The Pensieve

"Lily, James Bertha Jorkins came into my office this morning. And she told me something quite shocking," said Dumbledore. Harry's tears only increased at the sight of his father, but for whom was he crying? James? Or did he cry for Albus Dumbledore, who was like a second father? Harry had never known his father, so his death wasn't as much as a loss for Harry... but when McGonagall opened the sheet that hid the lifeless Dumbledore, the shock was too much for Harry to handle. He was grateful to Hermione, for she had taken him away before the real depression devastated him.

"Professor Dumbledore, what could Bertha possibly have said that would make you call us? I mean, she isn't the most reliable source," said James. Harry could not take his eyes off him--naturally he saw himself physically, but Harry realized that those same words would have come out of his mouth (had this situation aroused in his own life).

"Well, James, people aren't what they seem. Bertha told me that--" began Dumbledore. But what Bertha had really said James and Lily never found out, for Severus Snape (again years younger and not so mean) had burst into the room, out-of-breath.

"Pro--fessor--Dumble--dore!! T-they k-killed h-her!" he cried. "They" meant the Death Eaters.

"Killed who, Severus?" asked Lily. Harry heard the long note of sincerity, and hoped Snape didn't snap at her.

"R-Rianne! Rianne Frost!" Snape said, trying very hard not to look at James.

"Oh, Severus! I'm so sorry!!" cried Lily, standing up, and embracing Snape. James looked taken aback.

Then, the scene swirled. The characters froze and the set zoomed in and out of place. The entire room faded, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were pulled into what seemed like Lily's dormitory. Lying in her bed, Lily wrote very furiously into her diary.

"Dear Diary. I hate James Potter! I hate him--and yet I love him... He's not talking to me all because I hugged Severus! Well, excuse me, James but if someone you loved died, you'd be walking all over the school with a pathetic face trying to get girls to say they're sorry and hug you! The only difference is that Severus does not ask for the attention. And at least tell me if you're not going to talk to me! That way I don't have to hear it from Melissa Honeybell! That jealous jerk! How can decent people like Remus and Peter befriend that monster! Oh I am so sorry Remus! Bur your "friend" is worthy of you! Neither is he worthy of you, Peter. And Severus, thank you so much for hating James, at least SOMEONE get bring him down to earth! He's on Cloud Nine, but not romantically," said Lily, as she wrote. She suddenly stopped, probably because her hand was hurting as she wrote. Harry took a good look at his mother. She was a very beautiful girl, with dirty blonde hair and green eyes, the same as Harry's. That was what everyone said, and now he saw it for himself. He glanced at Ron, who looked eager to hear more. Then at Hermione who was taking periodic glances from Harry to Lily and back again.

"But, despite his flaws, I still love him! He's everywhere to me! When I see the full moon in the brunette sky, it's him I see! Well, now that I insulted and praised him all in the same five minutes, good night," said Lily, yawning and blowing out her lamp. Dean Thomas tapped Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of Lily's Pensieve just as Lily was falling asleep...

"It's almost dinnertime--thought I should get you out of there before people noticed you were gone," said Dean, almost apologetic.

"Thanks," was all Harry could say. The four of them quietly left the empty common room...

Down at dinner, then entire Weasley family had joined the Gryffindor table, which was magically enlarged. Harry could tell they all were really upset over recent events, but any stranger couldn't see behind the veil they put up.

"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Come and join us!" yelled George, one-half of the Weasley twins (the other being Fred), and one-seventh of the Weasley children.

"Hello, all!" said Hermione, looking flustered: this was the first time seeing Ron's parents after their little rendezvous.

"Hello, hello! Tell me, Harry, why were you in St. Mungo's? I-if you don't mind me asking," said Arthur Weasley, the supposed head of the Weasley household. Anyone who knew the Weaselys closely would know that Mrs. Molly Weasley was the one who ran that house.

"Oh, no, of course not," said Harry, quickly. "Well, in mid-April, the three of us were walking in Hogsmeade..."

IN HOGSMEADE

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking through the all-magical town of Hogsmeade. They were talking excitedly about the Quidditch Cup (to be held in Moldavia) that was coming up in August. England was playing along with Greece. Ron's dad was trying to get tickets but it was hard to get eleven people (the nine Weasleys plus Hermione and Harry) all the way to Moldavia. They suddenly were at the Shrieking Shack. They paused and stood still in silence in memory of the late Sirius Black, Harry's godfather who died in Harry's fifth year. After their moment of silence was over, they excitedly re-ignited the heated discussion on who would win the Quidditch Cup.

"Oh, come on, Harry! The Greek team has Hermes Santorini!! England has no chance!" Hermione was shouting. Hermione had surprisingly gained interest in Quidditch.