Harry Potter and the Last Year

Level 1.5: The Thing Hermione Saw

Neville looked particularly glum at breakfast.

"What's wrong, Neville?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," Neville said with a heavy sigh.

"Oh, there's Padma. I need to ask her something," Hermione said and got up from the table.

"Come on, Neville, what's wrong? You can tell us," Ron said encouragingly.

Neville considered this. He cast a quick glance around to make sure Hermione was still gone and leaned in towards Ron. "If you must know, I asked Persephone to meet me in Hogsmeade, and she turned me down."

"But that was a week ago," said Harry.

"Oh, I don't really mind her turning me down. She acted really sorry that she couldn't go, said she didn't have a permission slip." Neville sighed again. "Only Lavender Brown said Draco Malfoy stayed behind too, so now I'm thinking..."

"That she blew you off to stay with Malfoy?" Ron supplied. Neville twitched but nodded. Ron shook his head. "Now really, Neville, do you want a girl thick enough to take up with Malfoy?"

"I suppose not," Neville said, not showing any signs of being cheered up.

"And she's not exactly a looker is she?" Ron continued. "I mean the hair's weird, yeah, but beyond that she's kind of chubby. Her shoulders are a bit too broad for a girl, and her knees are really flat."

"What're you doing looking at her knees?" asked Harry.

"I wasn't looking," Ron said with a slight flush. "I just noticed."

"I think I'm gonna go back to the dorm," Neville said. Hermione returned to the table as Neville was leaving.

"Where's he going?"

"Dorm." Ron looked at Harry. "Can't we tell him? I bet it would cheer him up."

Harry shook his head. "We agreed not to tell anyone other than Dumbledore about what we saw."

"Oh, why not?" Ron said in a slightly sulky tone. "It would be so much fun to mess with him. You know Malfoy would tell the entire school if the situation was reversed."

"But we're better people than he is, remember?" said Hermione.

"Can't I sink to his level just this once?"

"No," Harry said firmly. "We agreed."

"I suppose," Ron muttered. "It was weird though, wasn't it?" he added thoughtfully.

"You mean seeing Voldemort?" Harry said.

Ron shuddered. "Yeah well, that was just plain icky, but at least it's the sort of thing you expect a boggart to turn into. Hers however...that was weird."

Harry nodded. He had been thinking the same thing.

"I wonder," Ron continued. "If maybe we shouldn't have stepped in. I mean if boggarts are mind readers, and she's afraid of telling something, the boggart would be able to read it after a while and tell us, wouldn't it?"

Hermione looked mildly impressed. "It might have. Still I think we did the right thing, didn't we?"

"We did the right thing," Harry said. When he thought back over the events of Halloween night, he kept seeing Malfoy crumpled against the dungeon wall. He wished he could say it served him right. It probably did serve him right, but Harry felt no satisfaction, just pity and curiosity.

Ginny slammed her hands down on the table, making Harry look up. "I don't know what you three did, but you better apologize," she said giving each of them a glare. Harry exchanged baffled looks with Ron and Hermione.

"What we did?" Ron staggered. "What are you talking about?"

"I just talked to Persephone, and she's very upset. What did you do? She says Malfoy won't get out of bed."

Ron smirked, and Ginny narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. "Ron Weasley, you are the most insensitive prat!"

Ron stopped smirking. "Can we tell her?" he asked pointedly.

"No," Harry said sharply.

"Tell me what?" Ginny asked, looking more suspicious now than angry.

"We didn't do anything, Ginny," Harry said calmingly. "We just...we walked in on Malfoy and P." Ginny eyes widened so Harry added quickly. "Nothing bad, just rather embarrassing."

"Nothing bad?!" Ron echoed incredulously, and Harry shot him a look.

"Is that why she's so upset then?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded. "She probably thinks we're going to tell." He looked at Ron again. "But we agreed not to."

Curiosity and uncertainty wrestled on Ginny's freckled features. "I suppose if that's all," she said slowly. She sat down and helped herself to a plate. "I thought maybe you'd accused her of working for Voldemort or something."

"No, nothing like that," Harry said, glad Ginny was willing not to ask them more questions.

"That reminds me. I made a list," Hermione said, reaching into her bag. "I really should have done it a month ago, but I just got distracted with all my class work."

"Are you going to explain what you're talking about?" Ron asked lightly.

Hermione seemed to consider whether or not to be annoyed and decided it was too much trouble. "I went through the old school year books for the past twenty years, looking for boys named James." She handed Harry a list with about sixteen names on them. "I think there's a good chance one of them is P.'s brother. I thought we could cross reference them, see if any of them have a sixteen year old sister."

"Couldn't you shorten the list to just P. names?" Ron said. "He would have to be James P. wouldn't he?"

"If that's actually her real name," Hermione said. "I'm not so sure it is. I mean she's obviously trying to hide something, so it's quite possible she changed it."

"Good point," said Ron.

"You know there's something almost impressive about your level of paranoia," Ginny said dryly.

"No," Harry said. He had just had a really crazy thought, but as he turned it over he knew it was impossible.

"What is it, Harry?"

Harry shook his head to clear it. "Well, there's lots of reasons people change their names," he said. "Marriage, divorce, adoption."

"If she's lying about her name, couldn't she be lying about having a brother too?" Ron said.

"She could, but I don't think so," said Hermione. "It sounded like a slip when she mentioned him, and she changed the subject pretty quickly."

"What about that article?" Harry said. "The one Luna was going to ask her dad for?"

"He wrote back," Ron said. "Took him a while, because he searched for it. But apparently it went up in the same accident that took out her mum."

"Rotten luck," Harry said. "Any thoughts on how we could get hold of another copy?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not of an article written twenty years ago. The library keeps issues of the Daily Prophet pretty far back, but not Witch Weekly. It's really disappointing. I was hoping it might give us a hint about who her mother was."

"I suppose the concept of asking her is a bit too foreign?" Ginny said snidely.

"Why don't you ask her?" Ron said. "You talk to her all the time."

"Because I think I know why she changed the subject."

"How come?"

"I think her family's dead."

"Dead?" Hermione repeated.

"Well, her parents are dead at any rate," Ginny said. "Apparently she shouted it across the Slytherin common room. I'm betting they died recently too, because she avoids the subject. Will that help narrow down your search?"

"Yes," Hermione said softly.

"What do you think happened to them?" Harry asked.

"Well, let's see who was going around killing witches and wizards all last year," Ginny said mock-thoughtfully.

"You mean you think Voldemort killed her parents."

"I'd bet money on it," said Ginny.

****************

"Maybe she killed them," Ron said later when Ginny was not close by.

"Ron, that's horrible," Hermione said.

"Explain the boggart though, wouldn't it?" Ron said.

"Shut up, Ron," Harry said. He had told Dumbledore about the form Draco's boggart had taken, but he had glazed over Persephone's. It reminded him that he had not done what he had promised.

"I'm not saying she's necessarily a murderous lunatic," Ron continued. "But she could have done it under the Imperious Curse, that would still bring up a lot of guilt issues right?"

Persephone was not looking any of them in the eye when they passed in the corridors, but Harry thought she looked more angry than guilty. Malfoy on the other hand was doing a fair impression of a zombie. Harry doubted he would have bothered going to classes if the other Slytherins had not dragged him there. He was also avoiding looking them in the eye and flinched when he caught them looking his way. Hermione said he had skived off their Astronomy class.

Harry thought Ron was enjoying the whole thing far too much. "Hey, check this out," Ron said quietly as Draco passed them in the hall. He then proceeded to cough loudly in way that sounded a lot like "Nazi". Draco whirled, caught Ron smiling at him, and hurried off.

"That's not even mildly funny," Harry told him.

Thankfully, Quidditch soon took both their minds off Malfoy. The first game of the season was fast approaching and Ginny had them out practicing every evening. They had a very solid team going, and Ron had started humming "Weasley is Our King" between classes.

They had finished their section on Wolfsbane in Potions and were now heading into more challenging territory.

"Between now and the end of term, you will be drafting proposals for your Potions experiment. We will spend the entirety of next term performing these experiments, and your summer term will be devoted to review for your N.E.W.T.s."

Harry glanced at Hermione to see if she would react at this reminder, but Hermione stayed at perfect attention.

"Experimenting with Potions can be a hazardous occupation," Snape continued. "Thorough preparatory work is essential, and I do not expect anyone to take this assignment lightly." His eyes rested momentarily on Harry. "I will be giving you a great deal of leeway as far as the nature of your experiments, assuming of course that you can justify them in writing.

"It is the nature of experimentation to be to some degree unpredictable. Therefore while success will certainly help your grade, I will be paying more attention to your research and methodology. Your first draft will be due next class period. You may use the remainder of this class to discuss possible topics and ask questions, are we clear?"

Harry figured if they had until the end of term he could save his serious research until after the first match. He had the vague idea of doing something to improve the taste of Polyjuice, and despite Hermione's dire warnings, scratched off a sketchy proposal in less than half an hour. "I'll fix it later," he assured her.

Malfoy gradually recovered in that he started acting less like the living dead, though he still avoided meeting Harry's eyes. As Draco recovered, Persephone grew less hostile. "Hello, Ginny," she called as Harry, Ginny, and Ron climbed the steps back to Gryffindor tower after practice. "Congratulations on winning the game."

Ron made a choked sound, but Ginny just laughed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but the game isn't until tomorrow."

"Oh," Persephone said looking slightly confused. "Well, good luck then, Ginny." She added coolly, "Good luck, Harry."

"Am I invisible?" Ron asked as she left. "I'm not a figment of your shared imagination am I?"

"Oh get over it, Ron," Ginny said, sounding unconcerned. "You don't like her anyway."

Ron had certainly put the incident out of his mind by the next day. He smiled roguishly and waved at the large crowd gathered at the Quidditch pitch. They could not have asked for better weather. The sky was clear and the temperature quite pleasant.

"Hey, look Harry!" Ron said pointing at the stands.

Harry looked and caught sight of Remus Lupin. He waved at him, and Lupin waved back with a pleasant smile.

"Wonder what he's doing here?" Ron said.

Harry shrugged. The whistle sounded. The Quaffle was released, and the game began. Harry searched the skies for the Golden Snitch and saw nothing but blue expanse. Trying to resist watching the other players too closely, he kept an ear open for Dennis Creevey's excitable commentary. "Weasley to Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe to Gudgeon. Gudgeon to Weasley. Goal! Weasley scores! Ten points to Gryffindor! Ginny Weasley's the Gryffindor Team Captain, you know! Right well, Hufflepuff's got the Quaffle. Johnston to Pilliwickle. Pilliwickle sends it long to..."

Harry circled the pitch ten times without the slightest glimpse of the Snitch. Gryffindor was maintaining a slight lead, but the Hufflepuff team was holding its own. Hufflepuff Beater Androcles Alderton actually managed to score a goal by knocking a Bludger into the Quaffle and redirecting its path in midair.

Harry searched the stands again but failed to find Lupin. He had little time to ponder this as another Bludger sailed past his head. Harry spotted the Snitch. He made a dive for it, but two well-aimed Bludgers from the Hufflepuff Beaters threatened to unseat him.

The score mounted steadily as the minutes flew by. Sixty to forty. Kirke and Sloper started mimicking the tactics of the Hufflepuff Beaters and made sure the Hufflepuff Seeker, Harmony Bones, had an equally miserable time of it.

Eighty to seventy. When the Hufflepuff Beaters were not picking on Harry they did their best to chase Ron away from the goal. At length Kirke and Sloper had to change tactics and tried unseating the Hufflepuff Beaters instead.

Hundred thirty to hundred ten. Harry made another lazy circle of the pitch. He paused to check the progress of the game and a Bludger slammed into his shoulder, knocking him into a spin. He groaned and pulled himself out of it. His shoulder was very badly bruised by the feel of it and protested against much movement. Harry did not spare much energy on nursing his shoulder. He had just spotted the Snitch. He streaked towards it, dodging a knot of Chasers and another Bludger. The Hufflepuff Seeker caught on and gave chase, but it was too late. Harry's fingers closed around the Snitch, and the whistle sounded ending the game.

Harry set down amidst a wash of Gryffindor cheers. Ginny nearly knocked him over with the enthusiasm of her hug. He was glad his glasses shielded his eyes from the slap of red hair hitting his face, and he wished he had similar protection for his ears. They were ringing from Ginny's scream of "THREE HUNDRED POINTS!"

He lost track of the other Gryffindors who hugged him or slapped his back though he was sure Hermione was in the mix. When the crowd surrounding him thinned, Lupin strode forward and shook his hand. "Well done, Harry."

He leaned forward and added in a lower voice. "Might I have a word?"

Harry nodded and slipped off with Lupin to a quiet corner of the field.

"I want to have a chat with you about your future, Harry."

"Um...okay," said Harry.

"Are you still planning to pursue a career as Auror?"

"If I can pass Potions, yeah," Harry said, wondering why Lupin had come all the way to Hogwarts to discuss this.

"Have you given any thoughts to your living arrangements?"

"I...well, I...no, not really," Harry said feeling ambushed. It was not that he had never thought about it at all. He had just had more pressing things on his mind. As long as he did not have to go back to Privet Drive, he was happy.

"Well then, I wanted to explain at least one of your options," Lupin said. "Currently, Grimmauld Place is in my trust, but Sirius left the house to you, Harry."

"To me?"

"You were the closest thing he had to a son," Lupin said kindly. "I think I had assumed that you would know you were always welcome there, but I seemed to have neglected to formally tell you so. The house falls completely into your possession on your first birthday after you finish your Hogwarts education. At which point you may ask the Order to find a new headquarters if you so wish."

"I wouldn't do that," Harry said resolutely.

"I didn't think you would, but it would be very unethical of me not to give you the opportunity," said Lupin. "I had some other business at Hogwarts today, so I thought I would go ahead and see what your thoughts were. We would need to start looking if for some reason we needed to relocate. Setting up a new headquarters would take time."

"The Order comes first," said Harry just as firmly as before. "What other business did you have?"

"Checking on a rumor," Lupin said. "And spent a little more time doing so than I intended. I'm afraid I do have to run along. One more thing before I go, if Persephone tries to tell you something, do her the courtesy and listen. You may find it...interesting."

"Hello, Professor Lupin." Hermione and Ron had just caught up to them.

"Hello, Hermione, Ron, I'm afraid you caught me just as I was leaving. I will see you all again soon, I hope." With that, he left in the direction of Hogsmeade.

"Come on, Harry," Ron said. "Victory party in the common room."

"What did Lupin want?" Hermione asked as they made their way back to the school.

"He wanted to tell me that Sirius left me Grimmauld Place," Harry said.

"Oh." Hermione looked unsure whether or not to congratulate him.

"I told him the Order could keep it. I don't want to live there, but I guess I'll have to figure out something."

"I suppose we all have to start thinking about post-Hogwarts living arrangements," said Hermione.

"Not now," Ron said urging them forward. "Party."

****************

Snape had used red ink to write copious suggestions on their Potions Experiment Proposals. Harry's paper was bleeding with it, but he was happy to see that he was not the only one. Whatever Snape had written on Pansy Parkinson's proposal had her eyes round as saucers, and Megan Jones was practically in tears.

"Well, these should be helpful," Hermione remarked, going over the scratches on her own proposal. Neville was transfixed by his. Harry wanted to see what Snape had written, but Neville quietly slipped the parchment into his bag.

Harry did not bother to read his comments very carefully. He had not intended to stick with his initial proposal anyway.

He only felt mild regret over not putting more effort into it earlier as he was given larger workloads in all his other classes. By the end of term, they were supposed to be able to conjure entire tea sets, cast a workable Protean Charm, a Disillusionment Charm, and a Locator Charm, know and demonstrate the proper care of a Moke (which was tricky because these kept shrinking to the point of being undetectable), and be prepared to explain how they would defend themselves in a number of scenarios, none of which Dumbledore was giving them before the exam.

The Ravenclaws were nearly unbearable with their excitement over their new Seeker, second year Xavier Ekin. Harry was sure he could not be as fast as they were claiming, until he watched the Ravenclaw-Slytherin game. Ekin whirled around the field like a Billywig who had been fed an Energy Potion. The rest of the Ravenclaw team was fairly lamentable, but this only accented that the new Slytherin Chasers were frighteningly good. It was a close game.

Harry now felt mild curiosity when he passed Persephone in the hall, though he seemed to be doing this less than before, but she had abandoned all attempts to talk to him. Dean Thomas told Harry the Forum was losing some of its original focus.

"It's still interesting," Dean said. "But the topics have been rather scattered. She's a little out there. We spent a couple of meetings discussing the Statute of Secrecy. She's all for doing away with it."

"What?" Hermione said in a rather startled voice.

"Yeah, she thinks it creates a lot of unnecessary tensions."

"What do you think?" Harry asked Dean.

"I dunno, mate," said Dean. "I can see where she's coming from, but I grew up with Muggles. I said I thought some of them would be alright, but most of them couldn't handle it."

Harry thought of the Dursleys. "I think you're right." He decided he really should write Dudley.

"And then last week, we spent the whole time discussing a new school song."

"What's wrong with the one we have?" Hermione said irritably.

Dean gave her a bemused look.

Hermione's irritability was beginning to reach the levels that Harry and Ron remembered from their third and fifth years. They knew it meant she was once again overwhelmed or over stressed academically and felt there was nothing to do but ride it out once again. It only worried Harry because she had never before gotten this tense prior to Christmas.

While the Gryffindors knew to safely keep their distance, not everyone was appropriately wary. Ernie Macmillan, in what Harry was sure he intended as a friendly rib, asked Hermione why the Gryffindor prefects were the only ones absent from the Friday evening study groups.

"Well if so many of you are there, you hardly need us do you?" Hermione bit at him.

"I-uh-suppose not," Ernie said, looking somewhat taken aback. "I just thought you'd be the first one for it. You were all about inter-house cooperation last year. Seems a shame that Gryffindor isn't represented."

Hermione glared at Ernie until he hurried off, then she dropped her head in hands and looked ready to burst into tears. "Oo-oh, he's right, Gryffindor should be represented, but I can't take on anymore things like that. I just can't."

"It's okay," Ron said putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" Hermione said piteously.

"Sure, I'm sure," said Ron. "I think I can handle a few first years. It's only a couple of hours a week."

"Oh, Ron," Hermione sniffed and looked as though she might start crying again. "Thank you so much."

****************

There was another Hogsmeade weekend in December. Harry and Ron dragged Hermione away from her books long enough to do a little Christmas shopping. Luna went with them. Harry once again felt a sharp stab of nostalgia for this little postcard village. Logically, he knew he would be free to visit Hogsmeade as often as he liked after he left school, but he felt like the village would lose some of its luster since these would not be Hogsmeade weekends.

Snape handed back their proposals with another set of bleeding comments. At least Harry's was starting to look like it had merely been through a minor scuffle and not crawled out of a horror film.

Hermione was still scowling at her proposal when they got back to the common room. Her parchment had sprung a few bloody paragraphs, which were driving her to distraction. "What does he mean by this? I should consider the incumbent difficulties in extravating...oh you read it." She shoved the parchment into Harry's hands and pointed at the offending sentence.

"I don't even know what half those words mean," Harry said, handing it back to her.

"I know what the words mean," Hermione said irritably. "I just don't know what he means. Oh, I'll just have to ask him." She hurried out of the common room, brushing past Ron at the portal.

Ron joined Harry by the fire. "Library closing early?"

"No, she had to ask Snape something," Harry explained.

Ron stretched luxuriantly. "I think your both balmy, putting up with Snape for two extra years. Look how relaxed I am."

Harry laughed. "Well, Hermione would probably go mad if she didn't have more subjects than she could handle." He tucked his proposal back into his bag. "You'd be surprised though. Snape's actually been... tolerable this term."

"So Ginny says," Ron yawned. "I'm still having no regrets."

Hermione returned to the common room about half an hour later. She drifted in almost Luna-like, sank down into the armchair they had been saving for her, and stared into the fire.

"Did you talk to Snape?" Harry asked, peeking over the top of The Life of the Auror. He was only on Chapter Three: Preparing for the Unexpected.

Hermione shook her head, still staring into the fire.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked.

Hermione turned her head and opened her mouth. She closed it again without saying a word and fell back in the chair, her brow lined with thought. Ron and Harry exchanged looks.

"I'll have both them out," she muttered hotly after a few minutes. "But I need proof."

"What are you talking about?" asked Ron, but Hermione just shook her head again.

"Right," Ron said. "Silly me, thinking you might explain yourself." But Hermione did not seem to hear him.

****************

The next morning Hermione asked Harry if she could borrow his invisibility cloak.

"Sorry," Harry said. "I'm already letting Ron borrow it today."

"What's Ron doing with it?" Hermione asked, sounding both sulky and slightly curious.

"Luna and I use it when we go into the Dark Forest," Ron said as he joined them. "Bit safer that way."

"What do you want with it anyway?" Harry asked.

Hermione pursed her lips. "I'd rather not say just yet."

She was saved from further inquiries by Hedwig who landed on the table with a letter addressed to Harry. The letter bore a stamp, and Harry recognized the awkward handwriting across the envelope. "It's from Dudley," he said as he took the letter from Hedwig and patted her head. There was a note written hastily across the back of the envelope.

Wanted to send this months ago, but couldn't figure out how until your letter arrived.

Hedwig helped herself to Harry's breakfast while he opened the letter.

~

Dear Harry,

Some strange people came looking for you. I think they put some kind spell on Mum, because she let them stay. One of them was a grey-haired lady who claimed she was your dead aunt. The other one was young, about our age, said his name was Marvin Smith, but I think he was lying. I overheard the lady call him Drake.

~

Harry clenched his fist, crumpling the letter. He jumped to his feet, ignored Ron and Hermione's questions, and stormed over to the Slytherin table. Some of the Slytherins took notice of him as he stopped an arms length away, his wand out and held with great restraint by his side. He ignored them and glared at the back of Draco Malfoy's blonde head.

"Malfoy!"

Draco turned his head and cocked his eyesbrows in away that made Harry want to hit him even more. "Potter?"

"What were you doing at my house?" Harry demanded.

The change that came over Malfoy's face was subtle and unreadable. "Looking for you, obviously," he said as he turned around so that he faced Harry and leaned back with his elbows propped lightly against the table.

There was stir among the other Slytherins that told Harry this was not a story Malfoy had shared with them.

"I wasn't there," said Harry with an air of challenge, hoping to goad Malfoy into more of an explanation.

"And thus my brilliant plans were foiled," Malfoy said in a bored tone.

Harry once again resisted the urge to hit him. "Why were you looking for me?"

Malfoy's eyes seemed to look past Harry, and the corner of his mouth twitched into an ironic smirk. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Tell me anyway," said Harry stiffly. Though he had not consciously moved it, his wand was now pointing at Malfoy's feet rather than his own.

Malfoy considered him for a moment and then shrugged. "It doesn't matter anymore. You weren't there. I left."

"You weren't alone," Harry said.

Draco put a finger to his lips as though giving the matter some thought. Then his smirk returned. "No, I had your aunt for company."

Harry had grabbed Draco by the collar before he was fully aware of what he was doing. "If you hurt her..." he began but left the threat unspoken.

Malfoy was clearly startled by the sudden move. He held his arms out for balance, and the cockiness drained out of his demeanor. "Are you worried about those Muggles?" he asked as though the thought was genuinely new to him.

Harry scowled. He was not sure why he suddenly felt so defensive of the Dursleys. Maybe it was because Dudley had finally been nice to him this summer. Maybe it had not occurred to him before that Privet Drive, where he had been safe if not happy, was no longer safe in his absence.

"Relax, Potter, I didn't touch them," Draco said.

"You put a spell on Aunt Petunia," Harry hissed.

"No, I didn't," Malfoy said very quietly.

Harry released Malfoy's collar, shoving him back into his seat. "If I hear differently," he breathed just loudly enough for Draco to hear. "If you or your friends enter my house again, you're dead. Understand?"

The look on Malfoy's face was more awed than worried. Harry became aware of McGonagall's quick steps. "What's going on here?" she demanded.

"Nothing, Professor," Malfoy said. "Just a little misunderstanding."

Professor McGonagall looked at Harry, but he gave no further explanation. She pressed her lips tightly together. "Go back to your seat, Potter," she said finally. With a last glance at Malfoy, Harry obeyed.

****************

The conversation with Malfoy became more perplexing the more Harry thought it over, but he had little time to do that. Their exams were upon them.

Harry found himself capable of producing a tea set. Though he lost points for forgetting the sugar bowl and not having the same number of cups as saucers. Ron's Moke escaped, but Hagrid assured him he would still get some points for knowing all the principles of Moke care. Hermione was preoccupied by something and for once did not attempt to give them detailed accounts of her exam experiences.

Snape's exam was nearly all written, focusing on experiment methodology, and they handed in the final drafts of their proposals. "And I would like you to see me in my office after class, Ms. Granger," Snape added after he told them their time was up.

"No!" Hermione said, looking startled.

Everyone looked at her.

"What did you say?" Snape asked, looking nearly as confused as the rest of them.

"No," Hermione repeated, firmly this time. "I'm not staying after class."

Snape considered her for a moment, while Hermione stared defiantly back at him. Harry was sure she had gone too far and wondered if she had finally snapped under exam pressures.

The anger drained off Snape's face, and his lip curled into a small, tight smile. "Very well, then. Mr. Longbottom, you will stay."

Neville, who was already looking at Hermione worriedly, went a little paler, but he did not dare argue with Professor Snape.

"What was that about?" Harry asked Hermione when they were safely out of the classroom.

Hermione did not answer, though she was muttering under her breath. She seemed a bit confused and was fuming as though Snape had said something rather insulting to her.

"Hermione, how much sleep have you been getting every night?"

"Enough," she said.

"How much is enough?"

"I don't know, three or four hours at least."

"Three or four?" Harry took her arm to stop her. "You do know the average human requires seven?"

"I'm fine," Hermione insisted. "I'll sleep over the holidays."

"I don't think it works like that," Harry said.

"I said, 'I'm fine'. I don't do all the physical activity you and Ron do. I just don't need as much sleep."

They were still arguing about it, when Neville caught up to them looking a bit dazed. "What did he want, Neville?" Harry asked.

"He gave me a scholarship," Neville said as though he still did not believe it.

"He what?"

"They're starting a wizarding college in America, and they asked Professor Snape to recommend a student for the Potions Program," Neville explained. "He said my proposal was really brilliant. It showed a good use of integrating material from other disciplines...I had theories on alternative uses for Dentatus Pelargonium in...well, he was going to offer it to Hermione first since her marks had been consistently the highest, but said you seemed to not want it." He looked at Hermione apologetically.

Hermione just stared at Neville as though not comprehending. "I'll tell him you should have it if you like," Neville said generously. "I'm sure you didn't know what he wanted to discuss."

"Oh, no, you keep it, Neville," Hermione said as though waking up. "I'm very happy for you. You deserve it. You've been working really hard." Neville smiled at her.

Ron could not believe it either. "He gave Neville a scholarship? But he hates Neville. Maybe someone's got the real Snape locked up in trunk. Do you think we should search his office?"

Harry told Ron that he could use the invisibility cloak if he liked, but he, Harry, was not going anywhere near Snape's office.

****************

The end of exams heralded the start of the Christmas holidays. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had received invitations from both Hermione and Ron's parents to spend the holidays with them, but Harry had the idea of working on some more D.A. issues. As his days to leave Hogwarts were ticking down, he felt the inevitable day when he would have to face Lord Voldemort looming ever closer.

He had turned the Room of Requirement into a sort of war room. The walls were lined with photos of Death Eaters and articles about Voldemort. There was a map of Europe with magically glowing, color-coded marks where there had been reports of Death Eater activity. Books about Voldemort and the rise of the Dark Arts were now sporting colored tabs wherever some one had found a potentially useful passage. Harry was hoping he, Ron, and Hermione could make something of it all, now that their brains were no longer cluttered by their studies. Ginny and the Patil twins had volunteered to stay behind and join the think tank as had a handful of other D.A. members.

The other boys in their dorm were headed home for the holidays. Neville had gotten over his initial shock at getting the scholarship and was babbling about how his Gran would react when he told her. Luna was spending Christmas with her dad as well and stopped by the Gryffindor table at breakfast to bid them farewell.

"Wait a minute, Luna, here comes..." Ron trailed off, and Harry turned to see what he was gaping at. Ginny was exchanging a farewell hug with a girl with long dark hair.

"Isn't that...?" Harry began.

"That's the new Slytherin Chaser!" Ron squeaked. "Ginny, what do you think you're doing?" he demanded as she joined them.

"Whaddaya mean?" Ginny asked, taking a piece of fruit.

"You...you're fraternizing with the enemy!"

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, what the devil are you talking about?"

"Bilius?" Luna giggled.

Ron ignored her. "You were hugging Chesann Blampied! She's on the Slytherin team!"

Ginny shrugged. "Quit being so melodramatic, Ron. She's a great girl."

"But she's on the Slytherin team! She's the bloody Chaser!"

"Well, I've got to go," said Luna.

"Bye, Luna," they all murmured, except Ron who was still gaping at Ginny and gave a halfhearted wave. Luna waved good bye and drifted away quickly.

"Ron, has it ever occurred to you that there's more to life than Quidditch?"

Ron looked horrified. "You're team Captain!"

"That's right," Ginny said. "I am. And I promise to try to knock Chess off her broom when the next game rolls around, but in the meantime, I don't see the point in showing blatant animosity."

"That sounds like a healthy attitude," Hermione said.

"Traitor," Ron muttered.

"Well, it beats everyone trying to curse each other in halls, doesn't it?" Hermione said pointedly.

"Can we try not to start off Christmas holidays with a row?" Harry muttered. "Ginny, aren't you just a little worried about chumming up with the Slytherins?"

"Nope," Ginny said and popped a berry in her mouth. "They're individuals, Harry, not a multi-headed monster, and I'm not chumming up with all of them."

"Speaking of snakes, P. and Malfoy are staying for Christmas," Hermione said.

Ginny groaned. "Oh, would you stop already-"

****************

The think tank was not starting out as well as Harry had hoped. He had set Padma and Parvati to looking in the Library for the dark creature rituals book that P. had mentioned, but they were not having any luck finding it. Ron kept wanting to take breaks, and Hermione was still preoccupied with something. No one else was having much luck focusing now that they were free of exams. Ginny and Annie Howard kept tossing around possible lyrics for a new school song, and these were getting progressively sillier.

Harry tried to make himself relax, but he felt tense and coiled. He tried to cheer himself with the reminder that so many people had stayed to help him, but this only made him feel guilty. Oddly enough Zacharias Smith was the one who managed to ease his mind.

"I'll be honest," Smith said. "I'm not here for you, Potter. I'm here to fight Voldemort."

Around five o'clock, Hermione asked once again if she could borrow Harry's invisibility cloak. Harry was tempted to tell her no or demand to know what she wanted it for, but he was too tired to argue with her.

She returned to the common room sometime after dinner with the cloak and Colin Creevey's camera, but she still looked disappointed.

Harry wanted to confront Malfoy again, but Malfoy was clinging to the Slytherin common room and avoiding all the places Harry might be able to corner him.

****************

They had all agreed to take Christmas day off. Harry awoke Christmas morning in a relatively good mood and found a nice pile of presents awaiting him. He and Ron took theirs downstairs so they could open them with Hermione and Ginny.

Hermione nearly cried over receiving her first Weasley sweater. It was white with an interlocking "HG" in gold colored yarn. She pulled Crookshanks onto her lap and buried her eyes in his fur to recover herself. Ron looked extremely uncomfortable at this, but Hermione assured him she was just happy and a little tired.

Harry unwrapped his own sweater, red with an "HB" sewn in a similar interlocking style. He guessed it was for Head Boy and was a little reluctant to put it on.

Ginny decided against donning her pink sweater. She gave Hermione a new diary, Harry a book on trying out for Professional Quidditch teams ("Just in case"), and Ron a gift certificate for Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Fred and George had sent them all an extra set of Extendable Ears.

They spent the morning comparing the rest of their booty and went down to the Great Hall together for lunch. "Happy Christmas, P.!" Ginny yelled across the room to the Slytherin table.

"Happy Christmas, Ginny!" Persephone yelled back.

Hermione glanced up at the half-empty staff table and seemed to come to a decision about something. "I'll be right back," she said.

Harry took seats at the Gryffindor table with Ron, and Ginny left them to sit with Parvati and a couple of sixth year students. He watched Hermione make her way over to the Slytherin table. Persephone was holding a thick book and beamed at her when she approached. They exchanged a few words. Harry could not hear what they were saying. Hermione said something that made Persephone's face fall. Daphne Greengrass tossed her party colored hair and made her own comment. Hermione gave her a disgusted look and walked back to the Gryffindor table looking grimly satisfied.

"Don't suppose you're going to tell us what that was about?" said Ron.

"I'd rather not just yet," Hermione said and helped herself to a plate. "I want to talk to Professor Dumbledore first."

****************

They lingered at the table, eventually sliding down and joining Ginny and Parvati's group. They were about ready to leave when Professor McGonagall caught them. "You three," she said. "Dumbledore would like to see you in his office."

"Well, there you go," Ron said.

They followed Professor McGonagall to Dumbledore's office. She left them at the door. Dumbledore was standing at his desk. There were five comfortable looking chairs lined up in front of it. He motioned them forward. Harry was surprised to see the first two chairs in the line were occupied by Persephone and Professor Snape. Both were looking serious and Persephone slightly worried.

"Please sit, down," Dumbledore said. They did so, Hermione taking the center chair beside Persephone, and Dumbledore took his own seat. "I am disappointed in you three," he began. Hermione's mouth fell open. Harry and Ron simply stared at the headmaster with baffled expressions.

"In us?" Hermione repeated incredulously.

Dumbledore gave her admonishing glance. "Yes, Ms. Granger, in you. Happily I have not had frequent occasions to be so, but today I am. Harry, I do not completely understand your reasons for lying to me, but I hope we will be able to set everything right. Ms. Granger you have been unduly rude to Professor Snape. I'm sure you also had your reasons, but you are still a student and bound by the protocols of this school."

Hermione looked ready to launch into another protest, but Dumbledore silenced her with another stern look.

Ron coughed softly. "And, what did I do, sir?"

Dumbledore gave him a tight smile. "Nothing, as far as I know, Mr. Weasley, but it seemed more efficient to include you."

"Right," said Ron in a soft I'm-sure-that-makes-perfect-sense-somehow tone.

"Before we get started, I think you should apologize to Professor Snape, Ms. Granger, and I understand you said something rather upsetting to Persephone as well."

This seemed to be too much for Hermione. "Me?! Apologize?!"

"Headmaster, I don't think-"

"Quiet, Severus," Dumbledore said gently and turned his attention back to Hermione. "Ms. Granger, I understand you have been under a great deal of pressure lately but that does not excuse rudeness. I would like for you to calm down."

"Calm down?" Hermione was being to look livid. "Do you know-"

"Right, now I need you to listen-"

"I will not!"

"Hermione..." Harry murmured.

Dumbledore stood up. "Ms. Granger, I expected better of you, but if-"

"I saw him kiss her!" Hermione shouted and glared at Snape.

Hermione was breathing heavily. Dumbledore for the first time Harry could remember seemed to be at a loss for words. Snape's elbow had slipped off the arm where he had it propped, and he stared back at Hermione equally incapable of speech. Harry could not see Ron but was sure his shocked face mirrored his own as he too gazed at Hermione. The stunned silence might have lasted several minutes if Persephone had not jumped to her feet.

"He did not!" she yelled, looking just as angry as Hermione. Hermione tilted her head as though daring Persephone to call her a liar, and Persephone wilted and looked suddenly apologetic. She turned to Dumbledore. "I kissed him, Professor. He had done something very nice for me, and I was grateful. I know I shouldn't have, but you know my situation."

"You're situation?!" Hermione repeated, sounding twice as incredulous as Dumbledore's expression softened.

"He told me not to do it again. He said I would be in trouble if I did."

"Oh yes," Hermione said sarcastically. "He looked furious, was really fighting you off."

Persephone whirled on her. "Well, what did you want him to do--hit me?"

"Persephone, that's enough," Dumbledore said gently. "This is all making a little more sense now." His eyes flickered briefly to Snape. "I think we can clear much of it up with a simple introduction."

"An introduction?" Hermione repeated, but far more softly this time.

"Persephone, if you would introduce yourself properly."

Persephone nodded and took a deep breath.

"Persephone Potter," she said, sticking out her hand to Harry as though she expected him to shake it. Harry just stared back at her. His brain was starting to hurt. "James Potter was my brother. I'm your aunt, Harry."

"You can't be his aunt," Ron said. "You're younger than he is."

"Actually, I'm thirty-six," Persephone said. "I've been enchanted into a painting for the past twenty years, which is why I look like I haven't aged."

Oddly enough, Harry was not having too much trouble with this part of the conversation. It bothered him more that Snape had not risen in an angry denial but seemed to be attempting to sink through his chair.

"What's this got to do with, Snape?" Ron asked.

"Severus was my best friend when I was at Hogwarts before," Persephone said.

"You're kidding," Ron said.

"I'm afraid she's not," Dumbledore said. "It was not my intention for you to go this long without an explanation, Harry. Persephone had asked to be the one to tell you who she was, and I was trying to respect that wish. Had I realized she would put it off this long, however, I would have had a meeting like this much sooner." He gave Persephone a stern look this time. She looked abashed and sat back down.

"Persephone Potter disappeared from the Hogwarts grounds near the end of her fifth year," Dumbledore explained. "Voldemort had begun his rise to power at that point but had not yet been attributed with the murders and kidnappings he and his followers had committed. Some believed she had wandered into the Forbidden Forest and gotten lost, but this seemed highly unlikely. Persephone's rather unique condition causes most animals to perceive her as unnatural and some of them react very strongly to her. She generally avoided them."

"Crookshanks," Hermione said softly.

Dumbledore nodded. "Not long after Ms. Potter's disappearance, Voldemort showed his true colors. It was distressing for many of us to think that Voldemort was capable of taking a student from the Hogwarts' grounds undetected, but it seemed the most likely scenario. I am somewhat relieved after twenty years to learn that this was not in fact the case."

Harry found his voice. "How did she disappear then?"

"That I'm afraid still remains a mystery," said Dumbledore. "Unless of course, you care to enlighten us, Persephone?"

Persephone shook her head. "I promised not to tell."

Dumbledore sighed.

"You promised not to tell?" Ron repeated. "Rather convenient isn't it?"

"No, it's not convenient at all," Persephone said irritably. "But I promised, and I keep my promises."

"How do you know she is who she says she is?" Hermione asked. Her voice was now calm but still wary.

"I certainly considered the possibility that Voldemort might be trying to reach Harry by resurrecting a dead family member," Dumbledore said. "I had Madam Pomfrey employ a number of tests to verify her identity. Beyond that however, it would be very difficult for someone to reproduce all the effects of Persephone's condition."

"Luna said she could affect minds," Harry said tentatively.

"Is that why you've been avoiding her?" Dumbledore asked.

"Pretty much," Harry said.

"Did you believe my mind similarly affected?"

Harry looked down abashed, but Dumbledore did not sound angry. If anything, he sounded slightly amused. "I think Ms. Lovegood may be exaggerating a bit," the headmaster said.

"No," Hermione said. "I've watched her. The way people respond to her. It isn't natural."

"I said I believed Ms. Lovegood was exaggerating not that she was entirely incorrect," Dumbledore said. "Persephone Potter is quite possibly the most naturally manipulative person I've ever known."

Persephone looked as though she had just been betrayed by her most trusted friend.

Dumbledore continued, "I was able to observe her for five years before her abduction and watched her more closely this year than she realizes, though apparently not closely enough. It is my belief that Persephone has the effect of a living, breathing Cheering Charm, and whether by intent or instinct she uses this ability to her full advantage. But I have seen no evidence to support that she can convince anyone to do something against their will." Persephone crossed her arms and frowned sulkily. Dumbledore smiled patiently at her. "Though she seems to have gotten on your bad side, she is generally a very kind and thoughtful girl. I have never known her to abuse her ability." There may have been a light admonition in the last sentence. Harry was not sure.

"Now, if you four would step outside for a moment and get reacquainted, I would like to have a word with Professor Snape."

They stood, and with a flick of his wand, Dumbledore sent their chairs to the short hall just outside the door. They filed out, and Harry shut the door behind them. It did not occur to any of them to reach for the Extendable Ears in their pockets. Persephone sank down in the seat to the left of the door. Harry and Hermione sat in the ones across from her, and Ron pulled the forth chair over so that he was closer to Harry and Hermione.

They looked at each other awkwardly for a few moments, then Persephone turned to watch the door. "I'm going to be sick if he's in trouble," she said softly. "I'm just going to be sick."

It had slowly started to click in Harry's mind. Family. This was supposed to be his family. He examined Persephone as though first seeing her. Her wild silver hair sticking up in all directions, her too wide shoulders on her short frame. Ron was right. She did have flat knees.

Harry must have had a thousand fantasies about long lost family. When he was younger, it had often been his parents, one or both of who had miraculously survived the car crash. Or some distant eccentric uncle who had recently learned of his existence. Or a twin who was sometimes living the good life and sometimes had it just as bad as Harry. When he discovered that he was a wizard his fantasies had grown even more extravagant. One of his relatives had survived Voldemort's purge and just did not know it was safe to come out of hiding. There was some magic spell to restore life to his parents, or his grandparents were trapped by some mystical force, just waiting for him to clap his hands three times or think of them hard enough. He had imagined aunts, uncles, cousins, third cousins, great, great grandparents so fragile they had not been able to care for an infant but would surely welcome an eleven year old capable of looking after himself. After he found Sirius, it had all seemed even more possible though less likely to make two such discoveries.

Sirius's death had forced him to face the fact he would simply have to take care of himself, but still he had occasionally dreamed that some one would return for him. The complexity and creativity of some of the enchantments that he had dreamed up to keep his family members held captive made Persephone's painting seem extremely plausible by comparison.

He had pictured his family members as old, young, plain, beautiful, scarred, and spurting tails. Though normally they were recognizable by piercing green eyes or hair that refused to lie flat in the back. Persephone's hair at least was a bit over qualified. But there had been one consistent thread to all his fantasies. All his family members had cared more about him than Professor Snape.

"I don't believe you," Ron said. "If you're Harry's aunt, what are you doing in Slytherin?"

Persephone looked at Ron as though he had just said something remarkably stupid. "I was sorted."

"I'm not sure I believe you either," Harry said. "No one's ever mentioned that my father had a sister."

"Oh, I don't care what you believe anymore!" Persephone said in a way that made Harry think she cared a great deal.

"What does all this have to do with Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Draco's the one who rescued me," Persephone said, sounding very proud of him for doing so.

That had definitely never occurred in any of Harry's fantasies.

"So...so that's why you hang around him. You're not actually dating Malfoy?" Ron said.

"Of course not," Persephone said, still looking rather defensive.

"And you're not having an affair with Snape?"

Persephone rolled her eyes at Ron. "If you want to call what we're having an affair, it's the most G-rated affair in history."

"What's that mean?" Ron asked.

"It means they're not having an affair," Hermione said.

"Thank goodness," Ron said. "I thought I might be sick there for a minute."

"He's not..." Persephone began. "I still like him very much. He's my best friend. He never gave up on me."

"He hates my father," Harry said.

"He...I don't think he does," she said softly. "Not really. He used to."

Harry considered her some more. She glanced at the door again now that the conversation had paused. He wanted to test her somehow, but he was having a little trouble thinking of anything. "You went to school same time as my father?"

"I was a year younger than James, but yes."

"What was he like?"

Persephone seemed slightly hesitant to answer. "He was a bully."

Harry sensed both Ron and Hermione tensing. "How dare you-" Ron began.

"No," Harry said softly. "She's right."

"How do you know?" Hermione asked.

Harry had never told either of them about what he had seen in the Pensieve. "Sirius told me," he said. This was hardly conclusive proof though. Snape could have told her any number of things about his father.

Persephone was starting to look at him curiously now. Her hostility had slid away. "What was your mother's name, Harry?"

"Lilly."

"Lilly Evans?"

Harry nodded, feeling a burst of dread that she might tell him something unpleasant about her too.

"Lucky James. She was an angel," Persephone said with a small smile. "Everybody liked her."

"He didn't," Harry said indicating the closed office door.

Persephone seemed to understand. "Yes, he did," she said with a fond expression that implied she was letting out a small secret.

"He called her a Mudblood."

She looked surprised. "When?"

"I guess he was about fifteen or so, just taken his owls."

"O-h, I remember that."

"You weren't there."

"I wasn't there when he said it, but Severus told me about it later. He felt awful about it. Apologized later. I know Lilly was angel, because she forgave him. They even went out once during the next year."

Harry did not hide the horror from his face. The words "My mother never-" started to form on his lips, but they stayed unspoken. He really did not know who his mother's friends had been or if she had had any boyfriends before his father. But the thought of her with Snape...

Persephone seemed to find his twisted expression very funny and laughed with a hand held loosely over her mouth. "Don't worry, they didn't hold hands or anything, just got some sodas at the Three Broomsticks. Severus said it wasn't really a date, but..." She laughed at Harry's expression again.

"Oh, so James finally got to Lilly." She shook her head as though settling the thought in. "You know, I really would have liked to've seen James after Lilly got a hold of him."

She turned to Ron. "Are you Arthur Weasley's son by any chance?"

"Yeah," Ron said looking apprehensive.

"Did he marry Molly Prewett?"

"Um, yeah."

She grinned. "How many siblings do you have?"

"Five brothers and Ginny."

"That makes seven right?" She laughed and clapped her hands together. "Hah! Henrietta Glump owes me eight Knuts. Could you imagine her face if I tried to collect?"

Before Ron could think of anything to say to this, the door opened. "Persephone, please come in here."

She returned to the office, and her chair followed her.

"No offense, Harry. She may be your aunt, but she's still as nutty as a nutcake."

"Don't you mean fruitcake?" Hermione said.

"I meant what said," said Ron.

"I just wish we had some way to check," Harry said. "You know like a blood test or something...Or..." He smacked his hand on his forehead. "The map."

"What do you mean 'the map'?" Hermione said.

Ron groaned. "We're complete idiots, aren't we? We just have to look at the Marauders' Map. It never lies right?"

Hermione regained some of her earlier anger. "You told me the map was destroyed!" she hissed.

Ron and Harry looked at each other guiltily. "Well, we thought you were under the Imperious Curse at the time," Ron said in a small voice.

"Oh you two are idiots!" Hermione snapped. "If I'd known we still had the map, we could have figured this all out months ago."

"Well, if you hadn't been behaving like a Knarl all term, we could have figured this out months ago," Harry snapped back at her.

Hermione opened her mouth and shut it again. She fell back in her chair and rested her forehead in her hand.

To be fair, Harry told Ron, "You weren't much better."

Ron shrugged. "Well, you should know better by now than to listen to anything I say."

"Take all the fun out of yelling at you, why don't you?" Harry said with a smirk.

"I'm usually the voice of reason aren't I?" Hermione said. "I'm usually the one telling you not to jump to conclusions and suspect Professor Snape of things? I'm supposed to be the calm, rational one, right?"

"Yes, and you've really been skiving off this semester," Harry said sternly. He smiled at her to let her know she was forgiven, and she smiled back.

The door opened again, and Snape strode past quickly, not looking at any of them. "Harry, please come in here for a moment and ask the others to wait just a bit."

Harry walked in to Dumbledore's office and had a seat in the empty chair. Dumbledore was smiling kindly, and Persephone looked very thoughtful. She gave Harry a nervous smile, and it struck him how incredibly young she was or was not. He wondered what color her hair and eyes would be if she had not been born a Silver Child.

"Harry, I'm sure this is all a little confusing," Dumbledore said. "Do you have any questions?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "How come no one's ever told me that my father had a sister?"

"A good question," Dumbledore said. "And one with very simple answer. You never asked."

"I-" Harry began, but it was true he had never asked. He had been curious, but the Dursley's had spent eleven years training him not to ask questions about his family. Harry had gotten used to not knowing. It made him sad now to realize he did not even know the names of his father's parents. Sirius had called them kind, and he had been happy to know that much. "I didn't think I had to."

"Perhaps I should have taken more initiative to help you learn your family's history," Dumbledore said. "But you seemed content, and I did not wish to burden you further. I'm afraid there were a lot of unhappy endings. Persephone was your father's only sibling. She was well loved, and many people were saddened by her disappearance. I feared breaching the subject would leave you with more questions than answers. After twenty years, it was generally assumed Persephone was dead, though Severus never believed it. He's been gloating quite a bit now that she's turned up again."

"Voldemort killed my grandparents too, didn't he?"

Dumbledore nodded. "He killed your grandfather. Your grandmother had never been a very strong woman. I think a combination of grief and poor health were responsible for her passing. Death Eaters killed you maternal grandparents. Your mother was able to rescue your Aunt Petunia from the house, but I'm afraid she wanted nothing to do with our world after that."

"I saw her," Persephone said. Her eyes were tearing. "Your Aunt Petunia. Draco took me to Little Whinging first to find you, but you'd already gone. I asked her about you...but she never told me that. How horrible."

"You do know his father's a Death Eater don't you?" Harry said hotly. "And your friend Snape, he was a Death Eater too. Didn't he tell you the sort of things they do? How could you stay in Slytherin House knowing the sort of people it produced."

"Severus never killed anyone, and Draco's not like that!"

"Is that what you think?"

She wiped her eyes with the inside of her wrist.

"If you're supposed to be my family, why'd you put off telling me so long?"

"I was nervous."

"Why were you nervous?"

"No idea," she said bitterly. "This is obviously going so well. Gah, you are just like James."

"I'm not," Harry said softly. "I've just learned not to trust Slytherins."

Harry felt the flames that had risen inside him cool. It was hard to stay angry and watch her trying not cry. He suddenly felt like a brute. She was so small. If he had been locked away in a painting for twenty years and finally reunited with his last remaining relative, he would be expecting a warmer welcome. He would want to be trusted. But then this guilt he was feeling could be part of that natural manipulation that Dumbledore had talked about. It was all very confusing.

"Harry, I may have done you a bit of a disservice," Dumbledore said. "When I applauded your choice of Gryffindor over Slytherin, I think I left you with the impression that it would have spoken ill of you if you had chosen Slytherin."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, even more confused by this jump in the conversation.

"Perhaps it would be better to say that I did not applaud your choice of House so much as your reason for it," said Dumbledore. "Do you remember why you did not want to be in Slytherin?"

"Because I didn't want to be like Voldemort," Harry said.

"Exactly, and it is this attitude that I applauded. The Sorting Hat is rarely wrong and never lies. If it told you that you would have done well in Slytherin, I'm sure you would have, but I wanted to encourage your determination to be what Voldemort isn't. I am afraid that in the process I left you with the impression that Slytherin would have turned you into a dark wizard."

"But Slytherin has turned out more dark wizards than any other House," said Harry.

"In recent history yes," Dumbledore said. "But we do not lie, when we tell first years that each House has their own noble history and has produced many great witches and wizards. Those who chose a darker path may also have started in any of them."

"Grindelwald was a Hufflepuff," Persephone said helpfully.

Dumbledore chuckled softly. "If every student who entered Slytherin House was marked to be a dark wizard, we would send them home immediately after sorting. I'll admit I have my doubts about some of them, but there is not a single one I would give up complete hope for. Blaise Zabini for example is a very fine young man, and well worth taking the trouble to get to know."

Harry had taken classes with Blaise Zabini for six and a half years, but he was so quiet Harry forgot he was there most of the time. He had never seen much reason to get to know him.

Persephone nodded, her eyes quite dry now. "He writes poetry," she added, though her expression conveyed that she was not sure whether or not this was in his favor. Harry almost laughed.

Dumbledore stood, took the Sorting Hat from its shelf, and placed it on his desk. He tapped it gently with his wand. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I would like you to explain yourself a bit to Mr. Potter."

The Sorting Hat stirred. The rip of a mouth opened near its brim. "Potter, you say? Never had a student need so much attention from me before. I usually only see them once, but I think this makes three time now."

"Three?" Persephone asked curiously.

"Ah, two Potters," the hat said. "Yes, I remember this one as well. Difficult to place, very difficult, both of you."

"Why was I difficult to place?" Harry asked. "I mean, why did you put me in Gryffindor?"

"Why? A very complicated question, but also very simple. I consider many factors when sorting students into their Houses. I must consider their aptitudes of course, but I also consider their preferences. It is my job to maintain balance both between the Houses and within them, and the Houses must be quartered as evenly as possible. Sometimes students fit very neatly into the founders ideals, but more often they do not.

"I have occasionally run out of purebloods to place in Slytherin House and instead placed them by their cunning. I could have easily put Mr. Zabini in Ravenclaw if you had not insisted upon Gryffindor.

"You, Potter, would have been miserable in Ravenclaw and doubted yourself in Hufflepuff. Had I put you in Slytherin you would have gone to exceptional lengths to prove yourself and your example would certainly have influenced the others, but in the end I went with your preference and that has served you equally well. I suppose I am given more to yielding to preferences of late. I have lost some faith in my original purpose and find new satisfaction in arranging some happiness. I am bound by my enchantments, but enjoy great freedom in interpreting them. Overall I think I have done well. For example, the Patil twins wished to be separated, and the Weasleys wished to stay together. I could have sorted them differently, but I think this way they are happiest."

"Hermione could have been in Ravenclaw," Harry said.

"Yes, but I sensed that she was needed elsewhere. Was I wrong?"

"No," Harry said. "You weren't wrong. What about Malfoy?"

"He means Draco Malfoy," Dumbledore clarified.

"I remember, very easy to place. He fit the desires and qualifications of Slytherin House more clearly than most."

There was some temptation for Harry to ask the hat about every student in his year, but he had a feeling this was rare treat and one he was expected not to abuse.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said and placed the hat gently back on its perch. "I'm sure you have learned by now that there are many types of bravery. You should also know that traits like ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness can be very admirable if applied in the right direction, and loyalty and hard work extremely dangerous if not well placed. Intelligence is always desirable but there are nearly as many different ways to be clever as there are to be brave, perhaps more.

"Now if you would invite your friends back in, and I would like you and Persephone to step into the hall for a moment while I speak to them."

Harry nodded, and he went to call Ron and Hermione. Persephone followed him out into the hall and shut the door behind them. They stood there for a few quiet minutes while Harry thought over what the Sorting Hat had said.

"Does that stand for Head Boy?" Persephone asked, indicating his sweater.

"Um, yeah," Harry said. "Ron's mum made it for me. She does one every year."

Persephone considered him for a moment. "I know this probably doesn't mean anything. But I am proud of you, Harry."

It was then that he believed her. He believed her a lot more later, when Ron got the map, and they checked her dot to see "Persephone Potter" written there. And even more when he found her in the photo album that Hagrid had given him. It was an old black and white picture of his father at the beach. His father could not have been older than eleven or twelve. In the background was a small girl in a one piece, building a sand castle. Her coloring not distinguishable among the other grey tones, but the wild puff of hair was quite recognizable now that he knew what to look for.

He hugged her while Ron and Hermione were still in Dumbledore's office and nestled his face into the silvery mass. It was surprisingly soft.