Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter 5

Hermione was alone in the parlour when Harry skidded into the room. He'd run past his mother in the hallway as she headed to the loo. Her serious expression coupled with, "She needs you. Family sitting room, go," had merely heightened Harry's fear.

Not fear for him or his own interests. No, he was afraid for what Hermione had experienced with her parents. His girlfriend had unburdened herself to him that morning after they'd dressed. She was terrified her parents would misinterpret her decision to accept Sirius' offer as a rejection of her family. In turn, they might very well reject her. Hermione had made the decision to fully invest herself in the magical world, but she still loved her parents very much. She didn't want to lose them.

Harry's stomach dropped into his toes when he saw his girlfriend. She was sitting on the couch, her head in her hands. "Hermione?"

She didn't say anything or move except to reach out to him with her left hand. Hurrying to her side, he pulled her close to him. Wrapping her arms about his body, she began to sob softly.

"Oh, no," he groaned. It seemed the worst had come to pass.

Her sobs intensified as he gathered her into his embrace. He was determined to be there for her. She'd been a bulwark in the storm for him over the previous days and he'd treasured her for it. Now, it was his turn to be her port in the storm.

With a soft pop Rauri appeared. Silently, he placed a tray containing a pitcher of ice water with glasses on the table. Without meeting Harry's gaze, he placed a full box of tissues on the cushion next to the entwined couple before popping out again.

Freeing an arm, Harry plucked a few tissues from the box before he slipped them into Hermione's grasping hands. He knew she'd want them later.

.oOo.

James was laying crossways across their bed when Lily entered their bedroom. Curling up next to him, Lily tugged at him until he got the hint. Scooting up on the bed, he pulled his wife into his arms. The elder Potters were unconsciously mimicking the position of their son and son's girlfriend who were downstairs in the sitting room.

"Sirius said it wasn't a very successful meeting," James mentioned by way of beginning the discussion.

A long sigh was the only answer for a bit. Eventually, she replied, "No, it didn't go well. Hermione was great. She tried to explain it all very coherently, but in the end…let's just say that all her clothes and other belongings are in a trunk down in her room."

"They didn't," James exclaimed in shock. How could a family reject one of their own? he wondered. Even though his aunt and uncle, Sirius' parents, were insane, it still had floored him when his cousin and best mate had shown up on the doorstep of Rowan Hill asking for asylum. For Hermione's parents to reject her for any reason was incomprehensible to James.

"So, we show up and her parents are eating their breakfast but happily surprised to see Hermione, right?" Watching his wife, James could see the sadness and regret seeping into her expression. This wasn't going to be a happily ever after story.

"After the greetings and hugs and whatnot, we all sit to table. Hermione explained about how she and Harry were now dating. Alice smiled all-knowing like, but Steven glowered more than a little." Waving her hand at the dentist's behaviour, Lily continued, "Then she explained about the Richmond and Potter titles." Lily plucked at the buttons of James' shirt for a minute before she asked, "Have you had people fawning over you because of a fifteen hundred year old title that isn't generally known or acknowledged in society?"

James gave a snort of derision as a dozen situations flashed through his mind. "Oh, yeah."

Wrinkling her nose, Lily explained her question, "Steven and Alice got all `my Lady' this and `my Lady' that. Even when I encouraged them to call me Lily, they kept on with it. When Hermione explained that Sirius was Blackmoor, the whole bowing and scraping ratcheted up a notch. I could tell that our poor girl was surprised and more than a bit embarrassed by her parents' behaviour, but ploughed on bravely.

"I picked up the thread, explaining about the pervasive bigotry in British magical society. The whole pureblood vs. muggleborn issue sent both parents through the roof. Both exploded in anger; Steven's face was red, he was so upset. Alice announced that Hermione was to come home immediately to go to the secondary school that had been planned for her before that `dratted owl showed up'."

Shaking her head, Lily hooked her leg over her husband's leg, "She stood up to them. Toe to toe and hammer and tongs, she gave as good as she got. Sirius and I just sat back to stay out of it. There was the occasional glare by Steven sent our way, but on the whole, they focused their ire on Hermione. Eventually, everyone calmed the hell down. Both Grangers apologized for their behaviour, while Alice poured more tea.

"The `my Lord's and `my Lady's were back. Smiles and pleasant surprise reigned," Lily groaned. "I should have known it was an act. It's what my mum always did when she was furious with dad. When Hermione explained about how she felt right in the magical world, a little crease formed between Alice's brows. When she explained about what a magical protectorate was, Steven's brow thundered."

Wrapping up, Lily told James what he'd dreaded, "When she explained about Sirius' offer, I'd never seen her so scared. It was a horrible turnaround that I reached over to squeeze her hand while her parents looked on all stone faced. When she got it all out, Steven turned to Padfoot as he spat, `So that's your game. You want to take our daughter away. Are you impotent so you want to buy a daughter ready-made or is there a much more disgusting reason?"

James sucked in a breath in surprise; he'd not expected that type of reaction. Silently, he waited for Lily to go on with the story. "Props to Sirius as he held his temper. Hermione was pale as a sheet and shaking she was so upset. Sirius took a deep breath before he explained that he cared about Hermione. He also explained his debt to her and Harry for his escape from an unjust execution." Lily propped herself up on her elbows to see James' face. He winced at the neutral expression before she told him, "That didn't help matters."

"Oh?"

"They started to rant at Hermione about compulsions and brainwashing." Shaking her head, Lily lay back on her husband's shoulder. "Hermione was so taken aback and crushed; she sat there staring at her parents."

James eyes narrowed. So far in the story, Lily had mentioned nothing too off about the Grangers' treatment of his wife. Based on the comments to Sirius and later Hermione, he knew that there must have been something. Unable to leave it alone, he asked, "What did they say to you?"

There was a long pause as Lily obviously considered her answer. "Not much," she eventually demurred.

Angry now, for whatever had been said was obviously making Lily uncomfortable, James sat up to look his bride in the eye. "What did they say?" he repeated.

Closing her eyes, she sighed. "They asked me if I was a gold digging whore or if I had money in my own right."

Stunned, James sat there staring at the wall. It took a full minute before his mind could overcome his shock. He didn't even have the wherewithal to sputter in outrage. How could anyone of any decent breeding or character say those things? Everything he'd seen of Hermione - for he liked the girl very much indeed - was completely incongruous with what Lily was telling him. How could anyone related to that wonderful bushy-haired witch act like this?

Finally, he started to come out of it. That's when the anger began to burn. "They dare say that to you…" he began before Lily cut him off.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that Hermione is crushed, humiliated and horrified. The discussion ended with her parents giving her an ultimatum; give up magic or give up her parents."

Rolling his eyes in stunned disgust, James exploded, "Those bloody buggering arseholes!"

Shaking her head in admiration of Hermione, Lily finished, "That girl is such a Gryffindor. She stood - a bit shaky, but she stood nonetheless - and told her parents, `I'm sorry you feel that way, but I'm a witch. I was a witch when I was born and shall die a witch. I hope you change your mind when you calm down. I'll contact you around Christmas.' Then she turned on her heel to head out the back door. Sirius and I hustled after her. She fell apart when we got back here, poor thing. I shooed Sirius out the door to the bank before taking her to the parlour where she sobbed her eyes out. Harry's with her now."

.oOo.

"I can't believe they said those things," Hermione whispered. She'd related the whole tale to her boyfriend once she'd calmed.

Not knowing what to say, Harry merely tightened his grip on his girlfriend.

"Your mum and Sirius have been nothing but selfless and giving. I'm so mortified…" she trailed off as she recalled the barbs sent at Lily and Sirius by her parents.

Harry frowned. True, the others had all been roundly insulted, but the sticking point for him was that, basically, her parents had thrown her on the garbage heap and that's not on. Clearing his throat, he softly asked, "But what about what they said to you?"

She was silent for a long minute before she shrugged. Burrowing into his chest, she mumbled, "It's not like I didn't expect it."

"Really?" he asked, appalled.

Without the strength to reply, she nodded into his shirt.

Now, he really didn't know what to say. Fortunately, his godfather saved him. Sirius rolled into the room wearing sleep pants and an old Tutshill sweatshirt. His solemn expression belied his casual dress and manner. Flopping on a wingback chair across from the teens, he reached over the low table to take Hermione's hands in his own.

"It'll be Ok," he told her. The certainty in his voice and the confidence in his expression took Harry aback. He'd never seen Sirius this positive about anything.

Hermione stared at her boyfriend's godfather and her soon to be protector for a long moment. Even to Harry, it was evident that she was drawing on Sirius' strength for her own uses, which was probably the whole reason that Sirius was there in the first place.

Without looking away from Hermione, Padfoot repeated himself, "It'll be Ok."

A small light bulb went off for Harry. Around the same age, Sirius had been self-exiled from his own family. Sirius generally described his departure from the bosom of the Blacks as his own choice, but a strong argument could be made that they shoved him out the door. A case of "You can't fire me! I quit!"

Today saw Hermione in the same situation. She too had made a choice that her parents had vilified. She too had been cast from the bosom of her family because of her choice. If anyone could understand what Hermione was feeling, it was Sirius Black.

"I'm sorry it went so badly, but it'll be Ok," Sirius reiterated for the third time.

A hint of hope returned to Hermione's face as she heard the Truth from Sirius. "I'm sorry for what…" she began to say in a soft, apologetic tone.

Waving it off, Sirius interrupted, "I've heard worse from worse. Not to worry at all, it's not your fault." Leaning forward, he placed a soft kiss on Hermione's brow before he silently left.

Watching Sirius leave, Harry realized that his girlfriend must be parched after all that crying. Pouring her a glass of water, he handed it to her before pouring one for himself. The water was at just the right temperature. "I love magic," he muttered to himself.

A soft sound to his left caused him to turn. Hermione - blotchy faced, swollen eyes and still tear streaked - was giggling at him. She drew her wand. After a quick incantation, which Harry didn't hear, her face was right as rain. Grinning at him, she teased, "You're such a boy sometimes, Harry."

Setting the glass on the tray, he took hers from her before pouncing on her. The tickling quickly moved to snogging. It was brief, but welcome for both teens. As they got up to find a snack, Harry teased, "Aren't you glad I'm a boy?"

Without missing a beat, she replied, "It would be awkward to kiss you if you were a fish."

.oOo.

Lily and James came into the sitting room a few hours later. Hermione was curled up in a chair, a thick tome in her lap. Harry and Sirius were quietly talking Quidditch as Remus played chess against an automated, magic driven opponent.

Nodding at the quiet atmosphere, James turned to his wife. Catching her eye, he wiggled his hips for a short moment.

In reply, she smiled and nodded.

"Right then!" Pointing at the teens, who were watching him, "You two! Follow me!"

James led the way as the procession tromped down the hall. Turning into a room he'd not entered in quite a while, he smiled. This room held many fond memories of his parents, friends of theirs and growing up here at Rowan Hill. He and Lily had danced their first dance as husband and wife in this room. It was also the first place that he and Sirius had ever pulled a prank. They had been five years old at the time. A flick of his wand caused the sconces to burn brightly.

The quick intake of breath caught his attention. Turning, he saw Hermione gazing about the room, soaking in the beauty of it all. The Ballroom at Rowan Hill was second in beauty only to the same room found in Buckingham Palace. Very large, it was gilded while decorated with mirrors spaced every few feet to reflect the light. Interspersed between the mirrors was a series of murals that told stories both mythological and magical. The entire north wall was a bank of French doors leading to the west lawn.

Wrapping his arm about Lily's waist, he told the teens, "You two are going to learn to dance."

Harry's face paled while Hermione bounced in excitement. "B-b-b-but…" James' son stammered.

"It's a way for you to politely and publicly grope your girlfriend," James announced with a smug smile. Knowing it was coming, he prepared himself. He wasn't disappointed, for not two seconds later, Lily punched him on the shoulder.

Another wand movement created a nondescript pleasant tune to begin wafting through the room. James eyed the footwear of the teens. Shaking his head, he quickly transfigured the trainers into more appropriate dancing shoes.

"Alright, first dance is the Foxtrot. You two know chess? The knight's movement is two to the front and one to the side, right?" Gliding forward, James showed them, "Harry, you'll always lead with your left foot; step - step - together and then to the left," he announced as he side stepped to the side at the end.

Lily sidled to Hermione, "You'll do the same, but backwards. You step off with your right foot. When he comes toward you, you'll go backwards," Lily stepped backwards, "step - step - together - to the side." She ended up in the same position as James. "Remember, Ginger Rogers said that she did everything Fred Astaire did, just backwards and in heels."

After walking the kids through the steps a few more times, they reversed the step so that Harry went backwards.

"Ok, you've got the footwork down, let's get you two together."

After much blushing by Harry which ended with Hermione's exasperated, "Harry, just grab me. I won't bite," he wrapped his arm under her arm, close to her bosom.

"No biting `til later," James quipped.

James was happy to see his son snark back, "Just not when you're around."

Lily stepped in, "Hermione, I'm going to tell you something that applies only in dance." Turning to her son, she pointed to him, "He's in charge. He's leading and telling the both of you where to go. In turn," she turned back to her son, "You've got to keep her out of other people's laps."

After explaining about offset, frame and tension, James turned the kids loose. Watching with a smile, James was impressed that the duo was doing a credible job. Caught up in the moment, he scooped up Lily. Driving her across the dance floor with aplomb, they smiled into each other's eyes. "Love you," she whispered.

"Love you too. This was a great idea."

"They need to focus on something other than psychotic Dark Lords, disintegrating families or…other things," she finished darkly. James gave her an understanding nod. He and Lily would go to their deathbed hating her sister for what she'd done and allowed to be done to their son.

Seeing that the young couple had danced themselves into a corner, the parents stopped.

"Let's talk about turns and a promenade."

.oOo.

It was at dinner when Harry finally wanted to know. "Mum mentioned that you all were working on a plan to help prepare me for eventually facing Voldemort. Can we talk about it?"

Hermione saw James pause while forking his salad. After a soft sigh of resignation, the elder Potter lay down his fork before sitting back in his chair. Not really paying attention, a part of Hermione's brain noticed that everyone else had laid aside their silverware like she and James had. Food was the farthest thing on anyone's mind.

"Let's go to the library, shall we?" James asked as he stood.

Scuttling to the door, Hermione met her boyfriend, taking his hand in hers. As usual, Harry was more concerned about her than his own well-being. With his eyes, he asked if she were Ok. Leaning into him, she told him very authoritatively, "I'm here for you tonight. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

Together, they made their way into the cosy library. Hermione had been exceptionally disappointed in the small room, but once Lily had explained the magical filing system that stocked the approximately six hundred books in the Potter family library she'd been far more satisfied. Settling on a leather couch, Hermione was nearly in Harry's lap, but he didn't' seem to be complaining any so she stayed.

James was pouring whisky for the others. Pursing her lips, Hermione figured that the usual port or brandy just didn't fit the mood. James settled next to Lily while Sirius looked out the window. Remus was leaning on the desk, his hand curled around his tumbler.

"First off, the four of us are returning to school with you. At the bank when Albus mentioned that he'd no objections to my requests? This was one of them. One of the others is that between the four of us and Flitwick, we're going to take over your education this year."

Hermione's ears pricked up at this. It was widely known that James was a Transfiguration prodigy, while Lily could have pursued a Charms or Potions mastery. Remus excelled in Defence, obviously, but Arithmancy and Runes were also areas of expertise. Despite his demeanour, Sirius could give James a run for his money in Transfiguration and Remus a challenge in Defence. Of all the Marauders, Padfoot was the most well rounded.

"How did you make that happen?" Harry asked.

Shrugging, James smiled. Inwardly, Hermione shuddered. She'd seen that smile many times on Harry's face and it boded ill for Dumbledore. "I merely reminded the Headmaster that it was in everyone's best interest to pursue this course of action." His eyes narrowed perceptibly, "It was for the greater good."

Lily cleared her throat, catching everyone's attention. "I think it's plain that you won't be ready to duel Voldemort any time soon. What we're going to do is accelerate and tailor the standard lesson plan. Instead of a class once or twice a week, you'll have it every day. Don't expect a lot of essays, expect a lot of oral exams and discussions. If you can't explain it, you fail. Our goal is to be complete with your fifth year studies by Christmas break."

Stunned, Hermione did a quick computation before blurting, "But that's only seven and a half weeks from now." She had a bit of normal Hermione Granger panic about academic deadlines. Long she'd known this about herself, so she could internally filter this reaction as not relevant. However, the other part of her reaction was her expert recognition of the level of effort required for Harry to accelerate his education.

Sombrely, Lily nodded her agreement. She too knew what they were asking of her son. "We may not get there, but that's our goal."

Harry calmed Hermione the most. Placing his hand on hers, he gave her a soft squeeze. That more than anything caught her attention. "Hermione," he said in a low voice, "I don't have any choice."

Collecting herself, she turned to her boyfriend. His resigned yet resolved expression told her all she needed to know. Harry was immovable on this topic. Meeting his expression resolve for resolve, steadfastness for steadfastness, she declared, "Then I'm doing it with you." Her gaze faltered as she admitted, "I may not be able to go into battle at your side…" trailing off, Hermione seemed to see something far away.

"Everything is different now." Turning back to Harry she elaborated, "We're different. In only, what, three days we're completely different people because of what's happened to us and around us. By the time we get back to school, we may even look different!" she joked at the end of her very serious observation.

Everyone smiled slightly, recognizing the truth in her comments. Hermione watched as all of them contemplated how much they had changed. Life had been very much in session these last few days, but the teens had the most life altering experiences. Love, Loss, Pain, Revenge, Wealth, and most importantly Family.

In a soft voice, but not too soft so the others couldn't hear, Hermione reminded her beau, "Remember, I'm always going to be with you in one way or another."

His small smile told volumes. "I expected nothing less," Lily told the teens. Turning from her boyfriend, she saw that James and Lily had tired smiles.

"What about OWLs?" Hermione asked, becoming refocused on the matter at hand.

Waving a hand, Sirius rebutted, "OWLs will be easy when we're done with you."

"Remus is the only real teacher among us," James admitted. "But we're all fairly good in certain areas. Herbology, Creatures and History are all going by the wayside, though." Turning a serious face to his son, James added, "Be prepared for a crash course in Arithmancy and Runes. You'll need them to better understand higher order magiks and, of course, wards."

"There'll be a bit of Herbology by necessity in Potions, but to be honest, we'll just be skimming the subject," Lily continued.

Leaning back on the sofa, Hermione thought about what she'd been told. Truth be told, she didn't like this haphazard learning process. In the end, though, Harry was right: They didn't have a choice.

"Once we get later in the year," Remus added, "Filius and I are going to work on combat." Harry's eyes glittered in anticipation. "Hold on there, Little One, "Remus chuckled, "You have to use what we teach you in real combat situations. Filius is a Master Duellist who can kick most everyone's arse, including Dumbledore when Filius is having a good day." With the hint of a smirk that wasn't usually found on Moony's face, he added, "You'll most likely not be having an enjoyable experience."

Harry surprised them all by replying, "Good. If it was fun then I wouldn't be challenged."

"What about the tournament?" Hermione asked.

Sighing, Lily glanced at James. Taking his cue, the hazel eyed Potter replied, "We'll make do. Historically there's been quite a bit of cheating. Albus has agreed to give me insider information regarding the tasks. What I do with that information is completely up to me. If I accidentally leave the detailed description of the task along with a possible suggested solution to it on my dining room table, well…" Prongs shrugged melodramatically before sighing.

Sirius grumped, "I still don't understand why we have to go to Scotland. We could teach them well enough here."

Casually casting the Pinching hex at Padfoot, Lily replied, "Because we don't have the facilities or the library here to do what needs to be done."

Abruptly standing, Harry announced, "I really need to fly."

James' eyes glittered with excitement, "Mind if I join you?"

With a wide smile, Harry exclaimed, "Please!"

.oOo.

Under a Warming charm, Lily sat on the lawn as she watched her boys tear through the twilit skies. Already James and Harry had raced to the point and back twice. Even though Sirius had owl ordered two Firebolts for himself and Prongs, James had lost both times to his son. Harry was too good.

Off to the side, Sirius and Hermione were deep in discussion. Lily had intentionally sat far enough apart from the other two so as to give them privacy, but she'd heard Sirius say, "Granger-Black, then."

Lily had smiled. She was good for Padfoot and he was good for her. Both benefitted from the connexion in personal ways as well as social.

"You see it, too?"

Lily turned to see Remus standing behind her. Motioning to her side, she invited her friend to sit.. "See what?"

Casting a sarcastic eye at his friend, Remus elaborated, "That Sirius and Hermione help each other. That James and Harry are beginning to become father and son in heart as well as body. That we're all healing from a decade's worth of pain."

Staring ahead, his expression hardening, he finished, "That Voldemort won't stand a chance against our boy."

Her eyes frightened, Lily replied in a low voice, "I have hope."

"You don't understand, Lily. Last year, a thirteen year old boy cast a Patronus that drove off over one hundred Dementors that were in a feeding frenzy." Lily's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "He did it to protect those two over there." He jerked his chin in the direction of Sirius and Hermione. "He was alone, unwanted by his relatives, subject to Albus' games and manipulations and most importantly, unloved that he knew."

"With his family whole, his love growing, the love of his life at his side…do you really doubt that Harry can stop him if he could do that last year?"

"But it's Voldemort," Lily whispered, giving voice to her fear.

A rough, scarred hand covered her own. Looking up into Remus' amber eyes, she saw resolve, strength but most importantly she saw faith. Faith in her son.

"And Voldemort stands no chance against Harry. I have faith. I have faith in Harry, I have faith in us and I have faith in all our love."

.oOo.

"Paris?" Hermione asked with a hint of disbelief.

Harry agreed with his girlfriend. The bewildered nod of The Boy-Who-Lived was enough to convince her that Sirius had lost what little bit of his mind that still remained. Padfoot had just stormed into the parlour announcing that they should all get dressed as they were heading to the City of Lights for dinner.

Eventually all succumbed to the maniac that was Sirius Black. Pulling her boyfriend into an alcove as everyone dispersed to dress for dinner, she kissed him deeply. They'd been dancing for the previous hour, expanding their repertoire to include the Rumba. She smiled thinking about Harry's reaction to the movement of her hips. His hands roamed to the aforementioned place causing her to moan slightly. She loved snogging her boyfriend. When she'd started to wake to her newfound attitude and feelings toward her dark haired friend, she wondered if they'd be compatible physically. That question had been resolved with a resounding YES.

Sirius created the portkey. An hour later, they arrived at the public portkey and apparition site in the second Arrondisement of Paris.

Lily wrapped her arm about James' waist while Hermione did the same to Harry. Sirius laughed as both Potter men simultaneously wrapped their arms around their ladies' shoulders.

Unerringly, James led the troupe. Hermione split her attention between watching her boyfriend goggle at the city about them and her own enjoyment. In a moment of sadness, she recalled the two times she'd visited Paris with her parents. Already she missed them. With a resigned sigh, she shook off the threatening gloom.

They headed into a non-descript café, threading their way to an unoccupied group of tables. Sharing the grubby menus, Harry whispered, "I've no idea what any of this is."

"Well, what do you want? Beef? Chicken? Fish? Mutton?"

"Beef."

Smiling, she teased, "So English."

"Welsh," he countered with a smile. He'd been born at Rowan Hill.

With a small smile, she saw him smiling at her. He had found his anchor and his home. As a result he was fundamentally changed for the better. Calmer, more focused, he wasn't a rabbit hiding from a fox any longer. Now, he was the scion of the house of Richmond; Son of James and Lily, beloved of Hermione and stood for by Sirius and Remus. "Welsh. True enough."

The food was fabulous. Apparently James found this little place during the summer between sixth and seventh year. He and Sirius were `visiting the continent' ("Code for drinking as much wine as humanly possible and not die," Lily had interjected). One day, they'd stumbled into this little place and raved over the food.

"We still don't know the name of this place," Sirius observed as he looked for an employee to ask.

"No! Don't ask. It'll ruin the mystery of this place." With a dreamy expression Prongs mused, "Our own mystical restaurant with the best food in all of France."

Hermione laughed along with the rest. Usually people like James and Sirius annoyed her. They didn't take life seriously for the most part, where she invariably took life too seriously. Seeing their responsible side where James ferociously looked out for his wife and child, while Sirius defended her and Harry like a mama bear over her cubs, showed Hermione that there could be a balance between the two. She doubted she'd ever be as silly as the Marauders, but Hermione could tell that she'd already changed in many ways.

Sobering, Lily cleared her throat. Hermione saw a hint of distress on the youthful features of her boyfriend's mother. "I know we said we'd be taking a week off, but your dad and I were talking about it last night, and we think it best to return to school tomorrow to begin…"

Begin the desperate, furious preparation of Harry for his fate, Hermione thought to herself. No, prepare us for our fate.

Absently wrapping her arm in Harry's, Hermione watched him for his reaction. To her pride, he nodded once in agreement before taking a long pull on his after dinner coffee.

"But tonight," Sirius announced with a grand flourish. "Tonight, we have the City of Light as our mistress!" Lily threw a piece of bread at Padfoot while the group laughed.

.oOo.

Hermione was packing her little bag the next morning when Rauri popped into the bedroom.

"My Lady," he intoned with his usual gravitas, "Allow me." A snap of his little fingers found the bag packed and settled nicely on his shoulder. "I shall provide your things to your quarters at Hogwarts." After one more bow, he popped away.

Sighing, she slumped into the chair next to the crackling fireplace. Looking about the beautiful room, she realized that she didn't want to return to school. The thought took her aback. She missed learning and the challenge of her classes, but Hermione loved being here at Rowan Hill.

The house was beyond beautiful. Hermione was sure that if it wasn't a magical home it would have been on the National Register like Chatham House and the like. Unbidden, her imagination pulled up a long forgotten memory. She smiled as she remembered how she pictured her ideal house. When introduced to the wonderful works of Jane Austen, Hermione had fallen in love with the idea of the `hallowed halls' of Miss Austen's most famous fictional residence. The home of the Potters fleshed out that vision, giving it substance and texture. Rowan Hill was Pemberly and Harry was her Darcy. He just wasn't as much of an arse as poor Fitzwilliam had started off as.

Smiling, she curled up in the chair, staring into the fire as she savoured the feeling. Internal and external warmth cradled and swaddled her in a safe place. A knocking on the door broke her from her trance. Smiling, she called, "Come in, Harry."

An impish Padfoot stuck his head in the room, "Bedroom rendezvous with your beau? Whatever am I to think, young lady!"

She blushed and stammered as Sirius teased her before finally finding the trump card. With a wicked gleam in her eye, she shouted, "Sirius! Stop this nonsense!"

Comically deflating, Sirius stuck out his lip before they both began to laugh. Padfoot sank into the chair opposite Hermione as he pulled a thick sheaf of parchment out of his pocket.

"Sorry to interrupt your lascivious fantasies, but I'm here for this," he gestured with the forms in his hand.

Extending her hand for the forms, she asked, "Is this the protectorate agreement?"

He nodded in reply. "Your parents don't have a place to sign as they're muggles." Shrugging, he admitted, "It's distasteful, but it's the law."

Silently, Hermione read through the forms. On the last page she stopped, stunned. "You're adopting me and making me your heir?" The glimmer of a tear shimmered in the corner of her eye.

A bit uncomfortable, Sirius looked away. "I told you I think very highly of you. Of course, if I ever find a woman lunatic enough to take me and we have a son, he'd become the heir. But in that unlikely occurrence," he looked her in the eye with affection, "You'll be my heir."

Looking in her lap, she replied, "Thank you, Sirius." Shifting to her feet, Hermione made her way to the desk. With the provided eagle feather quill, she deftly signed her name at the bottom. Turning, she saw Sirius standing behind her, an expression of tenderness on his face that she'd seen on Lily and James' faces when they watched Harry.

With a soft smile, she handed Sirius the quill. With his usual broad strokes, he signed the form. Tuning, he tentatively took her in his arms. Deciding to go with the situation, Hermione gave him her usual rib-crushing hug.

Breaking apart, Hermione saw the usual mischievous expression return on the face of her pseudo adopted father. "Come, Lady Granger-Black, we must away."

.oOo.

Only five days.

Harry stood at the gates of Hogwarts reflecting on the changes that had taken place over the previous work week. Family, love, friends, retribution…the list went on. Holding Hermione's hand firmly in his own, he followed his Father and Remus up the path to the school. His Mother and Sirius were trailing the teens, mapping out the Arithmancy lessons.

Harry could tell that Hermione wanted to join in the discussion behind them, but she seemed preoccupied. Seeing her worrying her lower lip, he asked, "What's bothering you?"

"Ron. The rest of school."

Frowning, he asked, "Ok, that was an answer that told me nothing at all."

Sighing, she laid her head on his shoulder for a moment before resuming their trek up the hill. "You know how…vindictive Ron can be. He can be outright mean when he's crossed. I'm afraid that the bit of resentment he was showing the night of the Goblet of Fire is going to detonate because of our unique schooling on top of the tournament."

"And because we're together now," Harry added absently. His eyes losing focus as he mulled over her words, The Boy-Who-Lived fell silent. Eventually, he told her, "Look, if he's an arse about it…well, I don't have time or energy to cater to his wounded pride. All the time we've known him, he's been jealous of my wealth or fame. Never did he see the price that'd been paid."

Pausing, he wondered if he should tell his girlfriend, but decided he'd have no secrets from her if he could. "Our first Christmas here - when I got the Cloak -as I unwrapped it, Ron said, `I'd do anything for one of those'." Shaking his head, he added, "He didn't even recognize that I'd had to have my father apparently die to get it. Never registered to him."

Realizing the situation for where it stood, Harry told Hermione, "Look, from my perspective, Ron's a decent enough bloke, but he's shown his true colours. I don't have time, energy or trust to deal with him, so he can sod off."

With a small smile, Hermione reproved, "Harry, language."

Rolling his eyes, he squeezed her hand. "What do you think? About what I said and all?"

Shaking her head, Hermione betrayed her inner conflict. Harry didn't blame her. She'd had as rough a childhood as he'd, just in a different way. He'd had abuse heaped on him, while she'd been ostracized. Two very different types of pain, but pain nonetheless. She needed time to sort through her feelings, but God help Ron Weasley if he hurt her. If Harry didn't get to him first, it didn't bear thinking what his Dad or Sirius would do to the redheaded prat.

With a smile, another thought occurred to him as he contemplated Sirius' vengeance on any who crossed Hermione. Turning to his girlfriend, he told her, "I've two words for you: `Mum' and `Snape'."

Hermione giggled, envisioning the inescapable encounter. Once Lily was made aware the extent of the Potion Master's haranguing of her son, the reckoning would be swift. "Oh, I hope I get to see it."

"I don't. Can you imagine the curse words and the amount of bloodshed? Poor Snape doesn't have a chance. She'll murder him."

Her giggles bubbled over into laughter, "I never thought I'd hear the words, `poor' and `Snape' in the same sentence coming from your mouth."

With his crooked smile in place, he snarked, "Yeah, well don't get used to it. I doubt it'll happen again."

They laughed a bit as they made their way up to school. "The rest of the school isn't going to be happy with us. They're going to scream `special treatment'," Hermione observed.

Snorting, he replied, "And they'll be right. But, after second year, I'm not too concerned what the rest of the school thinks of me. They're a bunch of old hens, from where I sit." Two weeks ago, Harry would have been very distressed about being ostracized yet again by the school population. Now, though, his confidence had risen so that he didn't derive a sense of self from his schoolmates. Hogwarts wasn't his home any longer, Rowan Hill was his home.

Frowning, Hermione cast one of her penetrating glances at her boyfriend.

Knuckling under, he admitted, "Ok, of course I care, but on the whole…" he trailed off as he looked closely at her. "On the whole, they don't matter." He squeezed her hand, "I've all in need within close range and the rest can take a long walk off a short pier as far as I'm concerned."

She pulled him up short, placing a long, sweet kiss on his lips. "I love you," she whispered.

"Love you too."

"What about the Headmaster?" Hermione asked, returning to business.

Harry cast a surprised look at her. Albus Dumbledore had been a frequent topic of conversation the previous few days and very little of the discussion had shown the old man in a very flattering light. Hermione was infamous for her above average adherence to rules and near reverence for authority figures. Over the last week, both of those attitudes had been bent and forged into a new way of viewing the world.

His mother, Harry felt, was the biggest influence on his girlfriend. Lily had grown up in a lower middle class household where government was respected but always regarded with more than a healthy dose of cynicism. Lily's success at life had shown Hermione a different way of life that she could follow. Plus, Harry knew that she really liked Lily, looking to her as a witch she could emulate.

Pursing his lips, Harry considered the question. His father's laughter in front of him as he snaked his arm across Remus' shoulder provided the answer for him. "Not my problem," Harry told Hermione. "He's their problem," he nodded toward his father.

"Fair enough," she agreed.

.oOo.

Remus stood in the back of the group as they entered the school. With a soft smile, he watched the family unconsciously group around Harry and Hermione. James and Lily were up front with himself and Sirius flanking the teens. Of course, the Headmaster was waiting for them at the doors. Strangely enough to Remus, so too was Stephen Maturin.

The shark like grin on the face of the solicitor made Remus shiver, then smile. Whatever makes a solicitor that happy is usually not very pleasant. Next to the solicitor was a sober looking wizard dressed in the red robes of the Auror corps.

"James, Lily, it's so good to see you…" Dumbledore began before he was interrupted by the wave of James' hand.

Turning to the solicitor, Prongs nodded. Maturin, in turn told the Auror, "Please proceed."

Shuffling to the Headmaster, the Auror held out a bound scroll, "Albus Dumbledore, by decree of the Second Wizard Magistrate, you are hereby constrained from initiating any contact with the minor wizard, Harry James Potter. If there is any need to address any of his academic issues, it shall be handled by the Deputy Headmistress. Under no account are you to initiate any discussion with, or seek out, the minor wizard, Harry James Potter, or through an intermediary, initiate conversation with said minor wizard. This writ it in effect until the minor wizard, Harry James Potter, achieves his majority.

"Do you acknowledge receipt of this writ?"

When Dumbledore nodded, the Auror countered, "I'll need a verbal acknowledgment, sir."

"Yes, I acknowledge receipt of this writ," Dumbledore replied in a low, sad tone.

Without saying another word, the Auror turned and headed down the path to Hogsmeade, apparently to return to his duties.

Remus saw Albus heft the scroll in his hand as if it weighed four stone instead of the few ounces it really was. Like the others, Remus' image of Dumbledore was recently shattered, therefore, he was unsure why the old man seemed so sad. With hope, Remus ascribed the emotion to regret on the old man's part.

Watching the scroll with a rueful expression Albus slowly tucked it inside his robes before turning to James.

With a sorrowful expression, the old man nodded once at James before turning back into the castle and shuffling away. It seemed to Remus that the man had never seemed older than he did at that moment.

"Solly," Remus called softly.

With a quiet pop, a female house elf arrived in the entrance hall. "Master Remus has returned to Hogwarts?" she asked softly.

"For now," he smiled down on her. "Would you please tell the Deputy Headmistress that we require her presence?"

With a quick curtsey, the young elf popped away.

The group was quiet as they awaited Minerva. Sirius was glaring at the interior of the castle, in the direction Dumbledore had left. Remus could almost imagine that he old friend was daring the Headmaster to return.

Harry and Hermione had settled on one of the benches, cuddling somewhat. Despite their comfort level with the adults, Remus knew that no teenager was completely comfortable snuggling in front of their parents. James leaned on the wall, staring off out the doors while Lily sat next to him, leaning on his hip.

For the first time, Remus was struck by how young his friends were. They were still in their early twenties where Sirius and Remus were in their middle thirties. Smiling, he realized that it hadn't mattered in their relationships one whit. They were still family.

The clackety-clack of a woman's heels on the stones roused Remus from his reverie. Rounding the corner, Minerva paused when she saw the Potters. He saw her visibly stiffen her upper lip as she approached the waiting group.

James cut his eyes to his right. Seeing the Deputy Head, he stood up straight. "Minerva," he greeted in a somewhat friendly tone. "Are you aware of what we require?"

The middle aged Scot nodded as she replied, "Albus tasked me to see to your needs."

Gesturing with his hand, James asked, "Shall we, then?"

"Follow me," she requested as she turned into the school.

Once again, the adults formed up around the teens. James and Lily were in the front of the procession while Sirius and Remus were in the rear. The former Defence Professor assumed the teens were tagging along so as to know where everyone was going to stay.

On the far side of the castle, away from the bulk of the classrooms, Minerva stopped in front of a hallway filled with portraits. "These are the guest suites I've set aside for you. Pick which ones you'd like." She trailed off, "They're all very similar."

Walking to a door, she opened it to show a smallish sized classroom, "You may use this classroom for your studies. If you require different facilities, let me know and I shall work out something."

Something was off and Remus couldn't figure out what it was. Looking about, nothing seemed out of order. James and Lily…fine. Sirius and the teens…fine. Minerva…not fine. She was nervous and uncomfortable he realized. None of the visitors had spoken outside of James' initial greeting. Her sense of guilt was palpable. Sirius, James and he had discussed Albus and Minerva's role in Harry's placement with the Dursleys.

Feeling sorry for the woman who'd chosen badly, Remus told her, "Thank you, Minerva. We'll be fine from here."

After a small sigh, she nodded jerkily before moving off toward the Great Hall.

With a hint of sternness, James turned to Harry, "We'll be in this first room," he gestured toward a portrait of Hermes. "If you have any hint of trouble, I want you here, even if we're not." Turning to Hermione, he added, "Both of you. I know that you're used to doing things on your own." His lip twisting, he interjected, "Mainly because the adults in your lives have repeatedly failed to provide for you." He looked his son in the eye as he declared, "That's all over now. We're here to help you."

A surprisingly stern Sirius echoed his friend. "You have to let us help you. It's time to become part of the family." It was sound counsel to which Remus nodded his agreement.

Shrugging, Harry replied, "Sure."

Remus smiled when Hermione glared at her beau. When she pinched his arm, he flinched. "Fine," he relented with more honesty. "We'll come to you first."

With a smile, Lily asked, "Would you rather we eat in our quarters or in the Great Hall?"

Smiling Remus caught her drift. Most teenagers would be mortified to have their parents eating with them in this situation. However, Harry had just been granted his parents from the dead, as it were, and had only had them back for a short five days.

Shrugging again, he replied, "Whatever you want."

Lily cocked her eyebrow before glancing at her smiling husband. James solemnly told his son, "I promise, no kissy faces during meals from us."

"Just before and after, right," Sirius teased.

Hermione quashed the humour with a well-placed glare at her new pseudo father.

.oOo.

After deciding to forgo the decision to a later day, they took a communal meal in James and Lily's rooms. The teens skipped back to Gryffindor Tower as the clock struck twelve.

"We are in so much trouble," Hermione moaned.

Rolling his eyes at her, he teased, "But we have a note from Professor Padfoot."

Smiling, she countered, "A note that says `The bearer of this note is so incredibly bad-ass that they can do whatever they want due to incredible bad-assery' hardly counts as a `note from a professor' Harry."

He didn't reply, merely walked her into the common room and the foot of the girls' stairs. Ignoring the stares for the few Lions who were still awake, Harry took his girlfriend's hands in his own. "Love you," he whispered.

She squeezed his hands back, "Love you, too." They met in the middle for a quick kiss. The gentle peck grew a bit heated as their tongues entwined. Coming back to her senses she realized that she had a hand on Harry's bum while the other was in his hair.

Slowly breaking the kiss, she gave him a `goodbye' squeeze, feeling the answering squeeze in her own posterior. She loved that Harry found her so desirable. Sure, part of it was teenage boy hormones, but Harry could have bedded almost any female in the castle - and some of the males - but had chosen her over all the rest.

After one last peck, she headed up to her dorm. Hopefully, she'd get a good night's sleep. She had a feeling that the next day would be rough.

She was right.

Waking early, she found herself in the common room an hour before she expected Harry. Despite his age, Harry was an early riser.

The glares in the common room were quite unsettling. It began with a few of the seventh years. Like a fungus, it spread to the others as they came down from the dorms. Soon, it seemed as if the entire house was glaring at her - for what she didn't know, but suspected that it was about the tournament.

Harry bounced down the steps, his hair still wet from his shower. In a moment of her own teenaged hormonal moments, she had to admit that her boyfriend was quite yummy. His smile, when he saw her watching him warmed Hermione's heart.

Glancing around, she saw the glares ratchet up a notch. Sighing, she accepted the inevitable; Harry was about to be ostracized - again - by the sheep of Hogwarts.

He must have noticed he3r survey of the room and her downcast reaction. Handing her out of her chair, he whispered, "Remember, they don't matter."

Surprised at his attitude, she cocked her head in her habitual enquiring expression. The stares and glares had reminded her of her primary school experience. That in turn triggered her `turtle' reaction. Tuck in your head to stay out of the way. For Harry to ignore it all was surprising, considering his childhood.

Replying to her unasked question, he told her, "Moony and I had a chat back at home and I realized a few things. Like I told you yesterday, they don't really matter."

In the corner of her eye, she saw a few of the glares shift of surprise before settling in haughty disdain. A few of the others showed juvenile hurt.

Their walk to the Great Hall was very similar to their experience in the Gryffindor Common room. Glares or stares dominated with a few - a very few - friendly waves and smiles.

They piled their plates high before digging in. Harry paused mid bite before muttering, "I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I like the food at home better."

She smiled at his sentiment. "Well, Rauri was cooking for just the family. The elves here are cooking for the whole castle. It's good food, just not as good as a meal cooked in smaller portions…" she trailed off at his chuckles.

His eyes danced when he told her, "Don't ever change."

Their laughter died away when Ron entered the hall. The red head's neutral expression hardened when he saw the young couple sitting together. His long strides quickly took him to the other end of the house table. H didn't meet their gazes once.

Simultaneously sighing in regret with her best friend, Hermione looked to the left to gauge his reaction to Ron's behaviour.

She saw the expected regret and resignation, but didn't see any stronger emotions. Hurriedly, they finished breakfast. On their way out of the hall, he scooped up her hand in his own.

"Ron?" she asked.

Shrugging, he told her, "He's a good friend but from what you told me last week and what I saw this morning, he's obviously not as good a friend as I thought he was."

Looking at his feet as they ambled to their new classroom by the guest quarters, he added "If he wants to be a proper friend, I'm here. IF he's going to be childish about it, well, I just don't have time to deal with him."

Hermione blinked. Although Ron deserved a bit of Harry's ire, she never expected him to focus it in any meaningful manner. Instead of petulance, Harry was demonstrating a maturity that had recently grown. Her face pinking, Hermione admitted to herself that it was quite a turn on.

After a brief stop in a broom closet, they continued on to their destination. Passing the main stairs, Hermione was about to ask Harry to give Ron another chance when their discussion was interrupted from a most unpleasant source.

"So, I see you've condescended to re-join the student population Potter." Hermione looked forward to see their sneering former potion's instructor. The levitated crate of ingredients gave away that Snape was heading to the dungeons.

"Now that your Saintly parents are back, I expect that you'll be even more arrogant than before. Now you have a proper role model."

Astonished at the man's vitriol for he was nearly snarling at two teenagers, Hermione gaped. He was a professor and yet…in a moment of realization, she saw Severus Snape for what he was.

A bully.

Thrown off balance by the epiphany, she was silent as Harry's face burned red. Just as he opened his mouth to say something that would undoubtedly land him in detention for months, Hermione recollected herself and tugged her boyfriend away. With a muttered, "Good morning, Professor," they headed off.

Once they rounded the corner, Harry sputtered, "That…that…urrrhg!"

Tugging his hand, again, she cajoled, "Come on, let's see what they've in store for us."

.oOo.

Lily was wading through a pile of charms books, Filius Flitwick at her side. She'd always had a fondness for the diminutive professor and he, in his turn, had a fondness for the former Lily Evans.

Padfoot had spread his Arithmancy plans across a conjured conference table while Remus was thumbing through his lesson plans from last year. James was looking over Moony's shoulder as Remus explained why he placed certain spells in the order they were taught.

Despite their individual areas of expertise, James, Lily and Sirius were working hard to put together a coherent lesson plan for the teens, which explained Filius' presence.

After discussing the matter with Harry, James and Lily had approached the Charms professor to request his assistance. After a brief "non-prophecy" discussion, Filius agreed to help with Harry's non-standard education path. His only stipulation was, "You must motivate him, Lily. He has exceptional potential but doesn't' put forth the effort needed to excel."

Finding the spot on the long roll of parchment she had stretched in front of her, Lily double checked her notes as Filius hunted through a book nearly as large as he.

The door banged open, causing all the adults to look up as Harry barged into the room, Hermione right behind him.

Her eyes narrowing at his obvious anger, Lily asked, "What happened?"

Snarling, Harry spat, "Snape being his usual witty self."

Frowning, Lily remembered the earlier conversation with Remus where he alluded that Severus wasn't very kind to Harry because of who his father was. Her eyes cut to Flitwick for confirmation. The Head of Ravenclaw house's carefully blank face told volumes. Filius was a very emotional man whose inner self wasn't very inner. A blank face meant he was hiding an unpleasant emotion.

"Sit down," she directed the teens. "Tell me about how Severus has treated you in the past."

Harry blinked at Lily's use of `Severus' but was too wound up to process it.

Twenty minutes later, Lily stormed out of the classroom, Remus holding back James and Sirius. Harry's explanation began with, "He's a dick," but soon became more descriptive than emotive.

The entire time, the fires of Lily's anger were stoked and fed.

Severus Snape was a very complicated topic for her. When they were first dating, Lily had told James that Severus had been her best friend since she was six years old. Young Severus had explained to her that she wasn't going mad when Petunia's hair turned green as they were having a fight. That she wasn't an abhomination for having shattered her Mum's favourite vase after being spanked - without touching it, mind.

He'd very kindly explained about magic, what it was and that she was a witch. That it was Ok.

She and he had shared many academic interests; potions being their favourite. She leaned toward Charms were he preferred the Dark Arts.

There had always been that underlying feeling of inferiority in Severus. Perhaps it had come from his horrid father. Perhaps from his less than handsome looks. Whatever the source, Severus had turned to magic to provide him the feeling of power and security - even superiority - that he couldn't find elsewhere.

Then came fifth year and Steven Yaxley. The then sixth year Slytherin had everything Severus didn't: money, looks, clothes, and pretty girls - all of it. She still remembered how excited her friend had been that day in the library after Yaxley had condescended to speak with him.

It was the first session of Severus' recruitment into the Death Eater, yet neither of the friends had recognized it.

By Christmas, Severus was beginning to occasionally turn his sneer at her. He would pass it off as a poor attempt at being droll, but Lily always wondered about the truth of the matter.

In retrospect, it was the first signs of her friend becoming a Death Eater. He was beginning to adopt the attitudes and beliefs of that group. When the infamous blow up occurred during OWLs and Snape called her that word, it was the last visible sign of his betrayal of her.

He who had proclaimed her to be his only friend. He who had pledged their friendship. He whom she had defended against those who he engaged in a perverted mutual torment.

He had joined a group which classified her as sub human; an animal.

Then he called her a mudblood. And meant it.

It wasn't a betrayal of all muggleborns or even of decent folk. No, Lily saw Snape's embracing the Pureblood Voldemort agenda as a betrayal of her. How could she not?

All the other factors were irrelevant. His father, his economic status, his looks, his connexions…none of them held a wand to his throat demanding he choose the darkness and evil. Yet he willingly did and in so doing not only repudiated his friendship with Lily Evans, but cast himself among those who would gladly rape, torture and kill her.

Is it no wonder she hated him? Is it no wonder she could never forgive him?

Therefore, as she stormed to the dungeons, there were no fond feelings for her former friend bubbling up from her memories. No, Lily Potter was protecting her son from an enemy - for that was what Severus Snape was to her.

It was still early, so she didn't halt her stride. A Bludgeoning hex to the door slammed it into the wall, stressing the hinges.

"Who the…" she heard him begin until she rounded into the room. Snape's hard sneer softened to something approaching a welcoming expression. "Hello, Lily," he greeted in a fairly neutral tone.

"Don't you `Hello, Lily' me Severus Snape." Her face hard and her tone harder, she asked, "How many times must you betray me?"

His face drained of all blood as his expression melted to one of shocked horror. An interminable number of seconds passed as Snape stared at Lily. She couldn't tell if he was shocked that she'd spoken the truth aloud- finally - or that he was shocked at her audacity.

Either way, she didn't give a fuck. He'd best leave her son alone.

"I know how you treat my son," she declared. Her expression and body language not giving an inch, she told him, "I don't care why you torment him, nor do I really care what you may claim he has done to provoke you." Nearly growling she leaned on a table to focus her glare, "But if you don't treat him with, at least, neutrality, I'll be back. And Severus," she caught his eye, "I'll cut off your goddam hand. Your right hand. Do not fuck with me and mine."

Spinning on her heel, Lily stormed out. There was nothing for him to say. In an unexpected show of generosity on her part, she prevented him from grovelling or even lying to her by immediately removing herself from his presence.

A bit calmer, but still wound up, Lily headed back to what they all called "The Classroom". She had work to do.

A/N

1. I own nothing. Thanks to all who reviewed the first four chapters. Story status, as always, can be found on my Author's page on FanFiction(dot)net.

2. Recommendation for the chapter is To Be Loved by Silentclock. It's an excellent Harry/Daphne fic that moves much slower in any of mine, relationship-wise. Find it on FF dot net.

3. For the ballroom, think Sound of Music, but better.

4. Before the outrage regarding Lily and her view on Snape begins, remember this is from her perspective and no, she doesn't know that he dimed them out to Voldemort.

5. Sorry for the delay in posting. We've been on vacation for the last week and my `computer' has been called a `spiral bound notebook'. I just finished transcribing this chapter and half of 6.

Chapter complete 5/22/11

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