didn't make any comment and continued to stare at him.

"Please, Mum. It was just for a while. I was already on my last bit of homework, and I was just six inches short. I went back to it after lunch, I promise." he said.

He picked up the parchment and waved it at her.

"Could you take a look? I'm still short three inches and I can't find anything else to add. Please?" he asked.

Lily held her stern look for another few seconds, before giving Harry a small smile.

"Well, I guess you've earned a pass since you've been a good boy these past two weeks. Let's see that essay. What's the subject?" she asked.

"It's a potions essay. It's about reactions from mixing different potions we learned to brew this year." Harry said.

Lily frowned.

"That's a bit over your head." she said, as he took the parchment from her son.

Lily skimmed through the essay and then nodded.

"Well, it looks like you have covered most of it, but I think you should consider the effects of mixing the calming draught and the agitation-inducing potion." she said.

"Wouldn't they cancel each other out?" Harry asked.

'Remember that the strength of these potions depends on the amount of the ingredients. Consider if one or the other had different ingredients." Lily said.

Harry thought about it for a while, then smiled as he understood.

'Thanks, Mum." he said.

Lily smiled also.

"Of course, sweetheart. Happy to help." she said.

She turned around to leave the room.

"Mum?"

Lily turned around.

"Yes, Harry." she asked.

"Um, Melanie and I had a talk this afternoon. She was quite worried about me, wasn't she?" he asked.

Lily sighed and closed Harry's bedroom door. She sat down on his bed and patted the space next to her. Harry obeyed hi mother and sat down beside her.

"We all were worried, sweetheart. At least, me and your dad, were able to be with you in the hospital wing. She was quite upset, when we had to leave her at the Burrow. Molly and Ginny tried their best to distract her, but it didn't work." she said.

Harry hung his head.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all, for putting my friends in danger. But, I am not sorry for what we did. Mum, what were we supposed to do? Professor Dumbledore was gone, Professor McGonagall wouldn't listen. I couldn't let the Stone get stolen, with Voldemort wanting it. One we were down there; we couldn't stop until the Stone was safe." he said.

Lily nodded her head and put her hand on his shoulder.

"I realize that, Harry. You are your father's son. You just can't stand back and do nothing, while something bad can happen. You want to help no matter what." she said.

Harry looked at his mother, in surprise. All this time, he thought she didn't understand him, but apparently, she did.

"Harry, I don't want you thinking that we were punishing you for going after the Stone. We appreciate you trying to warn Professor Dumbledore. We just want you to think a bit more carefully before doing something like this again." Lily said.

Harry nodded.

"I realize that now, Mum. It's just hard to think properly, when you are all worked up. I was so concerned to stop Snape, I let three of my friends, one being my own cousin, come along even though we knew almost nothing about what we would face after Fluffy." he said.

'You know, it still amazes me that my eleven-year-old son, my niece and their friends could get through things many adult wizards would never dare face. Like your dad said, we are proud of what you did, in spite of the circumstances." she said.

Lily pulled Harry into a big hug.

"We are just happy you are alive." she said.

Harry hugged his mother back and embraced the tight mother hug, the type of hug that Ron and most eleven-year-old boys would try to get out of immediately. Finally, after a few minutes, Lily let her son go.

"Mum, about Snape, why is it he and Dad seem to hate each other so much? Even Uncle Sirius, Remus and Aunt Jenny weren't too friendly with him, like you." he said.

Lily looked at her son, for a moment, before replying.

"That is between Severus and James, something from our days at Hogwarts and remember, he's Professor Snape to you." she said.

"He did something to Dad, didn't he?" Harry asked.

Lily looked down for a moment. Harry recognized that when his mother did this, she was trying to figure out what to say.

"Harry, believe it or not, your father was different person back then." she said.

When she saw her son's doubtful look, she continued.

'Oh, he was a typical Gryffindor. He was just as brave and honorable, as he is now. However, until we were in our sixth year, let's just say I didn't like James Potter very much and wanted little to do with him outside of classes and homework.' she said.

Harry was surprised at what he was hearing. Most of the stories about his father, his sister and his friends had been mostly at Hogwarts. He had heard countless stories about the pranks his fathers and friends used to pull. All he knew was that it was mainly on Slytherins, and they were talented in the spells they used. He and Melanie had never been told how their parents got together, and they never were interested enough to ask. Now, he was a bit curious and disturbed that his parents hadn't always gotten along.

"Well, what was he like then? How did you two get together and did Snape have anything to do with it?" Harry asked.

Lily smiled.

"All you need to know now, is that that, I used to be friends with Severus, despite me being in Gryffindor and he in Slytherin. Unfortunately, our friendship disintegrated. Your father began to look different to me. He was still brave and honorable and a bit of a prankster, but he was also kinder, and I began to see a gentler side of him. He began to look more attractive and then, in our seventh year, we began to spend more time together, since I was Head Girl, and he was Head Boy. We began dating not long after and the rest is history. There are things we can tell you, when you are a bit older. Also, it's almost time for dinner." she said.

Lily got up and walked to the door, opened it and walked through. Then she turned around.

"Oh, since you'll be free of this room tomorrow, you can Floo call Ron after dinner and invite him over for a bit. Tomorrow, we are thinking of having a picnic and you'll see on and Selena." she said.

Harry grinned.

"Thanks, Mum." he said.

12 Grimmauld Place

Sirius Black and his family walked back into their family home, dressed in their finest. Several days ago, Sirius was notified that his great aunt, Cassiopeia Black, had died. Since Sirius was the head of the Black Family and was her closest relative, it was up to him to sort the arrangements and today was her funeral. She was laid to rest in the Black Family Crypt. The three children went up to their rooms, leaving their parents alone.

Jennifer Black walked up to her husband.

"You alright, sweetheart?" she asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Yeah. I am just glad it's over. The old bat is finally with the rest of them." he said.

Jennifer looked at her husband.

'Don't disrespect the dead, Sirius. She was your grandfather's sister." she said.

Sirius nodded.

"And she was just as bad as the rest of them." he said.

Jennifer sighed and placed her hand on her husband's shoulder.

"I think it was wonderful that you found your great-uncle Marius and he was in attendance." she said.

Marius Black was Sirius's great uncle, via his late mother. He was born as a Squib, a person born with no magical blood, so he was disowned from the family. However, he was given money to stay away, so he was living well in Muggle society.

"She was his sister, although she cared nothing for him. I also did not enjoy being around Narcissa and her family. Although, it was shocking to see Uncle Cygnus. He's only in his fifties, yet he looks so frail." Sirius said.

Cygnus Black, III was Sirius's late mother's younger brother and was the father of his cousins, Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa.

Jennifer sighed.

"Well, it's all over. Do you want anything, before I go check on the kids?" she asked.

Sirius shook his head.

"No, love. I'm going to have a shot of firewhiskey and turn in for the night. Don't keep me waiting." he said, with a wink and kiss on the cheek.

Jennifer smiled and took out her wand.

"Nox." she said, extinguishing all the lights downstairs.

She walked up the stairs and she found herself outside Selena's bedroom. Her daughter was sitting at her desk, with her textbooks open, finishing her homework.

She knocked gently.

'Sweetie, you can get some rest. Your homework is nearly done." she said.

Selena shook her head.

"No, Mum. It's my DADA homework. I can finish it. Pity the Professor is dead, however." she said, briskly.

Jennifer sighed.

'You're still mad at your dad and I for grounding you?" she asked.

Selena sighed.

"I get it, Mum. But we were doing the right thing. You know that I want to be an Auror, just like you and Dad and Uncle James. Why am I being punished for helping Harry prevent Voldemort from returning? I didn't even face him. Ron and I were hurt." she said.

Jennifer closed her daughter's bedroom door and looked at her.

"That is precisely why we had to ground you. You four could've seriously been killed. You could have talked to me or anyone else, before going down there and getting yourself into trouble, Selena. I am not upset that you helped your friends. Your father and I are upset, because none of you thought about what could happen down there and in the interim, you all came into a very dangerous situation. I am proud of you for doing the right thing, but I don't want to lose you in the process." she said.

Selena noticed her mother develop tears in her eyes. She stood up and hugged her.

'I'm sorry for making you worry, Mum." she said.

Jennifer nodded.

"I still am very proud of you, and I know you want to be an Auror when you grow up. You have wanted to be one since you were five years old. I want you to know that being an Auror is a lot more than just running into battle and dueling the bad wizards. You have to think and make sure that you and your comrades are safe. Constant Vigilance is what my mentor told me." she said, smiling.

Selena nodded.

"I'll remember that, Mum." she said.

Jennifer kissed her forehead.

"Don't stay up too late. Your Uncle James wants to have a picnic tomorrow and you kids will be officially free of your rooms." she said.

Selena smiled.

"FINALLY! I miss my boys." she said

Tonks Residence

Saphira Tonks was in her room, finishing her Transfiguration homework for Professor McGonagall. She was determined to finish everything, so she could spend the rest of the summer hanging out with her boyfriend, Oliver.

There was a knock on her door.

Saphira looked up.

"Come in." she said.

The door opened and Andromeda Tonks came in, carrying a cup and saucer.

"Sweetheart, I know you are going to be up late, so I made you some tea and cookies." she said.

Saphira smiled.

"Thanks, Mum." she said, taking the saucer.

Andromeda Tonks sat on her daughter's bed. She was a tall, beautiful woman with chestnut brown hair and very fair skin.

"You almost done with your homework?" she asked.

Saphira nodded.

"I'll be done soon. Is Dad asleep already?" she asked.

Suddenly, she heard a light snoring down the hall. Saphira and Andromeda looked at each other and began to laugh.

Saphira looked at the spare bed, that used to belong to her older sister, Nymphadora. The nineteen-year-old had moved into her own flat, shortly before Saphira had returned home for the summer holidays.

Saphira sighed.

"I miss her." she said.

Andromeda nodded.

"We all do. However, your sister had to fly the nest. I am so proud of her and of you too. My two beautiful talented girls." she said.

Saphira smiled.

"I think you're just happy you don't have to clean after both her and Dad." she said.

Andromeda laughed.

'I love them both, but they make rats in a garden look spic and span." she said.

Saphira chuckled and then remembered something.

'I am sorry about great-aunt Cassiopeia, Mum." she said.

Andromeda sighed.

"It is fine. She wanted nothing to with me for the last twenty years, so there is nothing really to mourn. Besides, I am sure your grandfather would not have wanted me there." she said.

Saphira groaned.

"It's been twenty years, Mum. Surely, he would want to see his daughter again." she said.

Andromeda shook her head.

"Since I married tour dad and he's Muggleborn, no. As far as he's concerned, I am dead to him." she said.

Saphira frowned.

"Then, he's missing out on an incredible person." she said.

Andromeda silently smiled and took her daughter's hand. They both sat in silence. Unlike Nymphadora, Saphira had vague memories of another life, that included her maternal grandparents. She knew that Saphira remembered the Blacks, but she knew not to push the issue, since it would also bring the memories of two more people that Andromeda would prefer to leave in the past.

A/N Thank you all so much for your patience! A lot has happened, but we should be back to a regular uploading schedule. This story and The Golden Years are being worked on simultaneously and I promise they will have more updates. For those who also follow the Golden Years, it will be uploaded in the next couple of days. Thank you all so much for your support on my Harry Potter fic as well! Please Read and Review and Chapter Nine will be up in a matter of days.