The Mathias Prophecy Book III

THE MATHIAS PROPHECY

Memories

"Headmaster," Severus began, his dark eyes studying the old man as he sat down opposite him at his desk, "Potter is getting worse. I have been observing her at night as you instructed. She is talking in her sleep and crying out. She has also begun to sleep walk."

"Has she said anything more since Christmas to you about Occlumency?"

"No, but I have overheard her asking questions to her friends on various subjects. She asked Mr. Longbottom how his wand had gotten broken. Fortunately, his memory is poor on a good day, so when he could not remember she just shrugged it off."

"Has she said anything to young Weasley or Miss Granger?"

"She asked Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley about Professor Umbridge."

"What did they say?" Dumbledore asked his expression reflecting his worry.

"They had no idea what she was talking about. Potter kept insisting she had been their Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor during their fifth year."

"Miss Granger simply told her that Professor Lupin had come back that year and to stop making jokes. Weasley was more to the point. He told her she was daft, and that a Delores Umbridge used to be employed by the Ministry of Magic."

"Have there been any other instances?"

"Almost daily, she watches Lupin and Black. Sometimes I see her just sitting alone with a look of intense concentration."

"Hmm...Harry has asked some questions of me as well, mostly about the Department of Mysteries. She has also reread the Mathias Prophecy," Dumbledore pursed his lips," she seemed to think there should be something else. She asked if it were the only prophecy involving her. She was troubled and felt something was missing."

"Headmaster, I do no wish to appear impertinent, but is it possible she is fighting through the memory charms?"

"It is not only very possible, it is extremely likely. Harry is no ordinary witch. She is Voldemort's equal," Dumbledore stated, ignoring his Potion Master's grimace at the sound of the Dark Lord's name. "She is also his opposite; one good, one evil."

"Will you modify her memory again?" Snape questioned with a slight tilt to his head.

"No, Severus. It is time she knew the truth. We shall tell her what happened and restore her memories. I purposely stored them in my pensive."

"Is it wise to completely restore her memory? She will be angry."

"No, actually she will probably be quite furious with me. At the time though, it was necessary. Sirius will need to tell his story."

"What about her friends?"

"Their memories will be restored as well. As for the rest of the student body, they were not a part of what happened at the Ministry, and will not know the difference. It will be a simple thing to remove the blanket charm on the building regarding Umbridge," Dumbledore remarked matter of factly. "Inform Sirius and Lupin to report to my office after dinner tonight. I shall arrange for Harry to come up too."

"And the other students, will you bring them up as well?"

"We can adjust their memories in the morning. Harry will want to be present."

"I shall do as you wish," Snape rose from his seat. "I only hope reliving the experience of Black's death is not too traumatic for her."

"She is older now, Severus. You and Black have come to terms with one another. She was understandably angry at the time. As her soul mate, you of all people should understand how she felt at the time. As I recall, you were in a similar frame of mind when you lost your wife and son."

"You are of course correct. Had it not been for you and my sister, Circe, I probably would be either dead by the Dark Lord's hand or permanently committed to St. Mungo's," Severus admitted ruefully as he mounted the stairs from the tower. 'That old man never fails to amaze me. I never said a word about being Potter's soul mate, yet he knows...' Severus Snape scowled as he headed off to inform Black and Lupin about the Headmaster's plan before going off to his dungeon refuge...

"Hermione, are you sure you've never heard of a house elf named, Kreacher?"

"For the last time, Harry, no! Hermione frowned annoyed at the interruption in her Transfiguration homework.

"Why don't you ask Dobby?" Ron asked chewing on his sugar quill.

"I did," Harry replied flatly, "he denied knowing him. I think he was lying."

"Harry, why would Dobby lie? You know he's devoted to you."

"He may be free, but he's loyal to Dumbledore for giving him a job," Harry answered getting up to pace the length of the common room while Ron quietly whispered with Hermione.

"That's how house elves are, Hermione," Ron reminded her, "but why would Harry believe that Dumbledore would ask him to lie."

"He wouldn't do that, Ron. Harry has been acting strange for weeks now. I know Dumbledore is worried. I caught him watching her a few times in the Great Hall."

"Yeah, I can't argue that she has been acting rather daft for the past two months, but if Dumbledore thought it was serious he would have put her into St. Mungo's in a heartbeat," Ron whispered eyeing Harry as she stopped to stare into the fire.

"Ron, don't be stupid. I'll bet Dumbledore knows exactly what is wrong with her. He knows everything that goes on in this building, especially when it concerns Harry or You Know Who."

"Then why doesn't he do something? All these questions about strange people and places she's never been to. She hasn't been sleeping well either. She admitted to me that she is having nightmares. You don't think You Know Who is up to something do you?"

"I don't think so. Has she complained about her scar hurting?"

"No," Ron replied as the common room door opened and Professor McGonagall entered.

"Harry Potter," she looked around, searching the room full of students for her quarry, "please come with me." Her crisp brogue brooked no argument. "The Headmaster requires your presence in his office."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry looked at Ron and Hermione with a shrug. Following the Deputy Headmistress out through the open portrait of the Fat Lady, she questioned her cautiously. "Professor McGonagall, am I in some kind of trouble? I haven't done anything I can think of."

"The Headmaster will explain everything Miss Potter," she relaxed her stern countenance just enough to let Harry know that she was not being summoned for a disciplinary problem. "Pralines and cream," McGonagall opened the hidden door behind the gargoyle. "You are to go right up."

Harry mounted the moving staircase with trepidation. 'What on earth could Dumbledore want? I have been doing everything he's asked, and even studying for my seventh year O.W.L.'s.'

"Welcome, Harry," Dumbledore smiled looking at her over his spectacles, "sit down and have some refreshments with us."

Harry looked around as he ushered her into his sitting room, becoming aware that Sirius, Snape, and Lupin were also present. Her godfather and Professor Lupin were sitting on either end of the sofa. Snape had taken one of the two wing chairs by the fire. Dumbledore's pensive was sitting on the table beside a tray of cakes and a pot of tea. There was also a pitcher of cider. She eyed them all suspiciously, as the Headmaster sat down in the other chair opposite Professor Snape.

"Come on, Harry, sit with us," Professor Lupin indicated the vacant seat on the couch.

"Why? Maybe I prefer to stand," her green eyes flicked from one to the other. Dumbledore was studying her shrewdly. Professor Snape was sitting straight and stiff, his legs out stretched in front of him. Remus smile seemed forced and Sirius was distracted, his eyes haunted. She was reminded of when he had first escaped from Azkaban.

"Suit yourself, Potter, we may be awhile."

"It wouldn't surprise me. If Dumbledore has his pensive out then I doubt I have been invited here for a friendly little get together, Professor Snape."

"Harry, sit down please. You're right about this not being a friendly little get together. It is something quite important." Sirius voice was hollow and pained.

"Sirius are you all right? What is the matter?" She immediately let her guard down and scanned his emotions. He was in a state of turmoil. She could sense fear, pain, and heartbreak. There was a sense of confusion and worry. Taking his hand, she sat down beside him to try to comfort him.

She knew the others were scrutinizing her. Suddenly she felt a rush as Professor Snape intruded into her mind. He was forcing his thoughts on her. Harry immediately attempted to block this intrusion, and screamed in her mind, 'Get out Snape.' Concentrating hard, she attempted to make her mind blank by dividing it into a series of doors. She then slammed them shut one by one to cut off his invasion. It worked.

"Congratulations, Miss Potter, I see the Occlumency lessons weren't a total loss after all," Snape, sneered.

"What are you talking about, Professor? You have flatly denied ever teaching me Occlumency," Harry looked at him visibly shaken by his mental assault. Her breath was coming in swift gasps and her brow was wet with perspiration. She was looking around in confusion.

"You didn't need to do that, Snape," Sirius growled irritably, "this will be hard enough as it is."

Harry started to get up, but Remus put his hand on her arm to restrain her, "Stay still, Princess. Albus will explain everything in a minute."

Harry locked eyes with Professor Dumbledore. They stared at each other for fully five minutes without wavering. The only sound was the ticking of Dumbledore's twelve-handed grandfather clock. Harry broke the silence.

"What is going on, Professor?"

"How much do you remember of your fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry?" his blue eyes were bright with interest.

"How much do I really remember, or how much did you want me to remember?" She countered him.

"Why ever would you ask such a question, Child?"

"Because I firmly believe you have altered my memory. I would like to know why."

"I will not deny that your memory has been modified. Nor will I deny that you have begun to resist the charms we sought to protect you with and have been having flashes of the events of two years ago."

"Have you also done this to my friends? They keep thinking something is wrong with me."

"We have, but for good reason. Their memories will be restored tomorrow. Tonight we have asked you here to listen to our reasons, and help you to understand. You will have to face some very painful and frightening memories, and then Sirius will tell you his story."

"Will you answer my questions first?"

"If you wish, Child, although all your answers will be found with your memories."

"Perhaps they won't seem as bad if I know some of them first."

"Very well, we will do our best to answer."

Harry thought for a moment, and looked around the room.

"Who is Kreacher?"

"He was my family's house elf, Harry. He was devoted to my mother," Sirius responded quietly.

"The address I keep remembering, number 12 ..."

"Grimmauld Place, London," Sirius finished for her, "it was my family home, and where I lived until I was a teenager."

Harry studied Sirius intently, and they could see her mind working.

"You...you ran away...lived with my father's family, I think."

"That's right, Harry, can you remember anything else?"

"The woman in the portrait...she was...your mother?" she asked uncertainly.

"Yes, can you recall any more?"

Harry got up and began to pace, and then spun around to look at the portraits of the former Headmasters of Hogwarts.

"Phineas Nigellus, you are Sirius great-great-grandfather?" she addressed the man in the portrait.

He looked down at her haughtily, studying her, before responding.

"You are very powerful to be able to break through Dumbledore's memory charm. Yes, Sirius is my great-great- grandson. He is the last of the Black's"

Satisfied, Harry nodded to him, and turned away. She was aware of all the portraits watching her.

"Professor Dumbledore, was Sirius house the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Yes, Child, it has since been abandoned. What else do you remember?"

"I was hurt, you could have made me a Prefect and didn't. You passed me up and were practically ignoring me for almost the entire year. What is worse I had to suffer the indignity of Draco Malfoy rubbing it in. He just loved showing off his badge to me," Harry felt a burst of pain and anger. "You caused more damage than Voldemort ever could have. I was more alone in those few months than I had ever been living with the Dursley's. I hope you rot in hell for it. I will never forgive you."

"I know, Harry, it was an old man's mistake," Dumbledore's voice remained calm. "Do you remember why I distanced myself from you?"

"I...Voldemort...he became aware of the link between us. You didn't want him to use me...you old SOB," Harry yelled angrily, "that's why you hypnotized me last summer. You wanted to see if it was still possible for me to see him. You saw it starting all over again."

"Potter, the Headmaster had to be sure you were not being controlled by the Dark Lord. He would use you without mercy," Professor Snape informed her acerbically. "You of all people should be aware of the dangers."

"You had no business poking around in my head!"

"As I recall you gave me permission to do so," Snape replied evenly.

Harry's green eyes flashed, but before she could reply, Remus voice stopped her cold.

"Harry, Severus is merely trying to point out the facts. Calm down, and let us help you. I know this is difficult for you. It is difficult for all of us. You have only remembered some of what occurred, but there is much more."

"I think 'Snivellus' can take care of himself, he had no reason to call my mum a Mudblood. She was trying to help him!" Harry froze. The memory of what she had seen in the Pensive of Snape's relationship with her parents had hit her like a ton of bricks. She turned to Snape, her lower lip quivering, "I...I...didn't mean...to..." She was unable to finish the sentence. She could feel his pain at the memory, and it was exacerbated by her having thrown it out at him. Snape was staring at her as if it was her first day at Hogwarts.

"Severus, don't act like an ass. Harry's memories of the year are only in bits and pieces. She came to me afterwards, upset by what she had seen. I explained that you and James had never liked one another and that at fifteen we were all arrogant and acted like idiots. Remus and I both wanted her to apologize and go back to taking Occlumency lessons."

"I am well aware of what transpired after I found her in the pensive, Black. I merely did not anticipate her dredging it up and reminding me of it."

"I felt just as guilty then as I do now, Professor," Harry looked at Snape apologetically. She was quiet for a few minutes, as she concentrated.

"Fred and George, they've moved the magic shop. They started it in Diagon Alley. I know they did...the swamp...what happened to it?"

"They moved the shop because we asked them to. It has not hurt their business at all,"Dumbledore smiled, "as for the swamp, Professor Flitwick removed it. A small piece of it still remains, but he now has it in his quarters."

"My head hurts. I feel like it is going to explode if I remember any more."

"Then use the pensive, Child, there is no shame in doing so. You have shown extraordinary ability in just remembering some of what transpired."

"No, I...You were gone, for a long time. That awful woman...Professor Umbridge...she was Fudges' watchdog. She called herself the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts." Harry sat thinking for a moment and then laughed, "She was the reason the twins made the swamp. I needed to talk to Sirius. I was upset over how my dad had treated Snape. It was a ruse so I could use her office to talk to him in the fire. He had to reteach me last year. I must have forgotten how when my memory was altered."

Sirius smiled, "that's right. Go on, can you think of anything else?"

"Who is Tonk?"

"She's my cousin, and it's Tonks, not Tonk. Do you know any more about her?"

"I think that isn't her real name...I...can't remember. Is she an Auror?"

"Why do you ask, Child?"

"She came...I...the Dursley's kitchen. She was there with Mad Eye Moody and Remus!" Harry grinned, pleased that she could remember this. "I think there were some other people too, but I can't remember who.

Harry sat quietly for a few more minutes, concentrating. Remus handed her a cup of cider, while they waited to see if she could recall any more events. Heaving a long sigh, she looked at Sirius.

"Is there a tapestry in your house? I think it was a kind of family tree."
"That's right, honey. Do you know any of the names on it?"

"You have a cousin...Andromeda...She's named after your grandmother. You have other cousins...Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange..." Harry's voice trailed off. "I'm tired. I don't want to know anymore." She was beginning feel afraid and curled up on the couch. Inside she knew they would not let her go.

"Harry...honey...why don't you use the pensive. You need to understand why this is happening to you," Sirius commented trying to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away.

"No! I remember too much pain! I can't go through that again. You don't know what pain does to an empath. Noooo..." Harry sat rocking back and forth, holding her head, it was pounding, and now her scar was hurting. She didn't know why, but she had to get away from Dumbledore. Then she heard his laugh...Voldemort's laugh...he had gotten into her mind again and she wondered idly if Snape and Dumbledore knew.

"Princess, calm down. Everything will be all right, I promise," Remus' voice seemed to come from a long way off.

Voldemort was taking control of her thoughts. Harry had to get him out. 'It won't work,' he intoned. 'I am way better at this than you," his laugh was like chalk grating on a blackboard in her mind.

"I don't think so you fucking bastard, not this time," she yelled aloud.

"Albus what is wrong with her?" Sirius gasped as Snape and Dumbledore both jumped to their feet simultaneously.

"Move away from her, Black. I need to stun her."

"Like hell you will. I told you this was a bad idea."

Harry let out a loud scream of fury, "Get out or I will put you out." Grabbing Sirius, she looked at him, and let herself feel what she had been keeping hidden. She felt all the pain come back...the horror...she had watched him die. "I love you Sirius Black," Harry said looking into his puppy brown eyes. Her body contorted and an ungodly scream came from her mouth, as Voldemort fled.

"Voldemort's gone," Dumbledore said quietly, coming over and brushing the hair from Harry's scar as he delivered her into Sirius arms. "You did well, child."

"You told me how, that night after you came back from the Department of Mysteries. I just wouldn't listen. I was in too much pain. You didn't know I was an empath then."

"If I had it wouldn't have made a difference. You were too angry and upset. I did make one other mistake though. I forgot I was dealing with the emotions of a girl, and not a boy."

"There is another Prophecy, you told me about it that night. You said that the seer who gave it was descended from another very famous seer. Professor Trelawney's ancestor was Chandra Mathias, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Child," Dumbledore answered sadly, his blue eyes wet with unshed tears.

"Harry, how much do you remember about what happened?" Remus asked.

"Just now with Voldemort or what happened two years ago?"

"Both," Sirius and Remus replied in unison.

"Quite a bit, do the three of you know what is in the second prophecy? The one Professor Trelawney made?"

"No. Child, they do not."

"Then I think it is time they knew. I also think I need to use the pensive now. I know I watched Sirius die, I must have been mistaken."

"Then come with us and we will go into the pensive with you. Then we will explain everything." The four wizards gathered around the bowl with Harry, and Dumbledore gently stirred the bowl. The silver fluid rippled as it drew them into their pasts so that they could plan their future....

A whole year's worth of memories came flooding back to her. Memories of Hagrid and the young giant he had brought back. Anger at her friends and people whispering about her, thinking she was mad. Cho believing she was a boy and planting a big wet kiss on her lips over Valentines Day. Dumbledore being ostracized from the various wizarding associations. Harry's strange ability to see the thestrals, Firenze teaching her divination class when Umbridge sacked Trelawney, and Luna Lovegood. Her father was the editor of the Quibbler. There was the day when Umbridge had taken over as Headmistress of Hogwarts when she had found out about their meetings of Dumbledore's Army. Severus attempting to teach her Occlumency and her memories of what she had seen of his childhood. Finally, there had been the battle in the Ministry of Magic and the door she had been dreaming about. The door to the Prophecy room. The second prophecy that had been given by Trelawney in one of her rare actual trances. The one that foretold that either she or Voldemort must die, "for neither can live while the other survives."

Harry was crying and hanging onto Sirius in confusion. He had died. They had all said so. She had watched him fall through the veil. Bellatrix had hit him with her wand stream. Dumbledore had come and dueled with Voldemort. He had tried to kill her by telling Dumbledore to kill him while he was controlling her. He wanted Dumbledore to believe he possessed her.

"Albus, this second prophecy, it refers to the person as a boy. Are you sure it's Harry?" Sirius asked worriedly.

"She bears the mark, and remember the Prophecy of Mathias said she would be hidden. Sibylll saw Harry as a boy. I was certain when she received the scar. It is mentioned prominently in both prophecies," Dumbledore explained quietly.

"Albus, does that mean...?" Remus was unable to complete the sentence.

"It means just what it says. The headmaster told me two years ago, before I ever heard of the Prophecy of Mathias. He had to tell me about that one when I started asking gender questions. To put it bluntly gentlemen, I'm screwed."

"Potter, you are not, as you so aptly put it, screwed. They both say you have the power to defeat the Dark Lord."

"Well thank you Professor Snape. As I recall you went out of your way to humiliate me along with everyone else. Including making me say I had to take remedial potions. As for Dumbledore, the Head Girl crap is too little too late. Where were you two years ago when I was hurting and believed you had turned your back on me? I wasn't good enough then, but the little Slytherin scumbag Draco Malfoy was. Thanks for the vote of confidence," Harry's confusion was rapidly turning back to anger.

"Harry, don't speak to Albus like that," Sirius, reprimanded her gently.

"Shut up, you were supposed to be dead. I was sent home to the Dursley's and hoped Voldemort would come and kill me. I had watched everyone who had ever had any kind of affection for me die. Unfortunately, that is the one place on earth where I was safe from him. At least I was until this past year. He finally found a way to get around the charms. Once he did that, he knew my aunt would protect her son over me. The link, which bound us by blood, was broken."

"Princess, that isn't true. I care for you a good deal, and so does Albus. You know Severus also cares. You were in such an awful state. We thought you would do better if you knew Moody and I were watching. If it hadn't been for your aunt we wouldn't have known how you really were handling the situation."

"Remus, I wasn't there, what actually happened?" Sirius asked soberly.

"Harry wouldn't eat and barely slept. She would pace her bedroom floor for hours, or just lie in bed and cry. She was in shock and we didn't realize it at the time. We thought she had accepted your death and was simply grieving at first. Moody and I got suspicious when she sent letters to her friends telling them not to write any more. She also sent one to Albus stating she would not be returning to Hogwarts in September. She thanked him for all he had done and hoped he would always remember her fondly. That letter set off more alarm bells than anything else did. We all immediately contacted Arabella Figg. She told us Harry had been staying in the house, but had gone out earlier that morning and had not yet returned."

"What did you do?" Sirius asked, his brown eyes reflecting his pain at what she had been through after the altercation at the Ministry.

"Albus, Moody, and I all apparated to the Dursley's kitchen, it was quite a scene. Mr. Dursley had gone to work, but Petunia Dursley was mopping the kitchen floor. She almost had a heart attack when we showed up. She let out one hell of a scream. Albus handled it with his usual aplomb."

"Did she know where Harry had gone?"

"No, she told us Harry had just left a short time ago. She said that we should try the park where all the teenagers hung out. Albus glared at her, and she was terrified. He questioned her and found out what had been going on. He then asked for and got permission to check Harry's room, although I daresay he would have done so anyway. Hedwig was not in her cage and it was obvious that Harry had packed some things in a hurry, to run away. Moody got his team into action immediately. With the exception of Severus, we were all searching."

"Figures he stayed behind," Harry snorted. The painful memories continued to assault her.

"Harry, Severus stayed behind as per my instructions," Dumbledore informed her softly. "I had a good reason for asking him to do so."

"Who finally found her?"

"The one person in the world I never wanted to see again. I was furious that he was alive and you were dead," Harry, answered somberly. "It wasn't fair that he was walking around, able to do all the things in life that he enjoyed, secure in the knowledge that Dumbledore would protect his spy at all costs. Severus Snape, spy for the Order, former Deatheater, and the man who had taken such pleasure to humiliate me in front of my peers for the past five years. He had no business living when my parents and godfather were dead. I planned on seeing that he didn't."

"I seem to recall you once told us you didn't know if you could kill anyone," Snape sneered.

"Severus, I still don't know, but on that day I only knew I wanted you dead. I didn't know I would come face to face with you. I just wanted to find some comfort and hide in a safe place where I could feel Sirius presence. He was gone, and I felt alone."

"Harry, how did you run into Severus? Where was he?" Sirius questioned her with interest. "I didn't see any of this in the pensive."

"That is because you, Remus, and Severus were already out of the pensive at that point. I stayed with Harry while she remembered this," Dumbledore said quietly. "Remus and Severus did not need to remember this, since they knew what happened. You were not there, and I wanted Harry to tell you what transpired herself."

"I thought that is exactly what I was doing Professor."

"Pray, continue, Child. I know we would all like to hear this story again from your point of view, and Sirius only knows some of it."

"Well, I just wanted Sirius back, or at least some part of him that I could hang onto. Therefore, I decided to run away. I didn't give a shit if Voldemort was trying to kill me. I actually hoped he would. I felt like I was dead inside. It wasn't healthy to be near me, and I was determined I wasn't going to lose anyone else I cared about. I set Hedwig free, or at least I thought I did, took my wand and my cloak along with some clothes stuffed into my backpack and went out the door. I knew Aunt Petunia wouldn't care; she never did when I went out. I even waved to Arabella Figg, and walked up the street."

"Honey, where were you planning on going?"

"I had no idea. I just knew that before I went I had one stop to make. I wanted to find any trace of you that I could to take with me. I headed to Grimmauld Place."

"Did you use your broom?"

"Sirius, don't be silly. The ministry had already tried to expel me once, and I didn't want to alert the authorities that I was on the move. No, I had to find other means of transportation."

"How did she travel, on the Knight bus?" he asked looking from one to the other of them.

"Go ahead and tell him, Child," Dumbledore's blue eyes were twinkling as he remembered her ingenuity in attempting to evade them.

"Living in a Muggle household had some advantages. I had some money, so I quite simply took the underground. It wasn't very hard. I took the local bus to the station and then checked the train schedule and asked the clerk for directions on which train to take. I knew the house should be empty, but I was also careful about getting inside in case it was being guarded. I used my cloak, and rang the bell."

"Who answered the door?"

"The one person in the whole world I wanted to see dead, Severus Snape."

"He wasn't suspicious when no one was there?"

"I knew it was Harry that had rung the bell. I knew she was missing, and I had spoken to Moody not five minutes before. I made sure there was plenty of room for her to get past me. She didn't know Moody was now upstairs and watching with his magical eye. He had seen her come up the street, and could see through her invisibility cloak."

"Ah, but my dear Potions Master, you didn't expect me to try and attack you," Harry gloated with an evil smile. "Once I was safely inside, or so I thought, I went in search of something...anything...that would make me feel better. I headed directly upstairs, but Mad Eye could see everything I was doing. Snape could sense my presence, and knew Mad Eye had seen me coming, but I was unaware of this. I could however, determine that he was keeping some kind of secret and he was headed upstairs behind me."

"Did he stop you then?"

"No, he wanted to see what I was up to. I headed to your room, and tried the door. It was locked. I just stood there confused for a minute, and then I got angry. How dare they lock your door and keep me from your things. I looked towards my room, where Severus had gone, only to find he was standing in the doorway looking up the hall. I could sense his amusement, and was even madder. He had no business being amused when everybody I cared about was gone."

"Is that when you attacked him?"

"I forgot all about trying to hide beneath my cloak and pulled out my wand. I'll never forget his voice that day, 'Potter, it's a wonder you have survived against the Dark Lord for so long. Subterfuge is not your best skill,' Harry imitated him, and Snape arched his brow amused. "I cursed at him and started screaming that he had no business being alive. I think I told him he was no better than pond scum and that it was his fault my parents died and then you. I went berserk and yelled at him that Ron was probably right to believe that he hadn't changed sides at all, that he was actually spying for Voldemort. Then I attacked him. I threw out a Cruciatus curse which he was more than prepared for."

"He blocked the spell?"

"Easily, and I told him I was going to kill him."

"What did he do?" Sirius grinned, touched by her loyalty. He knew she had to have been in a state of turmoil.

"I dared her to try and duel with me."

"I accepted. I think he rather enjoyed it too."

"Severus, you didn't duel with her?" Sirius asked shocked.

"I merely gave her a lesson in behavior. I felt if Potter was that arrogant as to try and take me on, then I should accommodate the challenge."

"What happened? He didn't hurt you did he?"

"He knocked me halfway up the hallway, and I landed on my ass."

"Which only made her madder," Snape replied pretending to sound bored with the story, but his thin smile belied his statement.

"Well, I got up and I was livid, I screamed that I was going to kill him and almost got out the first part of the curse, but he stopped me cold. I was too pissed and blinded by grief to consider he would disarm me, but that is exactly what happened. He then put an imperious curse on me, which I fought tooth and nail."

"She was quite good too," Snape acknowledged.

"Yeah, he tried to make me come over to him, but he only got a few steps out of me. That's when the door to your room opened and Moody came out. I was also able to see inside...." Harry's voice trailed off at the memory, her amusement at recalling her duel with Snape gone. Her eyes had gone wide with the memory of what she had seen, and she was trembling. "They had all said you were dead; yet there you were. White as a ghost and delirious on your bed, I was stunned, and confused. Why did they lie to me? Even Sir Nicholas said you were dead. He said you wouldn't be back, even as a ghost. That's when I heard Dumbledore's voice..." She looked at him in shock, "you stunned me."

"I had to, Child. Sirius was still in serious condition. We didn't even know how he had gotten there. Severus had found him half-conscious in the hallway the morning after the battle with Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries. At first, we weren't even sure it was really him. He had fallen through the veil that separated the living and the dead. It could have been an impersonator using the Polyjuice Potion. Once we determined it was indeed Sirius, we needed to find a place for him to recover in safety. He was to be moved that very morning back to Lupin's. Once he was sufficiently recovered, he would go back into hiding in the cave he had used previously until a new headquarters for the Order could be set up. When you saw him, he was actually under the influence of a mild sleeping potion, but was having a nightmare.

It was then I decided it would be best if we made you forget what had happened. I saved your memories in the Pensive since I felt that you should be able to retrieve them when I believed you to be ready to handle all that had happened. You were so angry and hurt, that I blamed myself. It had been my mistakes that had led up to the entire incident, so I felt you should be able to blame no one but me, when I gave you back the memories of that terrible year. We all agreed your friends should have their memories altered too, that way you would never know until I decided you were ready. It all went well until this past Christmas. Something triggered you to start fighting the memory charms unconsciously...."

"The cemetery...It had to have been on Christmas Eve. I started asking Sirius about whether he thought there was something after death. I wanted to know if he believed my parents were at peace. He reminded me we lived in a haunted castle. Then Severus showed up and we talked about facing my fear of being alone. A part of me remembered. That's when I became aware..."

"That while you were in love with Sirius your other protector was actually your soul mate?"

"One is my heart which gives me strength, one my soul from which my courage springs, and the other my conscience to help me endure all that I have seen and what is yet to come. You are the hope which gives me the faith to trust in the good of others." Harry told him looking into his blue eyes. "Why didn't you just tell me the truth? All I needed to hear was that Sirius was alive."

Dumbledore hesitated, "I wanted you to forget the pain you were feeling. You also knew so much about the Order that while I allowed you to retain the knowledge that it existed, I made sure you didn't remember all the members. I found that the Dark Lord had learned about Severus spying for me again when he had touched your mind, so it was best if you didn't remember. I also felt that since Sirius was so vulnerable in his weakened state that he should recover in privacy. I knew you wouldn't stay away, and this could jeopardize his freedom. He needed to be able to cope with the trauma he had been through, to adjust and come to terms with all he had seen and heard after passing through the veil. You needed to go back to being a normal teen, not one with a death threat hanging over her head; at least for a little while. I knew your female cycles had started, your aunt had told me, and so it wouldn't be long before you started asking questions. That's why you got your own room. I used your nightmares for a plausible excuse, and once your gender was out in the open I let you keep it on the pretext that the girls' dorm was full, even though it could have been enlarged magically. So you see I and I alone was responsible."

Harry sat mulling over what Dumbledore had just told her, absently taking one of the cakes off the tray and refilling her drink.

"I need to hear what happened after Sirius disappeared behind the veil. I will reserve judgment until then."

"Then we should begin with Sirius," Dumbledore nodded. "His story is most unusual."

Sirius shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His eyes again reflecting the haunted look of a man who has seen and endured things no one ever should.

"I suppose I should begin during the battle. I know you saw me laughing at Bellatrix just before her wand stream hit me. I was being too confident, and showing off. It was the first time that I actually felt useful. I was no longer sitting around guarding the house and looking after Buckbeak. My arrogance almost cost you your life, and should have cost me mine. I was not hit with a killing spell, but a stunning one. I don't know if you have ever realized this, but the energy emitted from our wands is different colors for different spells. Curses that do not kill are usually red. The Avadra Kedavra curse is always green. It also depends on the wizard or witch and the purpose of the spell," he saw Harry nod with understanding, and then continued, "Well, she hit me with a hell of a stunner. I was shocked, and did my best to fight..."

"That's why it took you so long to fall. It was like everything was in slow motion," she interrupted.

Nodding affirmatively, he continued, "I felt myself going down, and as I fell I went backwards through the arch. The veil closed in on me and I could no longer see you, but heard you calling to me. I could hear Remus telling you it was too late, and I knew I had fallen into the realm that separates the living from the dead. I could feel the peace of the place engulfing me and I was being drawn towards another arched door. I wasn't afraid, but I regretted that I could no longer be there to help you. It seemed to take a long time, and I could hear other people. People I had known who had died. Family members, members of the Order, old friends..." His voice caught in his throat, and Harry could sense his distress.

"Old friends...what old friends?" she asked somberly, knowing the answer he would give, her heart skipping a beat.

"Lily...I heard Lily."

"My mother, not my father?" Harry asked surprised.

"Yes...at first anyway...she was crying...I couldn't understand how someone could cry when I could feel so much love coming towards me. She kept sobbing...saying I had to fight...Harry needs you to be there... She called to James...I opened my eyes and they were there...both of them."

"You saw...them...both?"

"Yes...Your dad was scowling at me...he started to yell...he...he said it wasn't my time...that I hadn't yet separated from my body...he...told me...he said to apparate home...now...you needed me. He told me that...if I passed through...through the arch, it would be...too late. I realized I was holding my wand. My mother...she was there...too. She told me to stay. James told me not to listen. She said the Dark Lord ...he was right. I looked at James, and Lily. I wanted to stay with them. Your father...he yelled...Sirius think! I smiled at him...he nodded...I raised my wand just as I reached the arch...I disapparated. I woke up confused and shivering with shock the next day, Severus gaping at me, his wand drawn. I was in the front hall of Grimmauld Place, and my mother's portrait was yelling at me, calling me a traitor."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing...I could barely move. Snape called for Moody, and he was stunned when he saw me. I kept mumbling about James and Lily, and felt like my insides had been turned inside out. My wand was on the floor next to me."

"What did you and Moody do with him?" Harry looked at Snape.

"We immediately sent for Dumbledore. I had a supply of Veritaserum and when he got there, he sent me for it. He also summoned Lupin."

"I damn near had a heart attack when I saw him. I couldn't believe it," Remus told her calmly. "A few hours ago I had seen him fall through the veil in the Hall of Mysteries, and now he was lying on the floor of his parents house half out of his mind ranting about James and Lily."

"I suppose you gave him the Veritaserum?" she pursed her lips at Dumbledore.

"We had to, Child, even I found it hard to believe it was really him. We questioned him at length, and Professor Lupin purposely asked him questions that only he or James would know the answer to. Severus also asked him questions about when they were here at school together. I also asked him some very specific questions when we were alone in the room together. The one thing in the world only he and I knew."

"You asked him about me, and the Matthias Prophecy. You were the only two people that knew I was really a girl."

Dumbledore smiled, "Yes. He knew all the details of your birth. I was convinced. Sirius had come back through the veil to the land of the living. Later, when you started asking questions I did inquire if he had ever told anyone else since then, but he had not. I thought he may have told Remus during his convalescence but he maintained his promise to your parents, and kept quiet."

"Afterwards, Albus decided to alter your memory. You had seen me asleep and alive. I wasn't happy about it, but I was weak and we needed to abandon the house since it had been compromised. Remus hid me out and took care of me. I was not back to myself until mid August, and then I went back to the cave near his home. That's where Dumbledore's owl found me when it was time to tell you the story of your birth."

Harry was looking at Sirius with a big smile. "You came back from the dead for me. I'm happy."

"Me too," Sirius hugged her.

"Does that mean I'm forgiven for altering your memory?"

"No, Headmaster. It just means that this time I won't smash all your pretty toys," she replied playfully, remembering how she had ransacked his office that night after the battle with Voldemort. "I do have some other questions though."

"Indeed? I thought we covered the whole episode rather well," Snape remarked coolly.

"You're just jealous because he got a hug," Harry teased him smugly. "I suppose I will forgive you for the duel. You were just trying to keep me away from him."

"What about me Princess?"

"You stayed with him till he was better. You're forgiven."

"What else did you want to know, Harry?" Remus looked at her curiously.

"The Deatheaters who went to Azkaban, like Lucius Malfoy. How did they get out?"

"Lucius is wealthy and powerful," Snape answered. "You have to remember that Fudge was on Voldemort's team although at that time we did not know. He was able to escape the charges. Some of the others did too. That is why Moody now takes them elsewhere."

"What about the Dementors? Have they all left the prison?"

"Some returned. They found it more convenient to get their fill of emotions without having to go out hunting for it. They rest are loyal to the Dark Lord."

"What ever happened to Umbridge?"

"She is now in retirement, Child. She never completely recovered from her ordeal with the centaurs."

"Good, it served the old toad faced bitch right," Harry snorted not caring if Dumbledore reprimanded her or not.

He merely cleared his throat and looked at her over his half moon glasses, "Is there anything else?"

"You will restore my friends' memories of the events tomorrow?"

"I said I would. I expect you will want to be present?"

"Naturally, I also feel we should both apologize to them. You for the memory alteration and me for being jealous. I assume that is why they were not Prefects last year?"

"You are quite correct. It was a grievous error on my part to think you had more than enough to deal with and deny you being a Prefect. I never considered your feelings and desires to succeed and be accepted," Dumbledore said regretfully. "Because of that and Professor Umbridge the student body was put under a blanket memory charm, which will also be removed tomorrow."

"That's why everyone thought I was daft when I started asking about Umbridge," Harry said shaking her head with relief. "Sirius," she directed her attention back to her godfather, "who was Draco Malfoy living with over the summer? His mother was murdered, and somehow I don't think he was sent to live with Bellatrix."

"He was sent to live with Andromeda, my favorite cousin and the one who was named after my grandmother. Hopefully she will help him to see the error of his ways, although I think his father's murdering Narcissa taught him the best lesson it could have."

"Isn't Andromeda Tonks mother, the one who married the Muggle?"

"Your memory is coming back quite well," he grinned, "that is exactly right. Do you have any other questions?"

"There is one other thing. Headmaster," she turned back to Dumbledore, "I want your word that you aren't keeping anything else from me, nor will you from now on. Prior to the Protectorship, you said you weren't keeping anything else from me. You lied, and I could feel you were holding something back. If you are worried about my thoughts being invaded by Voldemort just be honest and tell me. I can manipulate what is in my mind to distort it just as well as he can," Harry studied Dumbledore intently, her green eyes boring into his blue ones.

"If I refuse?"

"Consider it a last request. This is the middle of February. We both know that if the Mathias Prophecy holds true, and I think this is likely, sometime between now and the end of June I will be locked in a life or death battle with Lord Voldemort. All we know for certain is that he will probably be defeated. As his equal, I may die with him. We will know for certain within the next four and a half months."

"Very well, I do have some things which I am withholding but they do not all directly pertain to you. For the safety of others, I can't reveal them. You will have to be content with that for the time being."

"What of the ones that do pertain to me?"

"Child I did not want to reveal it at this time. I don't know if you can handle the information."

"Do they know what it is?"

"Yes, just as they know you are descended from Gryffindor on your father's side and Salazar's sister on your mother's."

"Okay, then let me guess. I'm related to Salazar too, only on the Potter side."

The wizards all shifted uncomfortably, and then Dumbledore looked at her and nodded, "How did you figure it out?"

"Sirius told me the pure blood families are interrelated by either blood or marriage. Now, I know I'm not directly related to Sirius, since I saw his family tree, and you are all reluctant to tell me anything about my family other than my parents. So if you will all kindly tell me, I would rather hear what is so awful from you guys rather than find out some other way."

"Very well, Potter, I think you have the right to know," Snapes eyes were glittering as he looked over towards Dumbledore for his approval. It was not forthcoming.

"Well, Professor, spit it out. I know Dumbledore would rather I didn't know, and you don't like having to go against his judgment, but this has gone beyond that. It's my life and my future we are talking about. I'm walking a tightrope between life and death, and any information that will help me no matter how trivial may aid in this battle," Harry replied tiredly. Leaning back on the couch, she snuggled up to Sirius, and closed her eyes.

"Harry, I didn't come back from the dead to watch you die," Sirius nudged her worriedly.

"I hope you won't have to either," she sighted opening her eyes to look at him. "I don't want to die."

"Princess, I refuse to accept the idea that you're going to die along with Lord Voldemort. I don't want to hear you talk like that."

"Remus, the one prophecy says I will win, but is unclear if I survive. The other quite simply says one of us must die. It says I have the power to defeat him, but I don't feel powerful at all. That's why I find it so important to know what ever it is you all aren't telling me."

"Perhaps, Child it would be better if you did know. You need to realize though, that this information was kept from you to protect you from hurt and ridicule. I never wanted you to know the truth, not now anyway."

"Headmaster, unless you're going to tell me the Dark Lord is my father, which I know he isn't just by looking in the mirror, what could be so bad?"

"Princess, this is hard for all of us, but you are right, he isn't your parent."

"Okay..." Harry said slowly looking at them all with trepidation. "Obviously I have relatives I don't know about, and he must be one of them," she guessed aloud.

"Yes, Child, your paternal grandmother was Diana Malvolo, the younger sister of Media Malvolo, Tom Riddle's mother. He is your second cousin. He despised your father's family because they were descended from Gryffindor and his aunt, who was much younger than his mother was, married into them. Their father had disowned Riddle's mother because she married a Muggle. He too was a purist. Fortunately your grandmother was not."

"Miss Potter...Harry...you have more power than you realize. You have the blood of some of the greatest wizards of all time in your veins. If you keep thinking you will lose, then keep remembering what you said on Christmas Eve. The Dark Lord was afraid when he saw you transform into the Phoenix."

"Harry, do you know why Voldemort was afraid of you?" Dumbledore asked kindly, his blue eyes bright.

"No, I haven't been able to figure it out."

"Think about your lessons on the Phoenix. What is it capable of doing?"

"It can regenerate, but I don't think I can, nor can I disappear and reappear at will, although I remember seeing Fawkes do it," she smiled remembering how Fawkes would suddenly vanish during the year she had been made to forget. "I can heal, and so can he," Harry said getting up to go over to where the bird sat watching her intently on his perch. "Yes, I see it now...Phoenix song...I wonder...?"

"Yes, Child, you are pure of heart. You love with your entire being, and will protect those you care about without question. Isn't that why you went to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry?"

"I went to save Sirius, and nearly got us all killed."

"But you went," Dumbledore smiled, "you put him above yourself because you loved him. That is something Voldemort would never do. It is what your mother did when she sacrificed herself for you, and your father, when he sacrificed himself to give your mother the time to protect you."

Fawkes was trilling contentedly as Harry gently pet him.

"I can stop him. All along, I have been saying he is a sociopath and couldn't love. I thought he had some feelings for his dead mother, but it was simply his idea of what might have been. I see that now. The answer has been in front of me all the time. How could I have been so stupid. He can't exist when confronted with genuine affection and love. It intimidates him. He's threatened by it. That's why he killed Professor Snape's wife and set the Dementors on the baby," Harry turned to Severus, "he wanted to punish you by taking away the one thing he could never have. That's why he demands unconditional obedience, but in your case it backfired!" she paced excitedly. She stopped abruptly, and spun to look at Snape, becoming aware of his pain and anger with her.

"Who told you what happened to Camilla and Marcus?" he asked icily, his face the color of chalk.

"Circe told me several months ago. She didn't want to see you hurt again," Harry responded quietly, keeping her voice calm and steady.

"Severus, Harry meant no harm. She is also quite right in her assessment of the situation," Dumbledore interceded. "she has always known Voldemort was responsible in some way for the loss of your family. You knew that. It was merely a matter of time until she learned the truth."

"Professor, please don't be mad at your sister. She was only looking out for your interests. I wish I had a sibling who had done the same for me."

"My sister still seems to think I am a little boy."

"No, Professor, she just doesn't want you to make the same mistake twice. You have never entirely let go of your grief."

"Would you have? I saw you at Grimmauld Place, after Black's supposed death."

"Then thank what ever powers that be that you found me, or I would be either dead or in Azkaban right now. I only told you part of what was on my mind that day."

"Princess, what are you saying?" Remus questioned apprehensively.

"I was planning on stealing one of our Headmaster's time turners and going back to stop Sirius. I could have you know...I did it once before. It didn't matter if the Aurors caught me, or even Voldemort for that matter. I really had no desire to go on living. So don't tell me I don't understand Severus grief. If Dumbledore hadn't stopped me..."

"Albus did you have any idea of what she was up to?"

"It wasn't hard to figure out. She had saved him before, and this time she was beside herself. I knew it would only be a matter of time before she would try to do it again, only this time she would have totally altered time. She had no idea he was actually alive. The only one affected last time was Buckbeak, since Sirius had not yet received the Dememtor's kiss, and she had prevented an innocent man from suffering a horrible fate."

"Harry," Sirius looked at her sternly, "I want you to promise all of us that if anything ever happens like that again that you will under no circumstances try to alter the time line."

She looked at Sirius sadly, tracing the outline of his jaw with her finger.

"All I can promise is that I will try not to. You all have to understand I do not feel emotions the same way that you do. I feel and assimilate what is going on around me. That's why the Dementors always come after me."

"In other words you are a veritable smorgasbord for them," Snape remarked sardonically.

"Yech, Professor, you needn't be so graphic about it," she curled her lip in disgust.

"Child, loss is a part of life too," Dumbledore, chided gently, "you have to learn to deal with it."

"Yeah, I know..." Harry stared at him balefully.

"Honey, you said you thought you knew how to fight the Dark Lord. What do you have in mind?" Sirius asked steering the subject away from her pain.

"Powerful emotions will distract him long enough that he may be stopped. What we need to worry about is if he separates from his body again and does not fully die. Professor Snape, get out your books and help me to find something, anything to contain him should that happen again."

Snape looked at Dumbledore, who nodded with a smile, "I believe Harry may be on to something, Severus. We shall begin looking for answers tomorrow, for now though, Harry needs to get some rest."

"Can I smash something first? It is really quite satisfying when one is angry," she managed to smile at him.

"How about smashing this?" he handed her a picture off his desk.

"Headmaster, that's the picture I gave you of me Christmas before last!"

"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me," his blue eyes were twinkling.

"That's not fair."

"Life often isn't fair, Child. Now how about you go on down to bed, and tomorrow we will restore the memories of the others."

"I'll walk you down, honey. I think you could use a little extra TLC," Sirius hugged her.

"Hmm...That sounds really nice, but unless the terms of this Protectorship have changed, there are four of you. You can all tuck me in while you tell me about the rest of my family tree. I have a suspicion I have more relatives than I could have imagined," Harry looked at the four men furtively.

They all rose and crowded around her, letting her enjoy their affection before escorting her to her room. Harry learned that she was related to Remus and Snape through her great- grandfather Potter. One of his sisters was in fact Snape's grandmother, making him her third cousin. His grandmother had died young, and Severus could barely remember her. She was also related to Remus, by marriage. He was in fact, her fifth cousin. She was exhausted from the stress of these revelations, and was happy that they elected to stay while she fell asleep. She felt like the pieces of a difficult puzzle were finally beginning to fall into place. Tomorrow would be another difficult day, and she hoped her friends would not be too mad at having had their memories altered, and the loss of their Prefect badges the previous year.